Iron Man 2 review

Few can forget when the original Iron man film exploded into theatres in the summer of 2008. Robert Downey Jr. took the role of Tony Stark as if he was playing himself. Ultimately, people were blown away by a summer blockbuster that seemingly couldn't be topped... Until now...


This film was a spectacle of superhero greatness. The story followed Tony Stark, embracing his new superhero identity all the while as he makes the world a better place. But all is not well as Stark finds that the same battery he made to power his body and suit is the same one that's killing him. The element that the battery uses is makes his blood increasingly more toxic, and he's running out of it.To make matters worse, not only is Mr. Stark dying from the battery, he's got a new villain determined to kill him.

This movie delivers, rarely is there a dull moment in the twisting story. Nearly every scene is laced with humor as it either expresses Tony's "Don't-give-a-crap" attitude or the plans of the newly-introduced characters of S.H.I.E.L.D. even through many of the fight scenes I found myself laughing. The humor is spared wisely in more dramatic scenes that call for compassion rather than pumping adrenaline. These include the scenes where Stark tests the increasing toxicity of his blood or suffers from growing tension between him and his love, Pepper Potts, showing he is not indestructible.

Although it's hard for many people to say they can relate to a billionaire with a super suit made of iron that grants him the ability to fly among other things, I believe Tony was presented in a way where we could feel his pain. As mentioned before, the film shows how, despite being Iron Man, Tony Stark is not indestructible. This was something the first film seemed to lack, it didn't show any real personal struggles of Tony. This film however was able to present Tony more as a person rather than a superhero. This allowed the audience to feel more compassion and sorrow for Stark, he was no longer just Iron Man, he was a person just like them.

To my surprise, this film was not stuffed to its limits with fight scenes. I've found many of Marvel's recent films such as the bittersweet, "X-men Origins: Wolverine," to be driven by how beaten up the characters get rather than what things they learn or experience. This is not to say there were no fight scenes at all. The film had three major fight scenes, all of with were amazing, mastered with realistic special effects.

In short, Iron Man 2 surpasses it's predecessor. It interweaves a personal struggle with a superhero's duty. It features amzing feats of action, taking full advantage of the technology of today, and it leaves you laughing.

Rating: 4.5/5