Not that I give a fuck about Iron Man, but it's just strange.

As it happens, I think Lat (probably tied with Mori) is my personal fave reviewer for the site so this review really makes me excited to see this. Cheers Lat. :^)

...looking forward to seeing this.

They should do as the comics do: tell the origin story in a short prologue. In the case of a movie, it would be over the title credits.

I don't need to SEE Doctor Strange go to medical school, become an arrogant doctor, get in an auto accident and suffer nerve damage, climb a mountain, train with the Ancient One, and become Sorcerer Supreme. They could tell me the basics of his origin in the credits with still images (Photo of Stephen as a graduate. Photo of Stephen as a doctor. Photo of Stephen in an auto accident. Photo of Stephen's damaged hands. Photo of Stephen climbing a mountain. Photo of the Ancient One. Photo of Stephen learning sorcerery.) or they could simply TELL me.

They could also do quick flashbacks, ala LOST.

The biggest problem with origin stories in movies is that they have to find some way to tie it into the movie's antagonist, even when the connection was never there in the books. Thus 1989 Batman has the Joker as Joe Chill and the Batman as Joker's creator. Fantastic Four has Doom way more involved in their origin than he should be. Spider-Man had Uncle Ben killed by the Sandman. Hellboy spent an entire movie facing the sorcerer who conjured him. Batman (Begins) was a stand-off between Bruce Wayne and the villain who trained him.

Just once I'd like a superhero franchise to start out with the hero fighting a villain who has NOTHING TO DO with the hero's origin. Just BAM! Drop us right in the middle of a fight. The move on to the alter ego for a while, then bring in the main villain. Give us a tiny flashback to the hero's origin, but not the whole thing. Make it a puzzle that we put together over time-- maybe over several movies.

Seriously; If someone used LOST's storytelling style for a superhero movie, it would be very, very cool. LOST is basically borrowing the comic book style anyway.

Boring was how I summed it up. Looking back as an adult, I can appreciate the story-telling that went into the movie. I appreciate the epic scope that Donner was attempting, however, I still find myself nodding off until the 'action' begins.

My point, is that origins have there place in movies, perhaps especially so in super hero movies. But they should not take up half of the movie. Know your audience. It is there for action and adventure, not a think piece on existentialism.

The one super hero movie, that always is given short shrift, but had perhaps the best origin, was Blade. It started off with action, and then through a very effective - and brief, flashback, it showed Blade's origin.

If the origin is action packed itself, then fine, take more time to explore it, but far too often the filmakers seem to approach it as if 'hey this is my only chance to show I am more than just an action super hero movie maker, but that I am an auteur'. And they wind up making boring movies front loaded unwieldy origins, and give short shrift to what MOST of the audience is coming to see in an action adeventure super-hero movie, and that is ACTION.

And Paltrow cannot act for shit unless she has a competent director babysitting her (apparently). Her performance in Sky Captain is total highschool drama class (or that retard camp's romeo and juliet play). I think Favreau could direct her but if he doesn't then she's gonna be a wooden plank. She's pretty sure...but unremarkable otherwise. And I agree with Gyllenhall too...unremarkable. Liv Tyler is more in the hottie arena compared to the other 2 but her acting is one of few slippery points in LotR...if you want to see her at her most undiminished hottness...watch 'Empire Records'...you'll also see Rene Zelleweger at her pristine most hottest moment too...even Robin Tunney with a shaved head looked good in that dumbass movie. Liv is nice but she's no Jennifer Connely!!

As for Favreau, I'm not so sure he's "revolutionizing" superhero movies...but I'm starting to believe that he might actually deliver a solid one. But I'm also of the opinion that this flick rests solely on the shoulders of RDJ's performance. He will BE this movie.

But since you're here 24/7, why don't you give us some more one-liner spam? OMG!

http://tinyurl.com/5c6o9o

BTW, RDJ was a brilliant move to play Stark. Like I said, he plays him snarky and I like it.

http://www.gpdmcu.com/operatio nslipknot/

Damn you, Herb West.

I agree those pics are more disturbing than anything.

What does she have, a dead cat down there?

Unless I find a bottle of Glenlivit.

The slipknot link has some pretty good criminal history if you take the time to read it.

