What happens when a narcissistic, ego-centric, mega millionaire, who is a master of engineering, finds himself in a life or death situation? He makes an iron suit powered by an “arc reactor”, placed in his chest to escape from the terrorists who have kidnapped him. Iron Man is born. This action/comedy film stars Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark and alter ego Iron Man. In Iron Man 2 the second instalment of the Iron Man franchise we learn more about Marvel’s famed iron superhero and the effects that it has on the man behind the suit. Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L Jackson and Mickey Rourke. In the last film Tony Stark (Downey Jr) announced to the world that he is Iron Man, the attention that he received for being Iron Man is more than he ever got for just being Tony Stark, wunderkind and playboy, his ego thrives on it, maybe a little too much. Running Stark Industries seems to be becoming less and less important to him so he names his secretary Pepper Potts (Paltrow) CEO, so Tony receives a new secretary Natalie (Johansson) who is not all that she seems. Seeing this as a weakness rival industrialist Justin Hammer (Rockwell) of Hammer Industries teams up with ostracised and revengeful Whiplash (Rourke) to take down Iron Man and Stark Industries with it. Leaders of the Avengers Initiative Night Fury (L. Jackson) tries to calm Tony when his extreme attention seeking behaviour gets out of control. We start to see a more human side of Tony through his relationships. When he starts to realise that the “arc reactor” in his chest, that is keeping him alive, is slowly killing him. In his relationship with Pepper, we see him more vulnerable as he tries to tell her how he really feels. With Lt. James “Rhodey” Rhodes, we see their relationship tested, when Rhodey, must choose between his military call of duty, and his friendship with Tony. Let’s face it Tony doesn’t have many friends that he can afford to lose.Robert Downey Jr is the heart and soul of this movie. His rendition of the spoiled, arrogant, genius, rich superhero really holds this film together. You believe he is Iron Man, you believe he has feelings for a girl, you believe his is losing an important friendship and you believe he is dying, you believe in everything he does. Downey Jr and Paltrow have a great witty rapport together, their whole back and forth banter really sustains their relationship, it works. Also the casting of Don Cheadle as Lt. James “Rhodey” Rhodes is a more convincing choice for this role, and gives the character a much stronger edge, over Terrance Howard who played the role in the first film. The special effects in this film are spectacular. The Iron Man suit in this movie surely surpasses the one in the first. This suit can do basically anything you want fire grenades, fire light, be completely impervious to bullets, and many other things. The film then ups it with more suits, some equipped machine guns and military knowledge to make them even more badass. Then add a skeletal, electrical being with a lightning bolt whip that can chop a car in half and you are in for one hell of an action thrill ride.If I were giving grades for films this one would deserve an A definitely, it has it all. Great action sequences, relationships put to the test and a comedic tone that really pulls it all together. This is one of those rare occurrences where the sequel is as good as or possibly even better than the original. It is a great movie for everyone and I recommend to all.
I would agree with the critique of Iron Man 2. Having Don Cheadle play War Machine was an excellent choice. It may be difficult for Terrence Howard fans, but the role is played diffrently. by the two actors. Cheadle gives a strong performance.
Robert Downey Jr. did his thing, and just keeps on showing us there is no limit to his talents. I would also agree with the bantering with Gwyeneth Paltrow definitely worked!
Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko was also an excellent performance! His Russian accent was great. I think they could have done just a little bit more with him. The cast and movie was great. I think Marvel fans will not be disappointed te see this 5 star movie for the summer!
I think that the film really accomplished nothing, in a sense of the idea that if the movie hadn’t been made, I don’t think that people would have missed much more than a lot of good acting and writing. The plot, essentially I am saying, was boring and excluding of some necessary parts. More could be explained, and more could have been used with Mickey Rourke. I’d give it a 3.5/5, but I think Robert Downey, Jr. truly made this movie a good Summer experience.
i feel there was no point to Iron Man 2 as well.There was a lot of action as everyone loves and Rober Downey Jr. is a wonderfull actor for this movie as well as all around.what i got acrossed from it was that more you you have the better you are.MOre money,women(or men),house,car,etc..!Iron Man showed off instead of doing it out of his heart.I see no meaning to this movie.To me thats what movie should have.Over all it was 4.0 movie for me.
This movie has it all… great actors, … great special effects, … amazing scenes … and a rather poor script!
Oh, the good stuff is all there, alright. Unfortunately we are presented with an ironman that has little to do with the one we met one the first movie, or even with the comics one. Ironman is indeed just needlesslyshowing off in this fixture.
An entertaining movie, nevertheless, with positive aspects to it.
This was a great addition to Iron Man. Though, basically another movie of the same idea, it brought up important plot points. The entrance of Captain America and Thor as well as the villian Whiplash. The making of the league. How he solved his reactor problem and more character development that couldn’t be put in the first. This movie was the answer to the firsts “…to be continued” and the plot was more for the Marvel fans. It of course brought in the typical Iron Man action, narcassistic and sarcastic banter, and colorful characters to delight all audiences. Of course, as always, the self absorbed Tony Stark as Iron Man saves the day.