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Latauro From AICN-Downunder Reviews IRON MAN!!
I have a problem with giving films star ratings, or, really, any sort of numerical rank, but I do appreciate that some people may want a quick summation without reading too much, so here it is: yes, IRON MAN is everything you were hoping for.
To qualify that statement, I should point out that it will only be what you were hoping for if, in fact, you were hoping for one of the most enjoyable superhero movies ever made, with no weak spots and brilliant characterisation. Fanboys with impossibly high standards who are only happy when they're poking holes in things are going to have their work cut out for them.
I'm not going to delve into the plot at all -- one of the reasons I studiously avoided most of the marketing for this film is so I could have some surprises when I actually watched it, and I'm glad I did -- but I will say that this film should help put to bed the argument that origin stories are getting tired. I've always felt that complaining about seeing an origin story in a superhero movie is like complaining about every romantic comedy featuring a guy and a girl hooking up. Isn't the origin half the fun? Taking something patently ridiculous and trying to have it make sense for a cynical 21st century audience? IRON MAN's origin story actually has its cake and eats it too; somehow, the film blends a relatively grounded trial-and-error process with moments of glorious ridiculousness. Watching Tony Stark go from self-centred weapons manufacturer to noble superhero is the
best part of this film, and it quite rightly focuses most of its energies on this transformation.
Now, to the directorial stylings of Jon Favreau... Reading interviews with him early on in the process, I was convinced of his passion and understanding for the genre, but what impressed me in the film itself was his handling of the action scenes. Action scenes are typically considered the most exciting part of any film (which is why you hear so many stories about studios reshooting films to cram in more tedious car chases), but they're actually the thing that bores me most. They're usually so workmanlike and standard, that I find myself looking at my watch more than the screen. Of course, I've begun to notice that only happens with directors who are generally considered "action directors". I think recent trends against the typical action film bear this out. Genuine action scene excitement is, these days, typically generated by guys like Paul Greengrass and Peter Jackson; not the names people used to associate this sort of movie. And that's why it works. Following in that tradition, Favreau appears to understand why action is supposed to be exciting, and delivers scenes that are, upon close inspection, constructed in a very unconventional way.
On to the cast... Robert Downey Jnr is on screen for practically the entire film, which in itself is enough to recommend it. I honestly believe this is some of his best work... and I'd say more about him, but I'm actually trying to tone down the gushing. Needless to say, he's perfectly suited to the role; his casting is almost certainly the film's biggest masterstroke.
I'm afraid I can't fault the supporting cast, either. Jeff Bridges is predictably great, Terrence Howard continues to prove he's the one of the best character actors around, and Gwyneth Paltrow matches Downey Jnr in every scene they share. We hear this claim a lot in press notes for comic book films, but this time it's true: Pepper Potts is not a standard damsel-in-distress. She's an active foil to Stark, and an actual key participant in the climactic battle. I'm a huge fan of SPIDER-MAN 2 and BATMAN BEGINS, but neither of those films really knew what to do with their love interest. IRON MAN does. Paltrow tends to cop a lot of flack, but I've always been a fan. When she's in the right movie (SE7EN, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS), she's perfect. Oh, and very glad to see Clark Gregg getting a lot of screen time. I love Clark Gregg.
I haven't mentioned special effects yet, mostly because I didn't notice them. And that's actually a compliment. I couldn't tell the difference between the practical effects and the CGI because I wasn't sitting there thinking "Oh, isn't that clever how they rendered those flames"; I was instead watching Iron Man fly. It's not often that you can immerse yourself completely in a film so wall-to-wall with effects, which makes the achievement all the more impressive.
This is usually the part of the review where I'd talk about the moments where the film dropped the ball, in order to maintain (or manufacture) my reputation as an objective critic. Sadly for me, I can't find such a moment, so I'll have to risk your scorn and derision and claims of plantiness until you see the film this weekend and discover that I was telling the truth all along.
I still consider SPIDER-MAN 2 to be the greatest superhero movie to date, but IRON MAN firmly secures its place as an automatic name-check when we speak about the highlights of the genre. They can't make the sequel fast enough.
(PS: As a side note, don't hold your breath for the Samuel L Jackson cameo. The scene they notoriously filmed with Stark and Nick Fury is, it now seems, undoubtedly for INCREDIBLE HULK. But there are some great S.H.I.E.L.D. references that will no doubt pay off in future Marvel movies.)
Peace out,
Latauro
AICNDownunder@hotmail.com
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Seriously- It's open in Australia, we've had it since Friday. This is bizarre. Not that I give a fuck about Iron Man, but it's just strange.
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To see this movie
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This movie will not be as good as people think. Spiderman 2 wasn't all that great, either.
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...for Friday. This will own.
