Iron Man 2 Review

Iron Man 2 isn’t as much fun as its predecessor, but by the time the smoke clears, it’ll do. Much like “The Dark Knight,” this Paramount release brings an enormous stash of goodwill to the party, thanks to a well-crafted origin tale whose popularity fueled anticipation for a follow-up. Yet while the first go-round for this lesser-known Marvel hero benefited from its freshness and visual flair, the beats here are more familiar, the pacing more uneven. Given the demand, though, that will hardly matter, and this armored adventure promises to be a money-making machine that clicks on all cylinders…read more [Variety]
Iron Man 2 the sequel to the surprise runaway hit of two years ago in Iron Man is not quite as surprising and fun as that movie was, but still delivers great humor and action as far as the cavalcade of comic book movies put out by Hollywood these days.
The movie starts well enough in introducing Ivan Vanko (Rourke), a rough and anguished son of a Russian scientist that helped Howard Stark (Tony’s father, played by Slattery) invent the ARC reactor technology. Ivan’s story starts concurrently with the end of the first movie, resentful of the glory of Tony Stark, Iron Man, and the Stark family legacy. Being an able tech as well from the influence of Ivan’s father, Anton, Ivan’s able to duplicate the miniature arc reactor similar to what powers Tony’s Iron Man armor and create a set of powerful electric whips…read more [411mania]
Like the sequels to Stars Trek and Wars, Iron Man 2 is a tale of revenge. But, unlike those films, this is one of the breeziest blockbusters you’re likely to see. There’s potential for darkness here: when we meet Tony, he’s hiding from everyone the fact he’s being gradually poisoned by his suit; villain Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) is hellbent on avenging perceived injustices done to his father; and Jim Rhodes (Don Cheadle) is considering betraying his pal by teaming with rival arms dealer Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell). But Jon Favreau, it seems, didn’t want to make his Part Two a downer. He’s out to have fun, not only in front of the camera (his chauffeur character, Happy Hogan, has been bumped up from cameo to supporting role, helping out Tony in two action scenes and getting pinned between Scarlett Johansson’s legs) but behind it too, focusing on gyrating cheerleaders and gleaming tech over inner turmoil…read more [EmpireOnline]


Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko / Whiplash in Iron Man 2
What happens when you create a superhero and people find out who you are? Well, if you are Tony Stark/Iron Man, you not only accept it, you relish the celebrity of it. Whether you are putting on an extravagant performance at the Stark Expo with a ton of scantily clad Iron-ettes, or just having a drink or ten with some close friends, you are thrilled by the attention. That is exactly where we find Tony Stark in IRON MAN 2. And I don’t think many actors could have a better understanding of that lifestyle than Robert Downey, Jr. as he has been there and done that. Needless to say, his Stark is undeniably believable and absolutely charming. This is a very important fact, especially since his behavior is oftentimes not so heroic. I’m not talking about a SPIDER-MAN 3 kind of way (no emo Spidey at all). But even though Mickey Rourke’s Whiplash is a new breed of badass, this second installment is mostly about family…read more [Joblo]
…That’s only the first 20 minutes or so but I’m going to stop for a second and ask if you’re thinking what I’m thinking, namely that Iron Man 2 is making the same mistake that was levelled at Spider-man 3 of throwing too much into the mix. Do we really need Stark vs. the US Government, a rival tycoon and the mysterious Vanko? Aside from muddling proceedings, that’s three bad guys we’re expected to hate.
Anyways, it turns out Vanko has been knocking together his own energy pack and launches an attack on his bitter rival as he’s taking part in a Formula 1 event in Monte Carlo. Why is Stark taking part in a car race? Dunno. Why is Vanko so angry with Stark? No idea…read more [Mirror.co.uk]


Iron Man 2 Photo, Scarlett Johansson stars as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow

Director Jon Favreau and new screenwriter Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder) deftly manage to juggle all these interweaving parts without succumbing to the sophomore slump many comic book franchises suffer. Although the addition of a trio of new villains may seem like overkill, Favreau keeps it all balanced and really pulls off some tremendous set pieces including a spectacular Monte Carlo Grand Prix where Tony is one-upped by the Godzilla-like tactics of Whiplash and narrowly escapes alive. The half hour finale is also loaded-for-bear with dizzying non-stop effects and action incorporating not one but two Iron Men…read more [BoxOffice]
The film’s arsenal of special effects technicians might be bigger than Mickey Rourke’s plastic surgery bill but what the fluid and fast action of Iron Man 2 confirms is the irrelevance of 3D to action cinema. Yes, in the world of Avatar, another dimension immerses the audience to the point of ignoring a weak plot and characters. In a How to Train Your Dragon or a Monsters vs Aliens, 3D adds depth to an artificially rendered world and draws the audience in as a result. But where characters are as grounded in reality as those in Iron Man 2, when we’re following the adventures of a superhero we genuinely believe could exist, then we simply don’t need 3D – the standout Monaco grand prix showdown between Iron Man and Whiplash, or the chaotic climax are immensely exciting and captivating sequences as they are…read more [inthenews.co.uk]

Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark / Iron Man in Iron Man 2
It may sound like it, but to call Iron Man 2 the Matrix Reloaded of superhero movies is not meant to be an insult. Like that highly-anticipated follow-up to the Wachowskis’ runaway blockbuster, Jon Favreau’s sequel essentially offers more of what at least superficially made the first successful, although rather than dubious philosophy and bullet-time cinematography, Iron Man 2 features a wealth of Robert Downey Jr., a general off-the-cuff sense of humor, and high-tech showdowns between dudes in robot suits.
At the same time, of course, the line is seldom well-defined between fans wanting more of a good thing and getting too much. Interestingly, albeit disappointingly, Favreau’s film tests the tensile strength of the threshold between the two, crafting a chockablock actioner that manages to deliver what’s asked while still somehow falling short of expectations…read more [Cinematical]

Iron Man 2 info

Director: Jon Favreau
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, John Slattery, Gary Shandling and Jon Favreau
Screenwriter: Justin Theroux
Producers: Kevn Feige
Genre: Action/Comedy
Rating: PG 13 for sequences of intense action and sci-fi violence and some language.
Running time: 124 min.
Release date: May 7, 2010
Distributor: Paramount

Iron Man 2 Wallpaper