By JEN YAMATO
We admit it: we're suckers for sequels. And while 2010 is chock full of reboots (Nightmare on Elm Street, with a new Freddy), remakes (The Karate Kid, as played by ... Jaden Smith?), and adaptations (Machete!!!) the year boasts its fair share of highly anticipated sequels. Whether you're craving more dancing, vamping, wizarding, or straight-up people-killing in the year to come, here are the continued adventures and resuscitated franchises we're looking forward to most in 2010, in order of release date.
Piranha 3-D (April 16): Joe Dante's 1978 horror parody Piranha had a simple, silly premise: killer fish are loose in the water, and they want to nibble you to death with their tiny, razor-sharp teeth! (In the 1981 sequel, Piranha II: Flying Killers -- the directorial debut of James Cameron, a modest filmmaker you may have heard of -- the creatures go one step further and mutate into flying fish.) So what better way to celebrate the return of 3-D gimmickry to horror filmmaking than with a star-studded sequel in 2010? Thrill as the likes of Elisabeth Shue and Jerry O'Connell battle the prehistoric piranha in three dimensions! Delight as Richard Dreyfuss discovers there's something else in the water other than sharks! Wonder where Christopher Lloyd's career has gone in the last decade or so when his highest-profile project in recent memory is a movie called Piranha 3-D!
Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps (April 23): It's been over two decades and Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) is a changed man. Fresh out of prison, all he wants is to patch things up with his estranged daughter (Carey Mulligan), and to do it he'll give her trader fiancé (Shia LaBeouf) a quickie lesson in Corporate Warfare 101 so he can get revenge on a shady associate (Josh Brolin). Oliver Stone's first-ever sequel sounds more like it treads thriller territory than the financial dramarama of 1987's Wall Street, but we'll take it -- anything for another peek at the once-ruthless corporate warrior, who remains one of the most terrifying villains in a suit to ever grace the screen. All right, who are we kidding? We mostly want to glimpse real-life lovebirds Mulligan and LaBeouf canoodling on-screen. But the return of Gordon Gekko's pretty cool, too.
Iron Man 2 (May 7): After making fanboys and girls swoon in the summer of 2008, Marvel's power-suited hero had pop culture's heart on lock. And once we saw the first trailers for the 2010 sequel, we were sold. Heck, Jon Favreau and Co. can even keep using the same Black Sabbath track in every trailer from now until Iron Man 10 and we'll keep coming back for more. This May, Tony Stark comes out of the superhero closet to embrace fandom -- and, like all super stars must, deal with the crazy psycho weirdos who become obsessed and stalk him and want to wear his skin as their clothes. Or rather, his Iron Man suit, which new baddie Whiplash replicates with his own unique twist: electro-powered whips. Even the new Rhodey (Don Cheadle) has a case of suit envy, getting into the spirit in his own War Machine outfit. And speaking of outfits, did you see ScarJo in black leather? How many more reasons do you need to put Iron Man 2 on your 2010 calendar?
Toy Story 3 (June 18): If you thought Toy Story 2 was existential and deep, get ready for even more introspection in this highly anticipated summer threequel. This time around little Andy is all grown up, and like all kids, he no longer needs his toys. So Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and Co. hit the road in search of a new home, enduring a classroom full of destructive preschoolers along the way. Will friendship and solidarity prevail? Probably. Take the kids and rest assured this'll be one children's movie you won't sit through in agony. It is Pixar, after all. (For added excitement, see it in 3-D!)
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (June 30): No matter how you feel about the Twilight franchise, it's here, it sparkles, so get used to it! Twi-hards and skeptics alike should take interest in the third installment in the series, for a few reasons. First, Eclipse is much darker in tone than its predecessors, a serial killer movie about vampires on the loose in Seattle (and, as always, teenage bloodsuckers in love). Second, it's directed by genre specialist David Slade, whose previous films are the very scary Hard Candy and the very bloody 30 Days of Night. Third, given the ginormous success of Stephenie Meyer's books and the first two films, isn't it about time you found out what all this Twilight business is about?
Predators (July 9): It's sort of unfair. Ridley Scott's sci-fi masterwork Alien spawned three sequels and two cross-over Alien-Predator spin-off films, but John McTiernan's Predator's only had one sequel to speak of to date. Thankfully, producer Robert Rodriguez will tip the balance in 2010 with Predators, the second sequel about the alien hunter race and their pseudo-space dreadlocks. The unfortunately-named Nimrod Antal directs Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Danny Trejo, Alice Braga, and Laurence Fishburne in a plot about humans who accidentally land on Planet Predator and quickly discover that the locals aren't all that friendly.
Step Up 3-D (August 6): Now that America is unabashedly in love with dancing (thank you, America's Best Dance Crew, So You Think You Can Dance, and Dancing with the Stars), you don't have to hide your excitement for yet another Step Up sequel! Next August, Step Up 2 the Streets director Jon Chu takes his crew to the mean rues of Paris, where MSA nerd-popper Moose (Adam Sevani, who battled Miley Cyrus in an online dance-off last year) has been left behind like Kevin McAllister in Home Alone 2 and joins forces with his new French pals to win an international dance competition. Former Step Up stars Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, and Channing Tatum show up, along with SYTYCD alums Twitch, Katee, Joshua, and Ivan. And did I mention it's in 3-D??
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One (November 19): We Muggles have waited long enough to see the final chapters of the Harry Potter saga play out, and we want our Deathly Hallows, already! Part One hits theaters in November, catching up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they prepare for the final battle against the evil Voldemort. Director David Yates returns after helming the previous two installments (Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince) with new cast members in the mix (Rade Serbedzija as Gregorovitch, Nicollette Sheridan as Prof. Trelawney, Rhys Ifans as Xenophilius Lovegood, Jamie Campbell Bower as Gellert Grindelwald). Get your wands ready!
TRON: Legacy (December 17): Betcha never thought you'd see Flynn's Arcade again, but nearly three decades after Jeff Bridges rode his light cycle to glory in the original TRON, he'll lead a cast of newcomers back into the game. Expect a visually dazzling update of the familiar world of TRON, now that technology is at a place where we can immerse ourselves into a video game world in realistic fashion. Director Joseph Kosinski, who's also got a Logan's Run project in the works, wowed the crowd at last year's Comic-Con with his ubercool footage -- and if you can please the geeks, you know you're on the right track. With a soundtrack by French electronica duo Daft Punk, TRON 2 could turn out to be the coolest looking and sounding new film of the year.
Scream 4 (TBA): Wes Craven's Scream was an iconic, tongue-in-cheek slasher film of the '90s, and though it spawned a successful franchise, the films arguably got worse with each passing sequel. Now that Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson have had a decade-long break from the series, Williamson is back scripting a new sequel for returning characters Sidney Prescott, Gale Weathers, and Deputy Dewey. What's more, he's hoping Scream 4 will kick off an entirely new trilogy! With production tentatively planned for the spring, we might see Scream 4 yet in 2010 ... and, if rumors are true, Wes Craven himself might be back behind the camera.
Honorable mentions: The Strangers 2, Jackass 3, Shrek Forever After, Sex and the City 2, Get Me to the Gig, Little Fockers, Saw VII 3-D, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Dawn Treader, A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas
Source
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Iron Man 2's Black Widow's Secret Alliances Revealed
A few more details are leaking out from the Iron Man 2 trailer besides what comic book story line the movie may be using. It seems Black Widow's true allegiance may have been leaked. Check out the spoilery reveal.