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Now all we need is Ringy's rant again on fanboys, blah-blah-blah....
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But this one is more carroty than leafy, some actual substance to the plantitude.
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Iron Man looks good, as long as RDjr gets to be himself. Which the trailers suggest is the case.
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sounds like its the movie we have been expecting...i just hope the film manages a few suprises....
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Latauro's been here for years, you might as well call Harry or Mori 'plant'. And before some snarky idiot comes and makes one of those silly conspiracy theorist claims that you can buy good reviews off the regular AICN contributors, even if that's so that would still make them 'shills' not 'plants'.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. :^)
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and the Sam Jackson scene IS in the film. It's after the credits. It takes place in Tony's house. I rank this as the 3rd best Marvel film after Spidey 2 and X-Men 2.
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who the hell is Clark Greg?
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How in the fuck have you seen it 5 times already? Just curious, not being a dick. I usually stay in movies until after the credits anyway, so I'll see for myself this weekend.
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Idiot.
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The rest of the world seems to have had it all weekend already- He's seen it 5 times over 4 days.
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I can't believe two posters have cried plant already...
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I work "in the industry" can't tell you where because I don't want to get fired. But in the version I saw, Jackson's scene was after the credits.
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It's a decent film but the level of veneration it gets seems overblown, especially given how mediocre Dunst is in almost every scene. As for Iron Man, it looks great but I don't expect it to match TDK for obvious reasons. It should still be an awesome movie however.
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This plant must not have a bomb in his rib-cage because it sounds like he gotta eat then drink a beer and cheet on his wife.
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Who is the voice of Jarvis? I've been thinking Anthony Stewart Head but I'm not sure now after hearing it again.
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Setting aside the fact that she named her fucking kid Apple and that she thinks she's British, Paltrow is a decent actress but hardly a heavyweight in terms of talent. I personally think her best work was in SEVEN, limited as her scenes were.
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Pay for my parking and you can be my "+1" for Capone's Chicago screening!
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Paul Bettany
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I thought it was something like that. Was it that good, that you wanted to see it 5 times, or did you have to watch it that many times for work?
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What the fuck is wrong with you? ;)
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1. Spider Man 2
2. Hellboy
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what do you mean? parking is expensive, i'm poor, and I'm giving someone else an opportunity to see it early. what's so hard to understand?
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Mary Jane was supposed to be this model type. Dunst ain't that.
And for some reason I've always liked Paltrow, probably because I have a weakness for Hitchcockian type blondes. She gets a lot of flack for some reaon, but I thought she was good in Seven, Shakespear in Love (it wasn't her fault that movie one best picture that year), the Royal Tantumbaums, and Proof. She's a good actress with the right material, and she's decent looking. -
NOOOOO!
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Okay, that makes sense that it's Bettany.
As for Paltrow, I found it amusing at Comicon that she had a "hurt ankle" and yet was wearing 3 inch high heels. Robert Downey helped her hobble on stage at the QanA but she seemed more than capable prancing about later on in the press area.
I don't like her in films, she does nothing for me as an actress. I think Maggie Gyllenhal would have been a better fit for Pepper but Bruce Wayne grabbed her first. -
Fuck yes Dunst was miscast. She's stoned out of her mind through most of those movies. Just a paint by numbers performance. I was honestly rooting for her to die in those films. She's not worth all the trouble that PP goes through to keep her.
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just an okay actress, not to mention she's not even cute. If they had to recast from Katie Holmes, there's 100 better people they could have and should have chosen.
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I guess.
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...DOES WHATEVER AN IRON CAN...
...looking forward to seeing this. -
marvel movie franchise? appears so.
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Oh, never mind....I didn't know you were 'poor' ... I just thought it was funny that you were recruiting TBers to pay for your parking. Hah.
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Thanks to a **friend** ... Woot!
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IM 1 is greatly successful. Favrau comes out with IM 2 to even greater movie and geekdom accolades. Then enticing offers start to overcome Fav and he opts not to finish the trilogy and work on his highly coveted and secret desire to do Zathura II, or that remake of The Mario Brothers movie. IM 3 has handed over to Brett Ratner, who knows how to make a "blockbuster" and Fav ends up scorned forever and relagated in insignificant pics like Singer from XM. This pattern was broken only once with the Bourne pictures, and they weren't even superhero pics! Don't do it Favreau! Go the course! Immortalize youself in the halls of geekdom forever.
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...holy smokes, man, that movie was a piece of garbage! The 'space diner' scene alone caused me to throw up on the lady in front of me.
IRON MAN looks great, I am absolutely psyched to see it. -
Rocklover79. I don't exactly agree but that's one of the funniest posts I've read. I never thought reading these posts could be more fun than the films we look forward to.
