Posts Tagged ‘ War Machine ’

With the concept art for Thor and Captain America hitting the internet the past few days, I figured it was time to flex my not-so-mighty photoshopPixlr skills and mash up a few images…

And you know what? As thrown together as it is, I kind of like it.

I’ve been reading reviews of Iron Man 2 and there seems to be a constant thread in a lot of them – it’s not as good as the first.

Everything fun and terrific about “Iron Man,” a mere two years ago, has vanished with its sequel. In its place, “Iron Man 2” has substituted noise, confusion, multiple villains, irrelevant stunts and misguided story lines. – THR

“Iron Man 2” isn’t as much fun as its predecessor, but by the time the smoke clears, it’ll do…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. – Variety

Iron Man 2 thankfully just about pulls it off, but only just. It’s a strangely paced film and suffers at times from incredibly long exposition and poorly contrived story lines that seem to be added to no doubt develop the Avengers storyline rather than the Iron Man 2 story that I wanted to see. – HeyUGuys

Not that all reviews are tinged with disappointment – over at AICN, Harry predictably gushes -

IRON MAN 2 is comic movie crack! I remember how I was after I saw SPIDER-MAN 2. It felt like the world finally fucking got it. I thought we’d always have films increasingly badass from that point – and SPIDER-MAN 3 was not better. And I got a tad sad. When you see a comic book movie that is absolutely the best of what that character can be on screen – it is euphoric. Something to celebrate, to revel in. I’ve been a comic geek my entire life. I remember when Bob Layton really began blowing my mind with IRON MAN. This is that… but on film… with hundreds of talented awesome artists, technicians and craftsmen all supporting that vision.

- while at HitFix, former AICNer Drew McWeeny offers up a more measured appraisal but still loves it:

“Iron Man 2” is, in every possible way, issue two of a comic book. It doesn’t have to spend time setting up the origin of the character, and it doesn’t feel the need to resolve every single story thread introduced in this one film. There’s a sense that everyone’s settling into this series and thinking big. It is just as confident as the first film, and incredibly aggressive in the way it handles story and characterization.

Earlier this morning I tweeted a link to the THR review and one of my tweetpals (there has to be a better way of saying that) tweeted this reply:

Always painful when folks with no comic book background review comic book movies…

And this, I think is the problem at the heart of comic book movies.

It’s pretty much a given that we’re going to go apeshit over them – and by ‘we’ I mean comics fans. If we love a character or a comic, then chances are good that we’re going to go and see the movie. If we love it, we’re going to tell everyone. If we don’t, we’re also going to tell everyone (only probably much louder). We want them to make movies based on comics which appeal to us.

The issue is that just because they appeal to us it doesn’t mean that they’ll appeal to everyone, and if the last couple of weekend box office tallies should tell us anything, its that movies based on comics need to be marketed smartly and, more often than not, need an actor with a decent amount of star power to make a difference on the opening weekend.

I loved Iron Man. Loved it – and it was a massive hit because it had a charismatic lead with marquee value (even if it was faded marquee value), it was directed by a guy with an eye for what works in movies and something to prove, it was perfectly cast (with the possible exception of a touch-too-soft Jim Rhodes, something corrected for the second outing), and it was a well structured and written movie with a clearly defined purpose – tell an origin story. Even so, the final act was a little bit flabby, the throwdown between Iron Man and Obadiah Stane a little bit same-old, same-old – but you could forgive that because the rest of the movie was that damn good.

So the natural expectation is that the second will be better. Downey Jr’s career has been resuscitated to an amazing extent; Jon Favreau has now had his big hit and has less to prove – but when I look at the additional elements added to the movie I can’t help worry whether the burden of expectation and reaching ambition when it comes to establishing the Mighty Marvel Movie Universe will weigh it down.

Iron Man 2 expands Nick Fury and Agent Coulson’s roles, has Rhodey stepping up to take on the War Machine mantle, and adds Black Widow (although apparently Scarlett Johansson’s character is never actually called by this), Whiplash and Justin Hammer to the mix while also alluding to Thor and Captain America, and setting up the Avengers - which is why Tony Stark goes to visit with General Ross at the end of the Incredible Hulk movie from a few years back.

That’s a lot for any movie to do – and that’s before you deal with any development for Tony and Pepper. From the looks of many reviews, it’s too much to some extent. Even Drew McWeeny admits that it may not be to everyone’s taste –

Both Captain America and Thor are overtly referenced in this film, and my guess is that we’re going to see these references work directly into the films that Marvel has in the works for next summer. It’s a fascinating gamble, and I talked to people after the film who were just annoyed by the whole thing, but I think it’s like watching part of a big, crazy mini-series.

The problem is that not everyone reads comics, not everyone understands that a big, crazy mini series can be a crapload of fun. And even comic readers know that for every big crazy mini series that’s a crapload of fun, you also get a Day of Vengeance.

The risk with any second movie in a comic movie franchise seems to be that the movie will try to do too much in the time it has, mistaking more for better. Here, I’d say that risk is compounded as it’s not trying to do too much on it’s own behalf, it’s also tying in threads and laying the ground work for at least four other movies past and present (Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, The Avengers) – and that’s without any potential spin-offs along the lines of Black Widow

Iron Man 2 will be a huge hit. I’ll go and see it opening weekend. I’ll buy the DVD. I would suspect that due to the goodwill from the first movie, it’s pretty much bulletproof when it comes to reviews unlike, say, The Losers.