The eagle eyed folks over at Slashfilm pointed out a major detail from the new Iron Man 2 trailer. It seems that for a split second in the new trailer Black Widow exposes a S.H.I.E.L.D. badge on her catsuit. The badge was previously removed from any official stills, as it would expose the secret of who she is and why she's working inside Stark's company. Here's the picture...
When we spoke with Scarlett Johansson back in the comic con the actresses played especially coy about her character's ties in the film.
What is your relationship to the other characters in the film?
Well I'll tell you that um, my character... there are two sides to my character. She's a bit of a shape shifter, I suppose. There's a side of the character that's kind of demure and covert - I wouldn't say that she's submissive, but she's blending in to the Stark Industries [team, as an assistant]. Then the other part of the character is a really aggressive, bad-ass character, that is sure of herself and is going to kick the shit out of you if you get in her way. So that's as about as much as I can tell you, and how that relates to the other characters.
I'm curious as to how your character balances out Whiplash and the other villains. A lot of people are saying two villains is too many, what does your character bring?
We don't know whether the character is villainous. She does have a dark past, and she is very seductive and distracting. We are not sure exactly where she's coming from, and what her intentions are, I'm not saying that will all be revealed. But there are a lot of characters in this movie, and a lot of new characters. And it is a balancing act. I think that between the huge explosive action, the romance, the battle of good versus evil - even within one's self - there's a nice balance between all of us. And I think fans will be excited to be taken down all these different journeys. They all really play into one another, and it doesn't feel like a lot of different films coming together. It feels like an ensemble. And you know, who can have too many villains?
In the comics your character works with Sam Jackson, do you have any scenes with Sam?
Um, I have worked with Sam Jackson.
She kept a tight lid on the plot details there, but this assumption seems to go along with comic books, and the "duality" issues that Scarjo is talking about above. Not a huge surprise, but a welcomed addition that keeps in canon with the comics.
Source
The eagle eyed folks over at Slashfilm pointed out a major detail from the new Iron Man 2 trailer. It seems that for a split second in the new trailer Black Widow exposes a S.H.I.E.L.D. badge on her catsuit. The badge was previously removed from any official stills, as it would expose the secret of who she is and why she's working inside Stark's company. Here's the picture...
When we spoke with Scarlett Johansson back in the comic con the actresses played especially coy about her character's ties in the film.
What is your relationship to the other characters in the film?
Well I'll tell you that um, my character... there are two sides to my character. She's a bit of a shape shifter, I suppose. There's a side of the character that's kind of demure and covert - I wouldn't say that she's submissive, but she's blending in to the Stark Industries [team, as an assistant]. Then the other part of the character is a really aggressive, bad-ass character, that is sure of herself and is going to kick the shit out of you if you get in her way. So that's as about as much as I can tell you, and how that relates to the other characters.
I'm curious as to how your character balances out Whiplash and the other villains. A lot of people are saying two villains is too many, what does your character bring?
We don't know whether the character is villainous. She does have a dark past, and she is very seductive and distracting. We are not sure exactly where she's coming from, and what her intentions are, I'm not saying that will all be revealed. But there are a lot of characters in this movie, and a lot of new characters. And it is a balancing act. I think that between the huge explosive action, the romance, the battle of good versus evil - even within one's self - there's a nice balance between all of us. And I think fans will be excited to be taken down all these different journeys. They all really play into one another, and it doesn't feel like a lot of different films coming together. It feels like an ensemble. And you know, who can have too many villains?
In the comics your character works with Sam Jackson, do you have any scenes with Sam?
Um, I have worked with Sam Jackson.
She kept a tight lid on the plot details there, but this assumption seems to go along with comic books, and the "duality" issues that Scarjo is talking about above. Not a huge surprise, but a welcomed addition that keeps in canon with the comics.
Source
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Does 'Iron Man 2' Trailer Reveal Plot Detail For Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow?
by Rick Marshall
We were all over the official "Iron Man 2" trailer when it hit the 'Net a few weeks ago, giving you the five most important scenes from the trailer, a shot-by-shot analysis and even some thoughts on what the "Iron Man 2" trailer reveals about the film's plot. But even after all of that coverage, there's something we missed.
Right around the 1:40 mark in the trailer, there's a scene featuring Scarlett Johansson in action as Black Widow, and some keen-eyed observers around the InterWebs have discovered what could be a major plot point revealed in a few frames. Check it out for yourself:
Notice anything? Well, if you're willing to brave a SPOILER ALERT, go ahead and read on for what could be an intriguing plot point revealed in this scene.
If you need a hint (and I did), cast your attention to Scarlett Johansson's left arm, just below the shoulder of her Black Widow costume. Notice the patch partly hidden by her hair? Does it look familiar?
We could be wrong, but it sure does look a lot like the S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia, doesn't it? Check it out:
Can you say "Black Widow: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."?
However, it's worth pointing out that Johansson's character didn't appear to have the symbol on her sleeve in any of the previous images we've seen of her in costume as Black Widow. Neither the first image of Johansson as Black Widow nor the most recent shot of her in costume seem to feature the patch.
If that is indeed a S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem, it looks like Nick Fury could be receiving some help from Russian superspy Natasha Romanoff when "Iron Man 2" comes to theaters in May 2010.
Source
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What do you think this image reveals about the "Iron Man 2" plot? Does it reveal anything at all? Let me know what you think in the comment section!
We were all over the official "Iron Man 2" trailer when it hit the 'Net a few weeks ago, giving you the five most important scenes from the trailer, a shot-by-shot analysis and even some thoughts on what the "Iron Man 2" trailer reveals about the film's plot. But even after all of that coverage, there's something we missed.
Right around the 1:40 mark in the trailer, there's a scene featuring Scarlett Johansson in action as Black Widow, and some keen-eyed observers around the InterWebs have discovered what could be a major plot point revealed in a few frames. Check it out for yourself:
Notice anything? Well, if you're willing to brave a SPOILER ALERT, go ahead and read on for what could be an intriguing plot point revealed in this scene.
If you need a hint (and I did), cast your attention to Scarlett Johansson's left arm, just below the shoulder of her Black Widow costume. Notice the patch partly hidden by her hair? Does it look familiar?
We could be wrong, but it sure does look a lot like the S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia, doesn't it? Check it out:
Can you say "Black Widow: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."?
However, it's worth pointing out that Johansson's character didn't appear to have the symbol on her sleeve in any of the previous images we've seen of her in costume as Black Widow. Neither the first image of Johansson as Black Widow nor the most recent shot of her in costume seem to feature the patch.
If that is indeed a S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem, it looks like Nick Fury could be receiving some help from Russian superspy Natasha Romanoff when "Iron Man 2" comes to theaters in May 2010.
Source
----
What do you think this image reveals about the "Iron Man 2" plot? Does it reveal anything at all? Let me know what you think in the comment section!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Iron Man 2 tops the list of geek flick picks for 2010
By Mark Brunelli
The past year was a good one for movie geeks, as the adaptation of the supposedly unfilmable graphic novel Watchmen made it to the silver screen and the Star Trek franchise received a reboot. Fanboys flocked to theaters to see Wolverine: Origins continue the superhero movie trend, if not to the exalted reviews received by 2008's The Dark Knight.