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I had to watch it. I still think it's very good though. The actors are likable, the effects are great, it's just "fun." I rank it as 3rd in the Marvel movies, but it ranks well below Batman Begins, Superman: The Movie and The Crow on my personal list.
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About the Sam Jackson as Fury scene being after the credits? No offence banshee, but you know what the internet is like for people pretending to be other than they are.
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http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=7134
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....And TDK heaven will be revealed to you.
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I'm not sure one example really counts as a pattern. Maybe you could count the 90s Batman films and the earlier Superman films, with a bit of stretching. If you were a bit more vague and predicted the third film as being a mess with no specifics about director replacement, you could include Spider-Man and have more of a leg to stand on, though I don't think 3 was as bad as some make out. Funny post though, and I hope Favs makes many kick-ass IM films, or even gets to do the Avengers movie.
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Thanks for the thoughts. I'm not expecting anything life changing from Iron Man, so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. And it must be sweet to be employed in the industry and get access to these films before they hit theatres.
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The fact that he thinks ANY of the spiderman movies are "great" superhero movies pretty much ruins this review for me.
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But a sweet-smelling rose plant! Don't worry, Mr. (or Ms.?) Latauro, I believe your opinion is solely your own and not commissioned by the studio. You've convinced me to watch this movie, thank you.
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As always, an enlightened and informed talkbacker sums up what the shady "review" meticulously dodges: the movie ain't that good (actually, I thought it was terrible) and the reviewer is totally off the mark, not unlike the movie.
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If someone seeing the movie in the theater says the scene isn't there then they cut it for whatever reason. If that happens I'll come back on here and describe the scene word for word so when it shows up on the dvd you'll know I was telling the truth.
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Uh, no actually. I couldn't care less who the hero was before he acquired his powers. would prefer every superhero movie to begin with the hero already fighting crime. It's why you couldn't pay me enough to watch Smallville (I'll watch it when he dons his Superman outfit).
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That movie had a lot of cinematic corn in its poo.
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i'll only forget about the cameo if someone says they stayed until after the credits and the was no scene. if they save that scene for the dvd, i think that's a ginormous waste of a superb geek moment... if it ends up in Hulk i would be very surprised as the descriptions of the scene only feature Tony Stark and it was filmed for Iron Man.
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matches what i've read on more than a few sites about the Fury scene... so either they've all seen it or they're all telling the same lie.
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The origin is a very small, very uninteresting part of most heroes. The fact that movies feel the need to focus on origin stories all the time-- even several times-- is quite annoying.
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. -
...Spiderman 2 isn't even in the same league.
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I just hope Iron man doesn't go Emo and start dancing in a night club.
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Runs over fat kids bumping chests with his van.
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seeing it tuesday at 8, at which time many months of waiting will finally be over, so excited
IRON MAN and GTA IV in the same week...maybe there is a God after all... -
I agree Spiderman 2 is plotless and hits the same ideas over the head until you realize Doc Ock is a subplot and Spiderman whines too much. Good flick but highly over rated. Compared to Burtons Batman and Donners Superman its far too melodramatic.
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Clearly, Latauro saw this at the Aussie premiere, which was before the Rome premiere. Every report I've heard from the Rome premiere onward has confirmed that the Fury cameo is in after the credits, so I'm pretty confident he's there.
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From Cracked.com, For some unknown reason, tradition states that the first movie must consist largely of something no one in the audience paid to see: The superhero as he lived before he could do any cool superhero stuff.
Other genres don't feel the need to do this; Die Hard didn't spend the first half of the movie with John McClane taking target practice, Rambo didn't spend an hour showing Rambo in basic training. Why can't we just jump in?
Instead we have to watch Peter Parker struggling as a photographer, and Bruce Banner quietly working as a scientist, as if we must first appreciate the tedium of their regular lives before we get to see them jump off an exploding building.
And to double the problem, they usually throw in an origin story for one or more of the villains, too. Behold! Here is the awesome badass supervillain, back when he was just a disgruntled dude in a lab coat! Often to save time they'll cram those two origin stories together, by having the main villain kill off the hero's parents (regardless of whether or not it happened in the comic book) simultaneously starting their respective careers in superheroism and supervillainy.
In Spider-Man 3, the previous origin story is changed so that the current villain (The Sandman, Marko Cain) is now the murderer of Uncle Ben, a plot point based entirely on the premise that none of the fans owned a DVD of the first film.
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The Origin is the part that the worst super hero movies skip. Spending time to build credibility behind the hero is worth more than just throwing him into the first frame for tons of dumb action. Thats the PROBLEM with super hero movies. Can't you see that? What your asking for is what makes the worst ones so bad. Think about it. Fantastic four does the origin in 15 minutes. Spends no time on it at all. Daredevil. Ghost Rider. ALL rush the origins. How good did they turn out? The best ones take their time with the characters and origins making the costume reveal much more exciting and you can back it up with an emotional attachment to them.
