Iron Man 2

Rating: 5 Shurikens

I just got in from seeing Iron Man 2. I have to say it was a fine piece of cinematic artistry. It really doesn't get much better than this. The action is fast-paced without being too dizzying, the characters have real depth in spite of their comic book origins, and the cast is full of really good, big-name stars.

Robert Downey, Jr., reprises his role as the flamboyant playboy industrialist, Tony Stark, who is the alter-ego of Iron Man. Just as in the first movie, he captures the essence of the comic book character, and gives it real depth. Tony Stark's ego is exaggerated somewhat, compared to the character in the comics, but the big screen provides a medium that allows many more dimensions than 8 1/2" x 11" newsprint.

Downey is backed up by a slate of really excellent actors and actresses. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's love interest. She does a beautiful job of bringing a rather neglected character to life. Scarlett Johanssen plays Natasha Romanov, who is known as Black Widow from the old Avengers comics. Scarlet threatens to overshadow Gwyneth, but fails. Gwyneth is a better actress, and Scarlet's Hollywood lips are a detriment to her facial features, in my opinion. As Black Widow, Johanssen gets a nice action sequence of her own, and may well end up playing Black Widow in a feature film, the way Elektra was spun off from Daredevil.

Don Cheadle plays Colonel James Rhodes, Tony's liaison with the Pentagon. Colonel Rhodes often wore a suit of armor in the Iron Man comic books as War Machine, and was a sort of sidekick to Iron Man. In the first Iron Man movie, Rhodey, as he was referred to by his friend Tony Stark, was played by Terrence Howard. I like Don Cheadle's acting, and as a name actor, he has better recognition than Howard. He does a really nice job in the role, although it seems rather unnecessary to change actors between movies like that. That said, the character is strongly featured and true to the comic book.

Samuel L. Jackson reprises his previous cameo appearance from the tail end of the screen credits of Iron Man. He plays Nick Fury, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., a super-secret agency of the U. S. Government, kind of like a super CIA with high-tech weapons and operatives. James Bond would be right at home with S.H.I.E.L.D. Anyway, Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury is plays a larger role in the story, adding some continuity to a rumored upcoming Avengers movie.

The villain in the story is Whiplash, a man with energy whips that was one of Iron Man's signature villains. Played by Mickey Rourke, he comes across as a significant threat, but he is humbled early on. After some adjustments to his weaponry, and with the help of Justin Hammer, a rival millionaire industrialist of Tony Stark, Whiplash rises again. I won't say any more about that, because I am not a spoiler. You will have to see it yourself. Justin Hammer is played by Sam Rockwell, who also played Zaphod Beeblebrox in "The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

All in all, Iron Man 2 is an amazing accomplishment, and a tribute to the writers and artists who originated the characters over forty years ago. Some of them aren't alive to see it, but if they could, they would be proud. Also, Stan Lee makes his obligatory cameo as the man who Tony Stark mistakes for Larry King. The action is superb, the story is excellent, the acting is top-notch. And at over 2 hours long, it is a good value for a comic book movie addict like myself. I give it all five shurikens.

Be sure to stay after the credits for a teaser.