IT played a strong role behind the scenes, with numerous releases, including Monsters vs. Aliens, Up and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, relying on computer-aided animation. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, District 9, Where the Wild Things Are and Avatar seamlessly blended digital effects with live action.
Movie geeks say they expect director James Cameron's latest -- and very pricey -- epic to draw crowds well into 2010. Avatar opened on Dec. 18, 2009, and it took in about $73 million its first weekend. The much-hyped science fiction flick features 3-D imagery and follows the story of a former military man whose mind controls the cloned body of an alien -- and manages to find love in the process. With a production budget of about $230 million, Avatar ranks among history's most expensive films, according to the Internet Movie Database. One caveat: See Avatar in a state-of-the-art theater with a crack projectionist. Some showings, including a preview for Boston-area movie critics, were marred by bad projection that distracted from the film.
Coming attractions
The coming year promises to be another good one for the science fiction and fantasy flicks that IT geeks love. Iron Man 2 -- Marvel Comics' in-depth look at how a billionaire weapons genius might react to superpowered competitors -- tops the list of genre films to watch in 2010. IT professionals who moonlight as movie buffs say they're also excited about a host of other coming releases, including Tron Legacy, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One, The Green Hornet and Jonah Hex.
But before delving into all that, SearchDataCenter.com wanted to get a closer look at the psychology of the movie geek and answer a burning question: Why is it that people who love computers and technology also tend to like movies involving superheroes, science fiction and far-out fantasies?
Some say it's a simple matter of escapism -- the desire to forget about problems like the shaky world economy, global warming and the war on terror for a little while. Others believe there is a more productive reason. Fantastical films, they say, actually help the tech-savvy bring humanity's wildest dreams to life.
"Let's say you have this vision about the way you want the world to be in 2020, then somebody makes a movie about it," said Corvida Raven, an Atlanta-based social media consultant and self-professed science fiction fan. "To us, that feels like one step closer to actually having it happen, and that's a pretty powerful thing. It's perfect for innovation, it's perfect for inspiring people, and it's perfect for motivation."
Iron Man versus The Wrestler?
Speculative fiction fans said it might be tough to get over the adrenaline rush of seeing that holy grail of geekdom -- the Star Trek franchise -- get a highly successful film reboot in 2009. But Iron Man 2 -- in which Sherlock Holmes' Robert Downey Jr. reprises his lead role as Tony Stark, the playboy industrialist turned armored vigilante -- should alleviate the pain.
IT pros really enjoyed seeing Downey Jr. walk that fine line between corny and respectable in the original Iron Man, and director Jon Favreau's sequel features new cast members, which should keep things rolling nicely. In addition to Scarlett Johansson and Don Cheadle joining the fray as femme fatale Black Widow and War Machine, respectively, comeback kid Mickey Rourke will star as Whiplash, a technologically charged supervillain bent on Iron Man's destruction.
"This is Mickey Rourke in his first big role since The Wrestler," said Jason Benis, a high-tech worker from Burlington, Vt. "He rules and is awesome in almost anything. [Rourke] stole the show in Sin City and had an epic role in Barfly. Plus, you've got Robert Downey Jr., who turns everything he touches to gold lately."
For more insight into the Whiplash character, this reporter turned to a different kind of geek -- a man who works side-by-side with superheroes and supervillains on a daily basis.
"Whiplash is an Iron Man villain who uses technology basically [to aid him as] an industrial spy," said Ernie Pelletier, the owner of Friendly Neighborhood Comics in Bellingham, Mass. "He is a saboteur of sorts who works against Stark Industries."
Pelletier said he thinks Whiplash was a fine choice for the Iron Man 2's chief villain, and he looks forward to seeing Rourke in the role. In the future, however, Pelletier said he would love to see Marvel bring The Mandarin, another beloved Iron Man villain, to the big screen.
"When The Mandarin was first created in the 1960s, he was an Asian warlord-type character who was trying to rise to power and nowadays, with technology being what it is, you could definitely play with that a bit," Pelletier explained. "With the buildup of China as a large industrial power, the storyline would have fit well into today's events. But I'm certainly not complaining."
Geeky sequels take center stage
Iron Man 2 isn't the only big-ticket sequel coming out in 2010. Technology professionals say they're also anxious to see include the new installment of the Harry Potter series and Tron Legacy, with Jeff Bridges reprising his 1982 role as Kevin Flynn, a man sucked by an arcade game into a dangerous digital reality.
The latest Potter flick -- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One -- will start the process of bringing the last book in J.K. Rowling's popular series to life, said Joey Di Girolamo, the webmaster for Florida's Miami-Dade County elections department and an admitted movie geek.
"It's the last book, but they're splitting it into two movies," Di Girolamo explained. "This was also the darkest [novel], and I don't know how they're going to keep it from being rated 'R' because the book was pretty graphic."
Di Girolamo, 36, says he clearly remembers going to see the original Tron when it came out and thinks it's interesting that the film's producers opted to go "the sequel route" in the latest installment as opposed to creating an all-out remake or "reimagining."
Tron Legacy picks up with Sam Flynn, the technology-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looking for his father. That search ultimately leads Sam to the same gladiatorial video game world where his father has resided for more than 25 years -- only now the game has gotten more advanced and deadlier.
"When the original came out, the special effects seemed so revolutionary," Di Girolamo said. "But with the potential of today's special effects, I can't wait to see the new one."
More geek movies to watch in 2010
Other genre flicks hitting theaters next year include Jonah Hex, based on the DC Comics dark Western title of the same name and starring Josh Brolin as a disfigured gunslinger and occasional bounty hunter, and The Green Hornet, starring Seth Rogen as Britt Reid, a crusading newspaper reporter by day and masked crime fighter at night.
Meanwhile, Predators, due in July, will give new life to the popular alien hunters first made popular by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1980s. And Prince of Persia, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and is slated for a May release, offers a little something for people who enjoyed playing the Nintendo game of the same name. Gyllenhaal plays a rogue prince who joins forces with -- what else? -- a beautiful princess in order to protect a magic dagger that grants the power to reverse time.
"I saw the trailer for it, and I just don't think I can buy Gyllenhaal in that type of role," Di Girolamo said.
Finally, don't forget Shakespearean director Kenneth Branagh's take on Marvel Comics' Nordic hero, Thor, which hit screens in July, because, as Pelletier says, comic book movies are getting better all the time.
"I think Marvel learned from DC's mistakes after the later Batman movies from the 1990s like Batman and Robin and Batman Forever," Pelletier said. "They've got their stuff together now and really know what they're doing. They appeal to the masses while also appealing to the comic book geek, and I think DC learned their own lesson, too. The more recent Batman movies have just been fantastic."
The past year was a good one for movie geeks, as the adaptation of the supposedly unfilmable graphic novel Watchmen made it to the silver screen and the Star Trek franchise received a reboot. Fanboys flocked to theaters to see Wolverine: Origins continue the superhero movie trend, if not to the exalted reviews received by 2008's The Dark Knight.
IT played a strong role behind the scenes, with numerous releases, including Monsters vs. Aliens, Up and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, relying on computer-aided animation. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, District 9, Where the Wild Things Are and Avatar seamlessly blended digital effects with live action.