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It may be true that Burton didn't "waste" time in establishing Batman's backstory but he surely spent a considerable amount of screen time telling the Joker's origin. Then again, Jack's ego was the real driving force of the 89' Batman so perhaps that's just the way it had to be.
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are pretty awesome.
http://tinyurl.com/3lojzr
Especially the one where Joker,Batman and Dent are all covering half their faces. Why is it that foreign websites always get the best new TDK pics? Fucking Warners will probably try to shut down that site, too. -
Funny one.
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If you're in the area I have Iron Man advanced screening tickets that i won on sale on ebay, item # 170214377125. They are for tomorrow night.
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How early I can see this. Maybe Thursday night here in New York. I can't wait anymore!!!
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No Fury scene. I was also expecting that, but nothing. Just got home from a press screening... Me and a couple more dudes stayed for the credits and after the Paramount logo and MPAA blue crap there was nothing. Only ashamed dissapointed geek looks on our faces. "No Samuel L. Jackson then, eh" somebody said. Nope.
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Apr 28, 2008 2:42:58 PM CDT
Origins, action, nuace. It boils down to knowing your audience.
by toadkillerdog
I saw Superman: The movie as a kid. I remember the hype for almost two years leading up to it. 'You will believe a man can fly.'Well, when he FINALLY did fly, I sort of beleived it, but it took damn near 50 minutes before he even flew briefly across the Fortress, then another twenty minutes before he saved Lois. It was excruciating as a kid waiting for the 'big reveal' to happen. 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. -
That goofball reviewer doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about.
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Have you seen him?
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Yeah they released a new one earlier this week, but 4 more have been released today, one at IGN, three others at Yahoo. They're fucking awesome!
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what a fucking jackass I be.
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yeah, it's my least favorite of the four, I think they were trying for a more conventional poster then the Joker-centric creepy ones from earlier.
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The others are shite.
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I'm partial to Harvey Dent's, myself.
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whysoserious.com has a new "gather at these coordinates in these cities" viral event. the countdown clock ends 5:30 ET
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Sorry to be the one to tell you, but your Dad got arrested last night. It had something to do with a one-legged prostitute and a goat. Not only is your Dad a creepy stalker, he's a pervert too.
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you have to use THIS address or you get the OLD viral thing:http://whysoserious.com/itsallpartoftheplan/
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Really hasn't aged well. Or is it just me? I seem to remember everyone gushing over Spider Man 2 and X-Men 2 when they first came out and now the hate factor seems to be high. I guess I remembered wrong. For me the issue with superhero films is what I call the "eye rolling" factor. It ranges anywhere from horrible casting choices (Superman Returns) to the entire movie being unwatchable garbage (Ghost Rider and both Fantastic Four films). Even benchmark movies like the original Superman had an evil genius surrounding himself with incompetent boobs (Otis and Miss Tessmacher). I thought that Batman Begins was going to be the first comic book movie ever where I didn't roll my eyes. And then Katie Holmes appeared on the screen. And Liam Neeson unveiled his microwave weapon. Really close. Spider Man 2 was on track too but had Kirsten Dunst. And Doc Ock having crates delivered by who is undoubtedly the stupidest FedEx delivery person on the planet ("Just sign here, please. So mister, with the menacing metal arms coming out of your back, what are you planning to do with all these boxes that weigh a ton in this creepy abandoned warehouse down on the docks?"). That said, I still loved Spider Man 2. And all the camp value aside, Superman II rocks if only for General Zod.
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I guess the "purist" racist douchebags got their wish...
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Maybe I saw a different movie? Peoples views these days are fucked up.
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looks like each city will end up with a 3 number combination to the safe behind each painting (London's is already in progress). once all cities are done and combinations entered, it must reveal the new trailer.
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Atomic Robo would give him a good ol' country ass-whuppin' any day of the week! Still, this sounds like a flick worth watching. Nice review Latauro (as usual).
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And that bitch was 100% origin.
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But will post about the two epic movie retards making a new movie? It doesn't make a lick of sense
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Indeed. This seems to be an unconscious meter for shite for me as well. "Oh...so it wasn't the weird hair guy but the Sandman guy who killed Uncle Ben? Out of the fuckin blue??! Ohh....I see...good completely bullshit motive for Spidey!! (roll eyes)"..."Is that? Oh shit...yes...the Thing is wearing a giant cheeto costume!!! (roll eyes)"...."That's Nic Cage? channeling Moe from the 3 stooges? as Ghostrider??!?!! (roll eyes)"...yes...thats a good shit indicator. There are exceptions...I don't recall rolling my eyes the first time I saw X3 but now that HBO plays it every 6 hours on the hour...I have to say there are numerous eye rollers (can god damn Wolverine stop fucking crying already?!?!?!).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!!