Seriously though, this is an utterly mediocre movie IMO, and nothing (except the hammy but enjoyable performances) separates it from the shit we've been spoonfed with in the last couple of years. Replace dancing emo Peter Parker with slapstick armored comedy and referential humor and you've got this year's Spider-Man 3. Horrible pace, spoiled action, "mitty" humor, annoying female lead and no heart.

I wish Favreau wasted less time buttering up the fans with his phony, posturing "faithfulness" and hired real screenwriters. Welcome to the Hack Pack, Favs.

But this is just fantastic from beginning to end. I did NOT see anything after the credits, but that doesn't mean Fury won't be there for the gen.pub. showing. I'll wait for DVD. But they do work in SHIELD in a pretty cool way. RDjr rocks, and I liked how certain scenes seemed (and probably were) improvised, which immediately moves the film away from cheesy dialogue love scenes. The politics were interesting without being overbearing. It was amazingly funny. But also serious when it needed to be. The fact that the comedy and drama turned on a dime speaks to the tightness of the script (you've already seen one example in the trailer - where RDjr is joking with the troops right before they get attacked in a pretty harrowing scene straight out of the current wars). The tech is freakin' amazing - I especially liked the in-suit view, very much like the comics. All the actors were great and there was some excellent chemistry between Paltrow and RDjr. She makes a fine Pepper Potts. Bridges and Howard are also great.

As far as origin stories, I also do not get why people find these annoying. The whole point of being a superhero is NOT just to do cool stuff, but rather to show what choices a human being makes with power, and how they transform their lives. Of course, here it's not a cheesy great power=great responsibility speech, but rather an actual decision to change one's life and one's direction. The origin is not a tacked on thing in Iron Man, but is integral to the story and the direction of the plot.

This thing has legs. I also feel it's the most mature of the Marvel superhero films, the most adult. Still, I predict big box office and the makings of a trilogy. Can War Machine and Demon in a Bottle be far behind?

One last thing. Best. Stan. Lee. Cameo. Ever.

You are aware you're talking about Fantastic Four?

You're scary.

i'm not being rude about that piece of shit. Oh, fuck, didn't mean it.

Best pray to 2true to save me, or I'll be in deep shit.

go Jon Favreau! so... John Carter of Mars next riiiiiiiiiight?

ps - how's that TV show of yours going?

Especially those that diss the holy works of Evil Dead.

First you want to kill me, then you want to kiss me. Blow.

Now for Donner's Superman..I will say that, to me, it has moments of the "best superhero movie" but overall it falls somewhat short. Primarily because of Luthor; this has been a problem for cinema Supes since day one. Supes must have a formidable enemy (2 nuclear missiles traveling in opposite directions do not count). Luthor in all the movies old and new, to date, has been a buffoon, clownish type who surrounds himself with incompetence. Gett rid of Luthor permanently (unless you channel Smallville's portrayal of Luthor, the best thing about that show!!!). If the non-geek crowd can't deal with Superman without Luthor then fuck em...they can go watch the next Shrek installment and have an orgy of dumbass pop-culture references all to themselves (if I hear funky-town even one more time I'm gonna punch a mall Santa in the ear next xmas). The best moments? pretty much anything Chris Reeve and I'm not saying this cause the guy was paralyzed or dead. That scene when he finds Lois dead after racing to save her....beautiful and powerful. When he screams and blazes into the sky in pure furious despair...it gives me chills and goosebumps every time. It practically gives me goosebumps just writing about it...one of the best superhero scenes ever. Other good things: The Daily Planet, Jimmy Olsen (pitch perfect I think), Perry White, etc. I liked Margot Kidder as Lois Lane even if I never thought she was that attractive. I still think she captured the essence of the character and is leagues above and beyond Bosworth's performance (worst casting ever). If "Man of Steel" gets made...it better have a real enemy that Supes can actually fight. Every geek remembers the build-up to the fight scene in Superman 2. The final results may have pleased some and not others but the excitement as it started is undeniable. Take that to mean people are hella-psyched for a kick ass super powered fight. We got a tease and excellent example in the ending scene of Matrix Revolutions (probably best part of that movie) where Neo and Smith fight Superman style. Now why can't we get a similar kick ass fight in a freakin Superman movie??!?!?