Movie geeks say they expect director James Cameron's latest -- and very pricey -- epic to draw crowds well into 2010. Avatar opened on Dec. 18, 2009, and it took in about $73 million its first weekend. The much-hyped science fiction flick features 3-D imagery and follows the story of a former military man whose mind controls the cloned body of an alien -- and manages to find love in the process. With a production budget of about $230 million, Avatar ranks among history's most expensive films, according to the Internet Movie Database. One caveat: See Avatar in a state-of-the-art theater with a crack projectionist. Some showings, including a preview for Boston-area movie critics, were marred by bad projection that distracted from the film.
Coming attractions
The coming year promises to be another good one for the science fiction and fantasy flicks that IT geeks love. Iron Man 2 -- Marvel Comics' in-depth look at how a billionaire weapons genius might react to superpowered competitors -- tops the list of genre films to watch in 2010. IT professionals who moonlight as movie buffs say they're also excited about a host of other coming releases, including Tron Legacy, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One, The Green Hornet and Jonah Hex.
But before delving into all that, SearchDataCenter.com wanted to get a closer look at the psychology of the movie geek and answer a burning question: Why is it that people who love computers and technology also tend to like movies involving superheroes, science fiction and far-out fantasies?
Some say it's a simple matter of escapism -- the desire to forget about problems like the shaky world economy, global warming and the war on terror for a little while. Others believe there is a more productive reason. Fantastical films, they say, actually help the tech-savvy bring humanity's wildest dreams to life.
"Let's say you have this vision about the way you want the world to be in 2020, then somebody makes a movie about it," said Corvida Raven, an Atlanta-based social media consultant and self-professed science fiction fan. "To us, that feels like one step closer to actually having it happen, and that's a pretty powerful thing. It's perfect for innovation, it's perfect for inspiring people, and it's perfect for motivation."
Iron Man versus The Wrestler?
Speculative fiction fans said it might be tough to get over the adrenaline rush of seeing that holy grail of geekdom -- the Star Trek franchise -- get a highly successful film reboot in 2009. But Iron Man 2 -- in which Sherlock Holmes' Robert Downey Jr. reprises his lead role as Tony Stark, the playboy industrialist turned armored vigilante -- should alleviate the pain.
IT pros really enjoyed seeing Downey Jr. walk that fine line between corny and respectable in the original Iron Man, and director Jon Favreau's sequel features new cast members, which should keep things rolling nicely. In addition to Scarlett Johansson and Don Cheadle joining the fray as femme fatale Black Widow and War Machine, respectively, comeback kid Mickey Rourke will star as Whiplash, a technologically charged supervillain bent on Iron Man's destruction.
"This is Mickey Rourke in his first big role since The Wrestler," said Jason Benis, a high-tech worker from Burlington, Vt. "He rules and is awesome in almost anything. [Rourke] stole the show in Sin City and had an epic role in Barfly. Plus, you've got Robert Downey Jr., who turns everything he touches to gold lately."
For more insight into the Whiplash character, this reporter turned to a different kind of geek -- a man who works side-by-side with superheroes and supervillains on a daily basis.
"Whiplash is an Iron Man villain who uses technology basically [to aid him as] an industrial spy," said Ernie Pelletier, the owner of Friendly Neighborhood Comics in Bellingham, Mass. "He is a saboteur of sorts who works against Stark Industries."
Pelletier said he thinks Whiplash was a fine choice for the Iron Man 2's chief villain, and he looks forward to seeing Rourke in the role. In the future, however, Pelletier said he would love to see Marvel bring The Mandarin, another beloved Iron Man villain, to the big screen.
"When The Mandarin was first created in the 1960s, he was an Asian warlord-type character who was trying to rise to power and nowadays, with technology being what it is, you could definitely play with that a bit," Pelletier explained. "With the buildup of China as a large industrial power, the storyline would have fit well into today's events. But I'm certainly not complaining."
Geeky sequels take center stage
Iron Man 2 isn't the only big-ticket sequel coming out in 2010. Technology professionals say they're also anxious to see include the new installment of the Harry Potter series and Tron Legacy, with Jeff Bridges reprising his 1982 role as Kevin Flynn, a man sucked by an arcade game into a dangerous digital reality.
The latest Potter flick -- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One -- will start the process of bringing the last book in J.K. Rowling's popular series to life, said Joey Di Girolamo, the webmaster for Florida's Miami-Dade County elections department and an admitted movie geek.
"It's the last book, but they're splitting it into two movies," Di Girolamo explained. "This was also the darkest [novel], and I don't know how they're going to keep it from being rated 'R' because the book was pretty graphic."
Di Girolamo, 36, says he clearly remembers going to see the original Tron when it came out and thinks it's interesting that the film's producers opted to go "the sequel route" in the latest installment as opposed to creating an all-out remake or "reimagining."
Tron Legacy picks up with Sam Flynn, the technology-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn, looking for his father. That search ultimately leads Sam to the same gladiatorial video game world where his father has resided for more than 25 years -- only now the game has gotten more advanced and deadlier.
"When the original came out, the special effects seemed so revolutionary," Di Girolamo said. "But with the potential of today's special effects, I can't wait to see the new one."
More geek movies to watch in 2010
Other genre flicks hitting theaters next year include Jonah Hex, based on the DC Comics dark Western title of the same name and starring Josh Brolin as a disfigured gunslinger and occasional bounty hunter, and The Green Hornet, starring Seth Rogen as Britt Reid, a crusading newspaper reporter by day and masked crime fighter at night.
Meanwhile, Predators, due in July, will give new life to the popular alien hunters first made popular by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1980s. And Prince of Persia, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and is slated for a May release, offers a little something for people who enjoyed playing the Nintendo game of the same name. Gyllenhaal plays a rogue prince who joins forces with -- what else? -- a beautiful princess in order to protect a magic dagger that grants the power to reverse time.
"I saw the trailer for it, and I just don't think I can buy Gyllenhaal in that type of role," Di Girolamo said.
Finally, don't forget Shakespearean director Kenneth Branagh's take on Marvel Comics' Nordic hero, Thor, which hit screens in July, because, as Pelletier says, comic book movies are getting better all the time.
"I think Marvel learned from DC's mistakes after the later Batman movies from the 1990s like Batman and Robin and Batman Forever," Pelletier said. "They've got their stuff together now and really know what they're doing. They appeal to the masses while also appealing to the comic book geek, and I think DC learned their own lesson, too. The more recent Batman movies have just been fantastic."
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Anya Monzikova: Iron Man 2 Actress
By Sarah Luoma
HOT Russian, Anya Monzikova, is Iron Man 2 Actress! The model is part of the cast of the much anticipated Iron Man 2 flick due out this coming New Year. Get up to speed on blonde beauty Anya Monzikova below!
Anya Monzikova has been cast in Iron Man 2 being directed by Jon Favreau. Due out on the 7th of May in 2010, Anya will play Rebekah in the movie that centers around inventor Tony Stark and his determination to avoid sharing his inventions and brilliant knowledge with the Government!
As a biography Anya Monzikova, Iron Man 2 actress, was born in the year 1984. Her exact date of birth is unknown. Anya Monzikova is a native of Vologda, Russia. A WUSHU Martial Artist and actress, Anya first began her acting career dates back to when she was cast in the movie Gigi in 2005.