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OOHHH!!!!! oooooohhhhhHHHHoohHHHHH!!!
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About time!!
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Apr 28, 2008 4:04:33 PM CDT
BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE OF ALL TIME = SUPERMAN THE MOVIE
by bringingsexyback
Spidey 2 doesn't even compare. Although I love that one.
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I just wasn't here 24/7 like you, you perpetual virgin.
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...hotness. It's all up to you, Robert. You and Jeff "I'm the Darkhorse of this movie" Bridges.
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Apr 28, 2008 4:06:58 PM CDT
2 Standby tickets for tonight's chicago screening available!
by shiftyeyeddog2
After all my planning, my "+1" flaked out, so then I offered it to Talkbackers. But then after all that soliciting, it doesn't matter, as I won't be able to even make it there myself in time tonight. DAMNIT! so if anyone in chicago wanted to go, there's at least 2 standby tickets that will be available!
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Favreau is revolutionizing superhero movies with this one. The last half-dozen have been lame as hell.
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Because of the cave scenes in Afghanistan.
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Regarding gotham, you took the words right out of my comment box.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.
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I'm still more excited for SPEED RACER, but I've been a lifelong IRON MAN fan as well, so... for the next two weeks I'll be in geek heaven!
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Just looking at the posters on the street makes me so goddamned excited. And when I say "revolutionizing", I really meant in quality. So many shitty movies, from FF to X3 to Spidey 3, I think people forgot how to make a good superhero movie. It ain't hard!!! The subject matter is just ripe for awesomeness, it just takes someone with an intimate knowledge and appreciation for it to do it right. Handing FF to Tim Story was such a retarded waste. Favreau will make Hollywood take notice - THIS is how you do a superhero movie. Batman also (don't lynch me y'all). Later ... and don't forget Dancing With The Stars at 8PM EST.
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Damn You Michael Bay
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Nobody cares what you have to say because you never actually say anything of significance.But since you're here 24/7, why don't you give us some more one-liner spam? OMG!
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Do you have the links for the new TDK posters you were talking about at IGN and Yahoo?
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...the combination for the London safe is 35-90-48. But once opened, the safe just gives another clue. AHHHHHHHH
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more like why so fucking complicated
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..but then the Care Bears movie from the 80's was better than Spider-Man 3. :-o
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Any thoughts on who the Miserable People are supposed to be?
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makes sense. I have definitely noticed a trend here to attempt to not post the same news as other sites unless they can add something, or unless the news is monumental so the community at large can discuss (i.e. bitch) about it. There are plenty of sites detailing every time an element of TDK viral campaign reveals itself.
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Thanks for pointing that out! GREAT role.
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yes, AICN's lack of TDK viral updates is laughable indeed, especially since there's some pretty heavy stuff happening RIGHT THIS SECOND, but alas, seeing it here in a couple of days will be a cool refresher.
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When Paltrow got caught frolicking naked outside with Brad Pitt? http://tinyurl.com/5c6o9o
The paparazzi had a field day and Paltrow became an instant celebrity. Tramp. -
Please help!!!!
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I'm not overhyped for it, but I expect I will enjoy it.
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Apr 28, 2008 5:33:20 PM CDT
Hate to say it but I'm getting a real Hellboy feeling with this
by jtstyler
I have a funny feeling that this will be one of those film that some people on the internet will rave about but the rest of the world will says it was just OK. There's already a real divide forming on between the geek reviews and the critic reviews. And I have been burnt on so many geek reviews! Well, only a few more days to go....
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She has more bush than old lady from THE SHINING. I think she is a beautiful woman, though. Old lady from SHINING, that is.
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has anyone posted this yet?
http://tinyurl.com/5c6o9o
BTW, RDJ was a brilliant move to play Stark. Like I said, he plays him snarky and I like it. -
wrong link.
http://www.gpdmcu.com/operationslipknot/
Damn you, Herb West.
I agree those pics are more disturbing than anything.
What does she have, a dead cat down there?
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Question you asked Stallone.
Great review. -
Sorry man, I didn't mean to disturb you so bad that you couldn't even post a link. Just be grateful that you didn't see the rest of the photos with Brad Pitt. You ain't seen disturbing like a naked Brad doing his best impression of Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs. Yes, that scene.
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No sleep for me tonight.
Unless I find a bottle of Glenlivit.
The slipknot link has some pretty good criminal history if you take the time to read it. -
I saw your Dad. He's out there doing drugs with Brian Singer in his trailer again.
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can't wait to see iron man!