I just think that Mighty Marvel Movie Universe may prove more a hindrance than a help to the individual movies comprising it if care isn’t taken.

Over at Bleeding Cool, Rich Johnston posted the cover to the upcoming Secret Avengers with the cast revealed:

So as anticipated (well, okay, between the original post and one of my comments, don’t give me grief) the roster is…Steve Rogers, Nova (!), Beast, War Machine, Valkyrie and Moon Knight.

And that’s one godawful costume that Steve has on. Oddly familiar, though, even if I can’t place it.

I also worry what this means for Nova’s solo book which is going on ‘hiatus’ while The Thanos Imperative runs its course…

War Machine.

Black Widow.

Nick Fury.

Justin Hammer.

Suitcase armor.

Almost the silver centurion armor.

What’s not to like?

Well, maybe Mickey Rourke still…

Director Jon Favreau is twittering about it!

Marvel.com is writing about it!

And Spoiler TV has these – and more pics – from it!

Yep, Iron Man 2 has started filming!

But the question on my mind is…what’s in Tony Stark’s lunchbox?

Reuters (and therefore everyone else) is reporting that Terrence Howard is no longer playing Jim Rhodes in the second Iron Man movie – and that Don Cheadle is now in the role.

Marvel had no comment, but sources close to the deal said negotiations with Howard fell through over financial differences, among other reasons. Marvel, which had wanted to work with Cheadle, then decided to take the role in another direction and approached the actor…

I’m not sure how I feel about this – I thought Howard did an excellent job as Rhodey and was looking forward to seeing him don the War Machine armor.

That said, for my money Cheadle is a much better actor, not to mention surprisingly bad-ass so I don’t feel that bad about him coming on board. I don’t think the five year age difference will make any difference, and Cheadle is actually closer to Robert Downey Jr’s age so that works out well.

I guess as long as I see a grey and silver armor with big shoulder-mounted cannons, I’ll be happy…

Busting shit up’s all well and good, but a man has to know when enough’s enough – and Jim Rhodes knows that, because bromance is about looking out for each other!

He’s more than just a pilot.

And that’s why Jim Rhodes knows that when his best friend’s stripping to his skivvies, it’s time to batten down the hatches and get some alone time!

In fact, what is it about Tony stripping down in the plane in front of Jim?

Hmmm……

…it’s for the ladies, a’ight?

No Cambodian slime-ball prison can hold Jim Rhodes!

He’s busting heads, taking names and packin’ the artillery – because he can handle an AK-47. ‘Cause that’s how Jim Rhodes rolls!

Hell no!

Got a fish tank full of water that weighs upwards of 300lb?

Jim Rhodes can throw that mother through a window like it was made of nothing if he has to – and that’s before he puts any armor on!

And that’s why Jim Rhodes Week’s getting a special extension!

Bow-wacka-wacka-wacka…you know how the music goes.

Jim Rhodes Week may have gone on seven days but by popular demand, I’m extending it even more – because, dammit, there’s a lot of things you can learn from Rhodey – like the fact that it never hurts to suck up to the boss!

B’romance means never telling your bro the truth about their stupid-ass hair ‘doo when they’re looking that pleased about it.

And Jim Rhodes knows that!

It’s that kinda smarts that’s getting Jim Rhodes Week extended!

There comes a time in every b’romance where the guys fall out. And when that happend, Jim Rhodes ain’t one to tip-toe around this issues and sugarcoat the truth.

No way – if Tony Stark was crawling around the gutter soaking up booze, then Jim’s gonna tell it like it is!

And if he’s a walking rum pot, then he’s gonna damn well call him a walking rum pot! And no-one – but no-one – lays hands on Jim Rhodes ‘less he asks for it!

Still, when all’s said and done bros will be bros – and when you make up, you make up like a man: with a handshake and, if you’re a real man, a hand on the hip!

…and he ain’t afraid to show it on the dancefloor!

When the boss is away, Jim Rhodes still shows the girls a good time. He can cut a rug with the best of ‘em – and he doesn’t discriminate against any nationality. Sure, he might not like it when French guys take potshots at the boss, but he’s more than happy to romance their ladies.

But…what would Tony say?

Don’t go distracting Jim Rhodes with none of your sweet talk when he’s flying, alright? Cause he’s a pilot and he knows what goes down when you don’t pay attention to what you’re doing.

And yeah, Jim Rhodes knows he’s cute, Tony…

Jim Rhodes knows who signs his checks. And he ain’t about to let no Frenchie put him in the poorhouse.

But we know it’s all just an act to cover up the b’romance that he and Tony have going on. ‘Cause folks just wouldn’t understand.

Jim. Tony. The b’romance really kicked in when they met face to face.

Was it the legendary ‘tache?

Was it the voice that sounded so much like the one of that tin man that Rhodey rode out the jungle on the shoulders of?

Or was it the killer safari suit?

Whatever it was, just as soon as the Tony appeared on the scene, Rhodey gave the pretty nurse he’d been buttering up the kiss off.

Because it’s bros before hos, you dig?

Yeah, Jim Rhodes ain’t afraid to get close to another man, not if it means a sweet ride out of the jungle, anyway.

At the time, Jim didn’t know that the man under the armor was a handsome devil, a multi-millionaire, or that he sported a sweet ‘tache that would give Tom Selleck upper-lip envy – but you can see the b’romance starting to bloom.