Since then Anya Monzikova has appeared in Deal or No Deal, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel Love as a model. In 2007, Anya took on a guest role in the TV series Medium before appearing in Cane and CSI: Miami. Monzikova has also been seen in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
During 2008, Anya found other work on the set of the movie Tropic Thunder in an unaccredited role before going on to appear in ‘Life’ in the role of Lex. In the same year Monzikova would go on to secure roles in Playing With Five as Marie and grab two episode guest role in the TV series Knight Rider.
Most recently the blonde Russian Iron Man 2 actress has starred in the Bruce Willis movie Surrogates as well as her already above mentioned upcoming role as Rebekah.
You can also check out hot pics of Anya here.
Source
HOT Russian, Anya Monzikova, is Iron Man 2 Actress! The model is part of the cast of the much anticipated Iron Man 2 flick due out this coming New Year. Get up to speed on blonde beauty Anya Monzikova below!Anya Monzikova has been cast in Iron Man 2 being directed by Jon Favreau. Due out on the 7th of May in 2010, Anya will play Rebekah in the movie that centers around inventor Tony Stark and his determination to avoid sharing his inventions and brilliant knowledge with the Government!
As a biography Anya Monzikova, Iron Man 2 actress, was born in the year 1984. Her exact date of birth is unknown. Anya Monzikova is a native of Vologda, Russia. A WUSHU Martial Artist and actress, Anya first began her acting career dates back to when she was cast in the movie Gigi in 2005.
Since then Anya Monzikova has appeared in Deal or No Deal, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel Love as a model. In 2007, Anya took on a guest role in the TV series Medium before appearing in Cane and CSI: Miami. Monzikova has also been seen in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
During 2008, Anya found other work on the set of the movie Tropic Thunder in an unaccredited role before going on to appear in ‘Life’ in the role of Lex. In the same year Monzikova would go on to secure roles in Playing With Five as Marie and grab two episode guest role in the TV series Knight Rider.
Most recently the blonde Russian Iron Man 2 actress has starred in the Bruce Willis movie Surrogates as well as her already above mentioned upcoming role as Rebekah.
You can also check out hot pics of Anya here.
Source
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Iron Man 2 NOT in 3-D
There was spectulation in September that Marvel was considering 3D, but MarketSaw has reported that they have a credible source explaining that the film will definitely NOT be in 3D.
"Jim here. Got some rather bad news for S3D fans out there. I have it from a very good source (one very much in the know) that IRON MAN 2 will NOT be made in stereoscopic 3D. It was being considered back in September of this year.
I am VERY disappointed to say the least as I thought the *FIRST* one should have been made in S3D - let alone the second. I think Marvel is wasting a valuable opportunity to get this done and of course they are leaving a lot of money on the box office table by not doing it as well.
I am digging for more info on this but from what I can tell you - it is a no go for 3D. I do know that IRON MAN 2 is not the ONLY property that Marvel is considering for S3D! More when I get it."
To tell you the truth, I am very glad this film is not in 3D. I feel it is just a an annoying gimmick for the studios to make more money. I really hope they don't try this with none of the Upcoming films, Thor, Captain America, and specially not The Avengers. And I truly hope Marvel doesn't add the 3D because of the third installment of Iron Man. Great News.
Source
"Jim here. Got some rather bad news for S3D fans out there. I have it from a very good source (one very much in the know) that IRON MAN 2 will NOT be made in stereoscopic 3D. It was being considered back in September of this year.
I am VERY disappointed to say the least as I thought the *FIRST* one should have been made in S3D - let alone the second. I think Marvel is wasting a valuable opportunity to get this done and of course they are leaving a lot of money on the box office table by not doing it as well.
I am digging for more info on this but from what I can tell you - it is a no go for 3D. I do know that IRON MAN 2 is not the ONLY property that Marvel is considering for S3D! More when I get it."
To tell you the truth, I am very glad this film is not in 3D. I feel it is just a an annoying gimmick for the studios to make more money. I really hope they don't try this with none of the Upcoming films, Thor, Captain America, and specially not The Avengers. And I truly hope Marvel doesn't add the 3D because of the third installment of Iron Man. Great News.
Source
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Are "The Mandroids" in Iron Man 2?
Based from the trailer footage, it is very possible The Mandroids are in Iron Man 2!
To those who have no idea who The Mandroids were in the Marvel comic books, here is a description of them from The Marvel Directory website.
A Mandroid is a heavily armored personal combat suit originally designed and engineered by Stark International for use by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division). Now manufactured by Stane International, the Mandroid armor is primarily used for protection against opponents who possess superhuman powers. The Mandroid armor was first field tested by S.H.I.E.L.D. against the Avengers when the Avengers were being investigated for harboring aliens during a recent skirmish in the Kree-Skrull War. Mandroid armor was also worn by Major Glenn Talbot of the U.S. Army in a confrontation with the Hulk. The plans to the Mandroid armor were appropriated by weapons manufacturer Moses Magnum and were once employed against the X-Men in Japan. While not nearly as versatile and powerful as Iron Man's armor, the Mandroid armor nonetheless is a formidable offensive weapons system. S.H.I.E.L.D. currently has five fully operational Mandroid suits."
We all know there will be robots, presumably created by Justin Hammer (though not confirmed), that will be attacking Stark/Iron Man throughtout the film and now it makes me curious.
Is it possible that the robots are The Mandroids or just robots created just for the film?
You have to admit, it is a weird coincidence that they were originally designed and engineered by Stark and designed for S.H.I.E.L.D., and obviously the fact that they are now manufacted by Stane International also makes me wonder if maybe Justin Hammer is now the manufacturer in the film universe? Hell, they fought The Avengers!
Coincidence? Very likely. Improbable? Not at all.
Source
To those who have no idea who The Mandroids were in the Marvel comic books, here is a description of them from The Marvel Directory website. A Mandroid is a heavily armored personal combat suit originally designed and engineered by Stark International for use by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division). Now manufactured by Stane International, the Mandroid armor is primarily used for protection against opponents who possess superhuman powers. The Mandroid armor was first field tested by S.H.I.E.L.D. against the Avengers when the Avengers were being investigated for harboring aliens during a recent skirmish in the Kree-Skrull War. Mandroid armor was also worn by Major Glenn Talbot of the U.S. Army in a confrontation with the Hulk. The plans to the Mandroid armor were appropriated by weapons manufacturer Moses Magnum and were once employed against the X-Men in Japan. While not nearly as versatile and powerful as Iron Man's armor, the Mandroid armor nonetheless is a formidable offensive weapons system. S.H.I.E.L.D. currently has five fully operational Mandroid suits."
We all know there will be robots, presumably created by Justin Hammer (though not confirmed), that will be attacking Stark/Iron Man throughtout the film and now it makes me curious.
Is it possible that the robots are The Mandroids or just robots created just for the film?
You have to admit, it is a weird coincidence that they were originally designed and engineered by Stark and designed for S.H.I.E.L.D., and obviously the fact that they are now manufacted by Stane International also makes me wonder if maybe Justin Hammer is now the manufacturer in the film universe? Hell, they fought The Avengers!
Coincidence? Very likely. Improbable? Not at all.