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ANYYOONNNE HOOOOMMMEEE
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No. The origin is the sort of tedious exposition most comic books get out of the way in five or six panels so they can get on to the fun stuff.
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And since this reviewer also thinks so, I think I will make time to see Iron Man this weekend. I still havent recovered from Spidy 3 though. What the fuck were you thinking Raimi?
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hey Gwai Lo I've seen the new ones too, pretty awesome. The one with the bat-pod is sweet. I hope the viral campaign going on as I write this leads to the new trailer.
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This could wind up being a mega-hit; a franchise to replace Spider-Man and be the next big thing. Maybe. It seems zeitgeisty enough - billionaire arms dealer realizes the error of his ways and tries to redeem himself. Seems... timely somehow.
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Come on, for a young impressionable kid such as myself it was the shit, and I still enjoy it very much. It's silly, yes, but it has Zod and those great fights. Plus Superman loses his powers over the girl, and it actually helps the plot. (Cough, cough I'm looking at you, out of the blue lost powers in Spider-Man 2)
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Sorry, all the Superman movies have sucked. ALL OF THEM. Although, admittedly, the music is perfect.
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Except I'm actually thinking of Gregg Henry, who isn't in IRON MAN. But he should be.
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Don't get me wrong I like the Spiderman films, but the hype about them is getting a little out of hand. Spiderman II (as great as it is) is not as good as either of the first two Superman movies.
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Sorry Darth Voodoo.
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No, Luthor, it is as it was: on the brink. With good fighting evil. See you in 20.
Reeve's last words as Supes. -
It's the truth. Fans and critics agree!
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God I fucking love that movie. Best film of 2007 hands down. AMAZNG soundtrack too.
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Most of the reviews I have read have been very positive. Of course, although it does lack monkeys and race cars, it does have super-technology and what looks like a Giant Robot. SO YEAH!!! ZOOM ZOCKO KABLAMMO!!!
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Superman
Spider-Man 2
Batman Begins
Sin City
Spider-Man
Batman
Superman 2
300
X-2: X-Men United aka Wolverine 2: Wolverine United with other mutants.
Batman Returns
Blade
Blade 2
X-Men
Spider-Man 3
Hulk
Daredevil
Batman Forever
X-Men 3
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Blade 3
Ghost Rider
Superman 3
Batman and Robin
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Nick Fury
Captain America
Elektra
Howard the Duck
Catwoman
I probably missed some. Oh well. -
From Hell, V for Vendetta, LXG, Road to perdition. Yeah, I missed some. V for Vendetta and Road to Perdition were good but not great. From hell was ok. LXG was sorta "meh."
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Tell my pops I'm looking for him.
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Apparently having mechanical arms grafted to your back also gives you super-invulnerability to spidey kicks and punches to the face. Seriously - count the number of times Spidey's hits (that can smash through brick) connect with no effect. Some fanboy will scream that he was pulling his punches/kicks. Bullshit - it was just poorly realised. At least with IronMan there'll be (relatively) more reality-grounding. I would have LOVED to see what Cameron would have done with it. Spiderman 3 was the ultimate realization of all the ridiculousness of the series starting with #1.
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but I'm down for this one...and I was bored by all the Spiderman movies...Latauro is never wrong, guys. trust me.
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Left out ? That was one of the scenes I was most looking forward to.
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They're the best by far so far. Oh, but Batman Begins was awesome too.
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I"VE ABANDONED MY TOY!!!
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"Read my iron lips."
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True dat.
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Ever think of emigrating?
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BEWARE SKULL DUGGERY!!! BEWARE CAR ACROBATIC TEAM featuring SNAKE OILER!!! IRON CHIM CHIM HAS COME TO... MONKEY AROUND WITH YOUR WELL BEING!!! HE"S GOING TO DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! HE'LL DRINK IT UP!!!
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He has a competition in him.
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unless sitcom direction and lazy writing are considered groundbreaking in this field - albeit they were already present in Batman Forever, in which Favreau played. Full circle^^
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 for a 70s Superman that totally redefined the character of Superman, that's somewhat excusable. And all credit to Lynn Stalmaster, the casting genius extraordinaire, who single-handedly discovered Reeve and made sure he got Donner's attention.
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Even though he's a Japanese monkey, underneath it all he's... A GREAT AMERICAN!!!
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sue me.
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Emigrating is a word, you dumbfuck.
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Apr 28, 2008 9:34:06 PM CDT
I Think Supes Is Great, But I Really Dislike The Donnor FIlms
by laserpants
and the Singer... thing. I like the theme music, and there are good moments in 1 & 2, but overall, they're both pretty bad / corny / ridiculous. Admittedly, when I was a wee youngin, and I LOVED Supes 1 and 2. But I loved almost everything when I was 5 or so.
