Finally you've got his arch-enemy the Mandarin, who is totally awesome but hard to pull off in a movie (but personally, I don't think impossible).

But will the movie have a shot of Stark being blasted sideways through the air from an explosion directly behind him????

At what point will they let go of the need to cling on to realism.

Re Mandarin, if we already have an Alien in the Marvel Movie Universe why not have the rings as well, alternatively, they become advanced tech.

By the way, did anyone happen to notice there were no porn titles in Harry's top ten DVD picks? So sad. No hi-def blu-ray titties. Harry, in the immortal words of Mooj: "I'll pray for your cock."

Tony Stark is hedonistic and very much wild and outgoing; Mandarin is reserved, and has a stick stuck up the stick in his ass.

Iron Man uses a suit of armor that functions as if it was almost magical – it is the limits of human technology and advancement; Mandarin uses 10 magical rings that are actually advance alien artifacts – they are beyond are ability and knowledge.

Both are aristocratic: the difference is that Tony Stark believes it is a responsibility to be born in his position and he should use it to help others; Mandarin believes that he is better than other people and it is his right to abuse his status and position of power.

He represents the enemies of modernity: Mandarin wants to go back to a past era where people like him ruled. He wants to get rid of the ideas of equality and the enlightenment. And like another anti-modernity person, Bin Laden and Al Queda, he might hate how the modernity has changed the world and the effects of technology, but he loves to use technology, especially against his enemies.

He represents the West’s fear of a resurging China: don’t want to go all nationalistic or xenophobic, or even racist, but lets be honest America and the Western world live in fear of China as a superpower. Mandarin would be that fear brought to the flesh.

Plus I agree with Miayomoto_Musashi that the rings could be advanced technology. Who is to say they are not 10 little “arc reactors” like the one is Tony Stark’s chest, which he uses as weapons and to power his own armor?

But even if it wasn't that long of run, it had lasting impact on the character. I mean, Uncle Ben's death was in one issue, but it seems to have had a lasting effect on the Spider-Man mythos.

Also, since Natascha is suppose to be Dynamo's assistant, it'll be revealed that shes on an undercover op with the FSB. They could have Beckinsale pull off the bookish nerdy look as well to throw off the audience.

Finally Hillary Swank would also make a good Maria Hill since she can act and has about the same jawline too.

Faverau and Nolan can have a friendly competition to see how many Oscar winners and nominees they can stuff into their casts...

Prediction: Rockwell will be Justin Hammer, but Hammer will be more like the Obediah Stane in the comics: a ruthless rival of Stark's who must win at all cost.

Other prediction: That in one of the next two Iron Man movies he will face not one, or two, but a bunch of guys in armors based on his. Kind of like when he fought the Raiders or Mandroids. I mean if Iron Man has already fought a bigger version of his armor, that only leaves him fighting multiple armor wearers.

Its kind of like Kung-Fu movies: the hero either fights a guy bigger than himself or else a bunch of kung fu fighters at once.

He was like a younger, more deranged, but possibly more brillant version of Tony who develops a bio-mechanical version of Iron Man tech that's intergrated into human physiology. Effectively Iron Man version 2.0

Since it would be cliche to add him in and out of left field since the first movie made no mention of him, I could see them using that template for Justin Hammer. It would make more sense considering Rockwell's age (if thats who he is indeed playing), and make him more of a direct rival that just a crusty old tycoon.

Ah, spring fresh! Thanks, kids, I'll be here all week!

as a young man, he had lips like thin leather straps. Now he looks like 'Lips' from Dick Tracey, slurpin down his horrible oysters.

But Rockwell is too similar to Downey. Both so louche. It would be like having Julia Roberts against rival Kyra Sedgwick.

Black Widow is in it as well, apparently. She works for Stark and probably steals some of the IM designs in order to have them incorporated into Dynamo. Since she's Russian as well, Hammer must have some connection to Russia. Hammer is probably under the influence of the Mandarin as well.

I would have liked to see Hammer employ several villains. Like he did with Beetle, Blizzard, and Whiplash. I wouldn't mind seeing the hero fight several villains. Just don't develop the villains. They work for Hammer. That's all we need to know. I don't care about their origins. Who knows? Maybe Rourke does play Whiplash, but after the IM plans are stolen, he's given an upgrade to Crimson Dynamo.

howard was replaced (why i wonder...??),i havent heard anything about war machine being at all in this movie (and i dont think he will be),the new villains dont impress me and ofcoure mandarin is missing.

now spymaster and the ghost,were great IM villains.i would like to see them in this sequel rather than another replay of a battle between armors and a rivarly between 2 businessmen.

we have seen that already in the first movie,could we please move on to something new and differnet?

about natasha.beckinsale is a great babe for this roll,but i would prefer someone a bit more athletic,natural redhead and with a curvier butt.i dont know what actress could apply to the above characteristics,but i know some pornstars that they do :P

anyway lets see what the future is going to bring us

FING FANG FOOM!

HIS MOTHER DID THE NASTY WITH A SUGGESTIVE BARREL OF NUCLEAR WASTE!

FING FANG FOOM!

IS A MALE WITH NO APPARENT GENITALS!

FING FANG FOOM!

YOU CAN'T IMAGINE HOW ANNOYED HE IS!