Source
Monday, December 21, 2009
Prediction: Iron Man 2 Will Be Highest Grossing Movie Of 2010
BY SCOTT JOHNSON
We’re still a couple weeks away from reaching 2010, but Comicbook.com is ready to make a bold prediction. (Well, maybe not so bold, because I imagine a lot of people will be making similar predictions, once the movie release date grows closer). We predict that Iron Man 2 will be the highest grossing movie of 2010.
It’s not like Iron Man 2 won’t have tough competition for the title as Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland with Johnny Depp will set the bar high early in the year. Shrek Forever After and Toy Story 3 will also challenge as popular kids movies in the Summer, and The Twilight Saga: Ecplise will bring teen girls out in droves.
However, Iron Man 2 will ultimately conquer all, as the combination of comics books and Robert Downey, Jr. will have a mass appeal to both male and female moviegoers. Like Spider-Man, Iron Man is a comic book movie that a guy can actually take a date to. Also, even though the movie hasn’t been officially rated yet, count on it to get a PG-13 rating, which means parents won’t hesitate to bring the kids.
Iron Man 2 has so much going for it, we wouldn’t be surprised if it cracks $400 million at the box office. The first Iron Man movie was a delightful surprise for many, so the good worth of mouth has built up high anticipation for the sequel.
Based on the recently released Iron Man 2 trailer, it also looks like Iron Man 2 could be an even better movie than the original. For one thing, the movie pulls off the rare event of perfect casting. In the first movie, Robert Downey, Jr. proved to be the perfect Tony Stark, and Gwyneth Paltrow proved to be the perfect Pepper Potts. Now, you add Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johannson, Don Cheadler, and more Samuel Jackson to the equation, and you have one of the best cast movies of all time.
If there was any weakness in the first Iron Man movie, it was probably that the villain took a backseat to introducing the Iron Man character. Based on early footage of Mickey Rourke as Whiplash, it looks like Iron Man 2 will have a very compelling villain. The special effects even look more elaborate and better than the original.
After comic book movies saw a strong Summer 2008, Summer 2009 actually proved light in the comic book category. Comic book movie fans are hungry for another good movie. Iron Man 2’s release date in May will also play in its favor. Iron Man 2 will get an early start on the Summer blockbuster movie season, and enjoy a long run at the theaters to really build up the box office numbers.
We’re still a couple weeks away from reaching 2010, but Comicbook.com is ready to make a bold prediction. (Well, maybe not so bold, because I imagine a lot of people will be making similar predictions, once the movie release date grows closer). We predict that Iron Man 2 will be the highest grossing movie of 2010.
It’s not like Iron Man 2 won’t have tough competition for the title as Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland with Johnny Depp will set the bar high early in the year. Shrek Forever After and Toy Story 3 will also challenge as popular kids movies in the Summer, and The Twilight Saga: Ecplise will bring teen girls out in droves.
However, Iron Man 2 will ultimately conquer all, as the combination of comics books and Robert Downey, Jr. will have a mass appeal to both male and female moviegoers. Like Spider-Man, Iron Man is a comic book movie that a guy can actually take a date to. Also, even though the movie hasn’t been officially rated yet, count on it to get a PG-13 rating, which means parents won’t hesitate to bring the kids.
Iron Man 2 has so much going for it, we wouldn’t be surprised if it cracks $400 million at the box office. The first Iron Man movie was a delightful surprise for many, so the good worth of mouth has built up high anticipation for the sequel.
Based on the recently released Iron Man 2 trailer, it also looks like Iron Man 2 could be an even better movie than the original. For one thing, the movie pulls off the rare event of perfect casting. In the first movie, Robert Downey, Jr. proved to be the perfect Tony Stark, and Gwyneth Paltrow proved to be the perfect Pepper Potts. Now, you add Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johannson, Don Cheadler, and more Samuel Jackson to the equation, and you have one of the best cast movies of all time.
If there was any weakness in the first Iron Man movie, it was probably that the villain took a backseat to introducing the Iron Man character. Based on early footage of Mickey Rourke as Whiplash, it looks like Iron Man 2 will have a very compelling villain. The special effects even look more elaborate and better than the original.
After comic book movies saw a strong Summer 2008, Summer 2009 actually proved light in the comic book category. Comic book movie fans are hungry for another good movie. Iron Man 2’s release date in May will also play in its favor. Iron Man 2 will get an early start on the Summer blockbuster movie season, and enjoy a long run at the theaters to really build up the box office numbers.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Strange Machinations: Stories For War Machine To Avoid In 'Iron Man 2' And Beyond
by Caleb Goellner
Like many supporting characters who've risen to starring roles, James Rhodes has sometimes struggled to step out of the shadow of Tony Stark. Thanks to the cinematic success of the Iron Man movie franchise, however, Rhodes is on track to become one of the most talked-about heroes of 2010 as he prepares to don the War Machine armor in "Iron Man 2."
In the spirit of ensuring War Machine's longterm cinematic success, there are a few things to be learned from his comic book history. After all, a lot can happen to a guy over 30 years — not all of it awesome.
Read on for a brief rundown of a few landmines worth skipping over for the sake of story sanity, viewer accessibility and just plain Don Cheadle admiration.
IRON STAND-IN
James Rhodes is his own man, and while he stepped up to the plate as Iron Man during Stark's "Demon In a Bottle" days, this stepping stone doesn't really seem necessary in "Iron Man 2."
He may use some Stark tech as a springboard to superheroics, but Rhodes is a rich enough character to skip the sidekick routine this time around.
ALIEN ARMOR
After losing his War Machine armor in a battle with time-traveling Nazis (seriously), Rhodes gets hooked up with a less-than stylish alien outfit from a race called the Eidolons. Meanwhile, Tony becomes a time-displaced teenager, gets killed and ends up tossed into another dimension.
While he's gone, Rhodes sacrifices his alien duds to keep Stark Industries' new ownership from stealing the Iron Man tech and then retires from being War Machine to... You know what? It's probably just a good idea to skip anything that went down in War Machine's life during a lot of the '90s.
SENTINEL SQUAD
A few years back, when most of Marvel's mutant population lost their powers, S.H.I.E.L.D. put Rhodes in charge of a team of repurposed, human-piloted sentinel robots who help the X-Men out on occasion, punch dinosaurs and fight Black Panther.
While some of these storylines worked okay in the context of Marvel's timeline, given the studio separation of the X-Men and Avengers-related properties, this setup doesn't seem very likely or logical.
CYBORGNESS
Having been gravely injured during the events of "Secret Invasion," Rhodes is revealed to be more man than machine.
While he's continued to heroically protect the Earth from alien invaders, unstoppable robots and other threats, Don Cheadle is just too handsome to roboticize. It's really just that simple.
Source
Like many supporting characters who've risen to starring roles, James Rhodes has sometimes struggled to step out of the shadow of Tony Stark. Thanks to the cinematic success of the Iron Man movie franchise, however, Rhodes is on track to become one of the most talked-about heroes of 2010 as he prepares to don the War Machine armor in "Iron Man 2."
In the spirit of ensuring War Machine's longterm cinematic success, there are a few things to be learned from his comic book history. After all, a lot can happen to a guy over 30 years — not all of it awesome.
Read on for a brief rundown of a few landmines worth skipping over for the sake of story sanity, viewer accessibility and just plain Don Cheadle admiration.