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They need toy testers.
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I can't understand why people love it so much. It's easily my least favourite of Raimi's Spidey movies.
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Apr 28, 2008 9:37:44 PM CDT
I WATCH SUPES UNTIL METROPOLIS, THEN SKIP TO HELICOPTER
by bringingsexyback
scene. Then I pause on Valerie Perrine's bikini scene, do my business, and skip to the earthquake.
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I'll give that to the Donnerverse.
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Did she ever not look 60?
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Apr 28, 2008 9:43:41 PM CDT
I LOVE WHEN JONATHAN KENT PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HIS SON
by bringingsexyback
and says, "There's one thing I do know, son, and that is you are here for a reason. I don't know whose reason it is, or whatever the reason ... maybe it's... I don't know ... but I do know this. It's not to score touchdowns."
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Man that scared me in a cool way when I was a kid. I really wish someone would just reboot the whole thing. Use the good elements of the Donnorverse, like the origin stuff, and then move from there. Get rid of all the hokey stuff and really godpower it up.
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But she was the perfect Lois ... I think the rooftop terrace scene was one of the finest - so much chemistry between Reeve and Kidder.
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Gotham do you need everything explained to you?!?!
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Apr 28, 2008 9:53:22 PM CDT
THE ENGLISH BACHELOR'S ABOUT TO DUMP ONE OF THE HOES
by bringingsexyback
I think it's gonna be the brunette.
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She's got no body.
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Apr 28, 2008 9:59:53 PM CDT
I THINK THE BLONDE WITH THE BABY DOLL DRESSES GONNA WIN
by bringingsexyback
Hot body, baby doll dresses FTW
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Apr 28, 2008 10:01:23 PM CDT
I LIKE WHEN SUPERMAN FLIES IN SPACE AND SMILES TO CAMERA
by bringingsexyback
That was pretty great.
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when he was teaching Clark, and then all of a sudden, Superman appears.
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Apr 28, 2008 10:04:23 PM CDT
CLARK SHOULD'VE PUNCHED THROUGH THE TRUCKER'S CHEST
by bringingsexyback
and handed his still beating heart to him. Fucking prick.
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Ultraman Vs. Iron Man
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someone played this: http://www.whysoserious.com/sitti ngducks/ and somehow won, and then this opened...
http://www.whysoserious.com/hap pytrails/ -
will have a very hard time passing 20 mil with what little trash we've seen so far of it. There are like 3 people on this site that want to see this drivel. Iron Man on the other hand is going to smash the BO. This fucker looks excellent.
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Iron Man just is not as beloved as Supes and Bats. 160 million domestic box office. Still respectable and profitable. The best part is that it looks like a pretty darn good flick. Bring on the sequels...
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In Spidey 1, The origin was handled well but the special f/x were at times, horrible and the Goblin was a missed opportunity in both costume design and characterization. Spidey 2 had a few decent fights but was pretty boring overall. No meat to chew on. Spidey 3 was all over the place and had some of the most blatant CGI f/x ever put on film. It looked like rubber people bouncing off buildings. I love Spider-Man but have no desire to re-watch the films all the way through. Ever. Peter Parker is an insecure, shy pouting bitch when we meet him in Spider-Man 1 and he's still an insecure, shy pouting bitch by the time part 3 ends. Great character development.
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Many people will hate but I somehow found that movie to be more fun than half of the other Marvel movies. Though it isn't a masterpiece, it is a comic book movie in its truest sense and a helluva lot better than the Hulk, Ghost Rider, Daredevel, and the "Horrible 3s" (X3, Spider-man 3, and Blade 3). I dunno, maybe I liked the Surfer and that Fantasticar chase too much. C'mon, I know somebody is with me on this.
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...Aint it OLD News used to be at the vanguard of such things, but keeps staying far behind - what of the new Indy 4 TV spot, which has not only been all over YouTube, but is now up on the official site? What of the Hobbit casting news? What of the 3 more Dark Knight posters they haven't shown? And so on....get with the program folks, your competition is flogging you in the áss.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqzL7Fc1gqM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqzL7Fc1gqM
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heres another link just to rub it in
http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=the+dark+knight&sa=N&tab=nv&so=1 -
Just spreading the word. This shit is incredible.
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It was pretty freakin' awesome (thanks Capone!). I'd even argue it's the best Marvel superhero film yet. I don't get the love for Spiderman2 unless you're an emo teenager. All that cheesy high drama and overwrought dialogue, without much point. The first 2 X-Men had some fantastic moments, but had their flaws as well (I'm looking at you, Halle).
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.
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Then put a smile on that face.
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What's interesting is that this isn't a geeky teenager who suddenly gets superpowers. This is someone who ALREADY has a lot of power, but is forced to question what he has been doing with it, and the fact that his decisions (and ignorance about others' decisions) have a global impact.