IRON STAND-IN
James Rhodes is his own man, and while he stepped up to the plate as Iron Man during Stark's "Demon In a Bottle" days, this stepping stone doesn't really seem necessary in "Iron Man 2."
He may use some Stark tech as a springboard to superheroics, but Rhodes is a rich enough character to skip the sidekick routine this time around.
ALIEN ARMOR
After losing his War Machine armor in a battle with time-traveling Nazis (seriously), Rhodes gets hooked up with a less-than stylish alien outfit from a race called the Eidolons. Meanwhile, Tony becomes a time-displaced teenager, gets killed and ends up tossed into another dimension.
While he's gone, Rhodes sacrifices his alien duds to keep Stark Industries' new ownership from stealing the Iron Man tech and then retires from being War Machine to... You know what? It's probably just a good idea to skip anything that went down in War Machine's life during a lot of the '90s.
SENTINEL SQUAD
A few years back, when most of Marvel's mutant population lost their powers, S.H.I.E.L.D. put Rhodes in charge of a team of repurposed, human-piloted sentinel robots who help the X-Men out on occasion, punch dinosaurs and fight Black Panther.
While some of these storylines worked okay in the context of Marvel's timeline, given the studio separation of the X-Men and Avengers-related properties, this setup doesn't seem very likely or logical.
CYBORGNESS
Having been gravely injured during the events of "Secret Invasion," Rhodes is revealed to be more man than machine.
While he's continued to heroically protect the Earth from alien invaders, unstoppable robots and other threats, Don Cheadle is just too handsome to roboticize. It's really just that simple.
Source
Friday, December 18, 2009
Iron Man 2 Official Trailer
The much awaited trailer of the much awaited movie of 2010 is already here!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Does New 'Iron Man 2' War Machine Footage Reveal Too Much?
by Rick Marshall
New footage from "Iron Man 2" is set to debut on tonight's episode of "Entertainment Tonight," and by now you've probably seen the promotional clips that hit the 'Net earlier today, so we have to ask: does all of the footage reveal too much?
With today's peek at what's likely to be even more footage from "Iron Man 2," it stands to reason that a lot of the questions floating around Splash Page HQ have found their answers. In fact, we can deduce most of the storyline involving Iron Man and War Machine from today's promo ads alone.
So consider this a big ol' SPOILER ALERT, folks — because we're about to get all sorts of theoretical.
In the first pair of images culled from the "Iron Man 2" footage, we not only get our first peek at Don Cheadle donning the War Machine armor, but it also looks like James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Cheadle) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) are on good terms... for the moment.
Given the comments of Cheadle and Sam Rockwell, who plays weapons dealer Justin Hammer, it sounds like Rhodey and Hammer team up to build the War Machine armor — but don't seem allied in the use of it.
As we see in the promo spot just before Cheadle and Downey suit up, a mysterious armored character is seen flying through the sky and torching a large group of cars. A rogue armor-wearer, perhaps?
But it's the end of the footage when things really get interesting. The clip appears to show War Machine and Iron Man fighting side-by-side against an army of armored combatants.
Could the split between Iron Man and War Machine be bridged by the threat of an army of Iron Man clones? Could Justin Hammer's backroom dealings with the U.S. government force Stark to divulge the specs for his armor, resulting in a replica of the armor for Jim Rhodes (and an army for Hammer on the side), make that threat a reality? Have we just sorted out the entire War Machine plot of the film?
Well, at least there's still Whiplash to wonder about...
Source
New footage from "Iron Man 2" is set to debut on tonight's episode of "Entertainment Tonight," and by now you've probably seen the promotional clips that hit the 'Net earlier today, so we have to ask: does all of the footage reveal too much?
With today's peek at what's likely to be even more footage from "Iron Man 2," it stands to reason that a lot of the questions floating around Splash Page HQ have found their answers. In fact, we can deduce most of the storyline involving Iron Man and War Machine from today's promo ads alone.
So consider this a big ol' SPOILER ALERT, folks — because we're about to get all sorts of theoretical.
In the first pair of images culled from the "Iron Man 2" footage, we not only get our first peek at Don Cheadle donning the War Machine armor, but it also looks like James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Cheadle) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) are on good terms... for the moment.
Given the comments of Cheadle and Sam Rockwell, who plays weapons dealer Justin Hammer, it sounds like Rhodey and Hammer team up to build the War Machine armor — but don't seem allied in the use of it.
As we see in the promo spot just before Cheadle and Downey suit up, a mysterious armored character is seen flying through the sky and torching a large group of cars. A rogue armor-wearer, perhaps?
But it's the end of the footage when things really get interesting. The clip appears to show War Machine and Iron Man fighting side-by-side against an army of armored combatants.
Could the split between Iron Man and War Machine be bridged by the threat of an army of Iron Man clones? Could Justin Hammer's backroom dealings with the U.S. government force Stark to divulge the specs for his armor, resulting in a replica of the armor for Jim Rhodes (and an army for Hammer on the side), make that threat a reality? Have we just sorted out the entire War Machine plot of the film?
Well, at least there's still Whiplash to wonder about...
Source
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Scarlett Johansson On Reprising Her 'Iron Man 2' Role: 'I Hope It Will Happen...She's A Big Part Of The Avengers'
by Rick Marshall
After last week's flurry of "Iron Man 2" imagery, news regarding next year's blockbuster sequel has slowed up a bit — but that doesn't mean the media isn't looking for more info from the film's stars.
Most recently, Scarlett Johansson chatted up The Daily Record about her "Iron Man 2" training regimen, her skin-tight costume and the fight training she had for the role of Natasha Romanoff, the Russian superspy known as Black Widow. She even offered up some thoughts on whether we'll see her suit up again when Marvel's superhero team-up film "The Avengers" comes around.
"What do I like about the character? Everything. Her fabulous outfit. Her wonderful hair. Everything," said Johansson.
"The character does a lot of hand-to-hand combat, it's a sort of defensive style of fighting because she's small," the actress said of her training.
Johansson seemed to reiterate stories echoed by many of the other "Iron Man 2" cast members regarding the very big movie that actually felt very small during filming.
"I thought it would be a little bit daunting, especially because I came into the project as a huge fan of the first movie," she explained. "I think roughly 80 per cent of the crew was back from the first one so it had a real familial feeling and even though the project seemed larger than life and sort of epic, it's got a sort of small kind of communal feeling on the set. I attribute that to Jon [Favreau] and Robert [Downey Jr.] and Marvel. They are dedicated to sort of keeping it all in the family, which I really appreciate. So it was nice."
As for whether there will be another go-around for her as Black Widow, Johansson said she's certainly up for a return in "The Avengers."
"I hope it will happen. I don't know if that's where it's going go but she's definitely a big part of the Avengers," she said. "I think that Marvel is very much invested in these characters just as much as the fans are, just as much as I am. You want the fans to like the character, you want them to believe in the character, root for them, and want to see them again."
"So I'm hoping that if the fans support the character, that we'll see her again," she said.
Source
After last week's flurry of "Iron Man 2" imagery, news regarding next year's blockbuster sequel has slowed up a bit — but that doesn't mean the media isn't looking for more info from the film's stars.