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that was one of the things I never thought Raimi or Maguire got right. SPIDY SHOULD NEVER SHUT THE FUCK UP. EVER. He is the Ryan Reynolds of superheros, the villians want to rip his head of just to stop the torent of verbal abuse and quips aimmed at them. I really want to see a great action scene covered in fast paced banter that will make me laugh so hard I piss myself while at the same time being skull fucked by the utter coolness of the action and effects, Is that to much to ask from a Spidy film? Let's hope when they restart the franchise they recast and choose a director that can deliver that.
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I don't think that anyone has ever gotten the character right yet, and I truely hope that WB reboots the franchise and just closes the door quietly and walks away from Superman Returns.
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The fuckin youtube links DO work. Delete the spaces. It's sweet.
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You've been around long enough to know what to do with the YouTube links.
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Your complaint was one of the main problems I had with the Spidey films. Sure, give him angst in the first movie with Uncle Ben dying and all, but by the 2nd movie he should have been wisecrackin.' The whole emo route just didn't work. This is what Iron Man does so well - balance the funny with the serious.
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I completely disagree about Superman Returns, but I'm NOT getting into that quagmire again.
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Ditto on that. I was just reading an issue of Tangled Web where all the vilains are complaining about how distracting and 'unprofessional' Spider-Man is cause of his bantering. Good Stuff. On that same note, I wonder if Shane Black, the master of witty action/suspense dialog (Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) should have a go at the character.
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A cameo like that is something that they might not show in the early screenings..... least I hope so. I want to see a buddy movie with Downey Jr and Jackson. I want it now.
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http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=7135
Its freakin' awesome! -
really, just fuck off...theyve sucked in almost everything theyve done since their 'signature' movies...so please dont insult even the low level of intelligence on here.
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"If you can't accept that truth I'll stomp your little sissy ass into a bloody pulp and paint the walls with your gore!" You are aware you're talking about Fantastic Four?
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"Any dick that would get hard near her should be lopped off and burned." You're scary.
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as that sounds painful. 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.
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He apologises. Psycho badasses never say sorry. They just hurt people. Creatively.
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sorry, meant to say 300th.
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been looking forward to this and I'm glad to hear some positive copy for a change...
go Jon Favreau! so... John Carter of Mars next riiiiiiiiiight?
ps - how's that TV show of yours going? -
FF? You mustn't lose focus, as a messenger of 2for2true, you are to dispose of infidels and shitheels, not those who dislike shitty movies. Focus!
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unlike most superhero origins, since he's not becoming a hero overnight. It's an arms dealer turning a hero while developing a high tech suit. It's not like Daredevils or Ghostriders origin. It's actually interesting. Looking forward to this
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infidels and shitheels. Especially those that diss the holy works of Evil Dead.
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messages from Holy Ash:First you want to kill me, then you want to kiss me. Blow.
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I saw this movie and it was good. *I have spoken*
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Howdy, Jarv! Burt and Bruce watch over you
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That milf Patricia Heaton was over vacuuming yesterday. I told her, "Give me some sugar, baby."
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Are you fucking kidding? Have you seen that movie lately? Ok, ok..Michelle Pfeifer is pitch perfect in every way as cat woman and then some (sorry Halle, you're cheese...attractive cheese but cheese all the same). No question there. But Devito as the penguin? And Burton's interpretation of the Penguin? WTF?!?! Continually drooling some greenish-black liquid? A pervert and larynx-cancer sufferer. Barely human. And probably one of the very few times watching Chris Walken isn't enjoyable in any way (that fucking hair and makeup...dude looks like some creepy androgynous eloi in a pinstripe suit). Oh and Keaton? Right...doing a quick dj scratch on the CD with the Penguin samples? It's not the worst but it's not remotely the best and even with Nicholson's over the top performance I don't think Returns is better than the first one.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??!?!?
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I've trained her to respond to any of Ash's sayings...
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a 2true sighting? I think Queefer has drawn him out for an epic clash of the titans type thing.
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Well written, spoiler-free and with lots of things I wanted to know. Thanks Latauro--and good thing I'm only one day away from seeing this movie!! (I'm from Argentina)
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it is one of the best if not the best superhero movies ever. The best thing was tony actually embracing and enjoying his situation. The in jokes which i enjoyed pointing out to my gf were great touches of a man who knows his character and subjects .
Favareu treats tony with respect but has fun with him.
and the war machine foreshadowing later in the movie had everyone in the theatre excited -
saw the movie at a regular screening in Manila (Philippines) a few hours ago.
i agree with most of what the reviewer said...
except that when i stayed until the very end, sam jackson DOES make an entrance.
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