Most recently, Scarlett Johansson chatted up The Daily Record about her "Iron Man 2" training regimen, her skin-tight costume and the fight training she had for the role of Natasha Romanoff, the Russian superspy known as Black Widow. She even offered up some thoughts on whether we'll see her suit up again when Marvel's superhero team-up film "The Avengers" comes around.
"What do I like about the character? Everything. Her fabulous outfit. Her wonderful hair. Everything," said Johansson.
"The character does a lot of hand-to-hand combat, it's a sort of defensive style of fighting because she's small," the actress said of her training.
Johansson seemed to reiterate stories echoed by many of the other "Iron Man 2" cast members regarding the very big movie that actually felt very small during filming.
"I thought it would be a little bit daunting, especially because I came into the project as a huge fan of the first movie," she explained. "I think roughly 80 per cent of the crew was back from the first one so it had a real familial feeling and even though the project seemed larger than life and sort of epic, it's got a sort of small kind of communal feeling on the set. I attribute that to Jon [Favreau] and Robert [Downey Jr.] and Marvel. They are dedicated to sort of keeping it all in the family, which I really appreciate. So it was nice."
As for whether there will be another go-around for her as Black Widow, Johansson said she's certainly up for a return in "The Avengers."
"I hope it will happen. I don't know if that's where it's going go but she's definitely a big part of the Avengers," she said. "I think that Marvel is very much invested in these characters just as much as the fans are, just as much as I am. You want the fans to like the character, you want them to believe in the character, root for them, and want to see them again."
"So I'm hoping that if the fans support the character, that we'll see her again," she said.
Source
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Exploring Iron Man's Legacy
by Jesse Schedeen
Fred Van Lente sheds light on Iron Man Legacy, a new ongoing set in Tony Stark's past.
December 8, 2009 - Thanks to his highly successful movie last year, Iron Man is enjoying more mainstream popularity than he's ever known in his 45-year history. That popularity has extended to his books, with Invincible Iron Man becoming one of Marvel's best-selling titles and even going on to influence the development of the second movie.
For a brief time last year it looked as if Iron Man would star in two concurrent ongoing series. However, it was quickly revealed that Iron Man: Director of SHIELD would make way for the new War Machine series. Flash forward to the end of 2009, however, and things are different. As anticipation builds for Iron Man 2, Marvel really is debuting a second ongoing series featuring the Armored Avenger. Iron Man Legacy will be written by Fred Van Lente (Amazing Spider-Man, Incredible Hercules) and drawn by Steve Kurth (Ultimate Armor Wars). The series will feature standalone story arcs that are set at varying points in Iron Man's career.
Naturally, we had plenty of questions about the new series, so we got Van Lente on the phone to find out what he has planned for Tony Stark. The most obvious question is whether the series will follow a similar path to Mike Carey's X-Men Legacy. In addition, we asked about potential movie ties and whether Legacy can function if Stark doesn't make it out of "Stark Disassembled" alive. In addition, we had Van Lente update us on his other future projects, including his contributions to "The Gauntlet" in Amazing Spider-Man and "Assault on New Olympus" in Incredible Hercules. And did someone mention Deadpool Legacy? Read on to find out more.
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IGN Comics: My first question after hearing the title of the series is whether you're taking a similar approach to what Mike Carey has done with X-Men Legacy?
Fred Van Lente: Well, in the sense that Charles Xavier dons the Iron Man armor... wait, no no, don't print that!
Basically, Iron Man Legacy is an ongoing that explores different aspects of Iron Man and his past in self-contained story arcs. We feel that Iron Man is an important enough character and a broad enough character that we can explore different aspects of his history and tell exciting stories that way.
IGN Comics: With everyone wondering if Tony is going to make it out of "World's Most Wanted" and "Stark Disassembled" alive, could this series function regardless of whether Tony survives in 2010?
Van Lente: Oh yeah. Without a doubt.
Iron Man Legacy #1
IGN Comics: Fraction's Invincible Iron Man has been as much about Pepper Potts and Maria Hill as it has about Tony. Would you say this series is much more focused on Iron Man himself?
Van Lente: Very much so. Our first arc is called "War of the Iron Men", and it involves a war torn country, Transia, in Marvel Europe. A paramilitary organization has gotten a hold of some Iron Man armor and is using it in ethnic cleansing. This is really Tony's worst nightmare. He wanted the armor to be the weapon to end all weapons, and now his fears have come true in the sense that someone is using this technology to start wars and continue wars. For various reasons, the US government can't get involved, so he flouts international law by intervening personally as Iron Man. This in itself causes a serious international brouhaha that calls in the villains and heroes of several different countries, namely Russia and China, who have their own stake in the Transian situation. The whole thing just kind of escalates from there. The phrase "War of the Iron Men" is very literal.
IGN Comics: From what I can tell about the second movie, it seems to be drawing in some elements from the "Armor Wars" storyline. Are you tackling some similar themes in this story?
Van Lente: Yeah, exactly. A lot of what we're doing is also sort of integrating more of the movie stuff into the Iron Man comic continuity like the arc reactor and the JARVIS computer, things like that.
IGN Comics: That integration is something Fraction has done really well so far. Are you basically trying to bring in what worked and make things more cohesive overall?
Van Lente: Exactly. In many ways, the whole purpose of the series is to bring in folks who were interested in Iron Man from the movies, and we can just jump into a standalone, self-contained adventure. So a lot of the stuff will perhaps seem more familiar to them than the people who are following current Marvel continuity.
IGN Comics: How would you describe this version of Tony Stark in relation to the one we're seeing now? How far back in Marvel continuity is this set?
Van Lente: Not that far back. It's set in a specific period of iron Man's history. I think I'm going to leave that as an Easter egg for fans to figure out. There are certainly enough clues in the first issue as to what period of Iron Man's history it's set in.
In many ways I'm vastly more interested in Tony Stark than Iron Man. I love exploring the technology of Iron Man and giving him new features to his armor. I'm adding an entirely new armor, which you're going to get in Iron Man Legacy #1. But I just love the idea of Tony Stark as this man who's really just larger than life. He's a handsome, billionaire genius. He's the sort of person that you and I may not be able to relate to very well. One of the challenges I have as a writer is to make Tony relatable to the reader, and I think one of the ways we're doing it in Legacy is basically backing him into a corner and forcing him to face his own demons from when he was a weapons manufacturer and see how he battles his way out. He decides to personally put an end to that, but in doing that he jeopardizes his country, jeopardizes his friends, and jeopardizes his life.
IGN Comics: Over the past few years, Tony's playboy billionaire side has been sort of downplayed in favor of other aspects of his character. Is that something you want to play up more in this series?
Van Lente: Yeah. Going back to the movies, I was very struck by Robert Downey, Jr.'s interpretation of him in the film because he is so able to combine the humor and devil-may-care aspect of Tony with his obvious intelligence and the moral struggle of what he has to do and what his company has to do. That's definitely something we're trying to bring to Legacy.
IGN Comics: It seems like a lot of the major Iron Man stories of the recent past, like Extremis and Fraction's series, have involved Tony struggling to evolve and become the Iron Man of the 21st Century. Will you be tackling that theme in the book?
Van Lente: Within this specific storyline, what Tony is confronted with is sort of what we're confronted with now in the global political arena. Some of the most dangerous weapons our troops face in Iraq and Afghanistan are not high-tech inventions but these primitive but very deadly Improvised Explosive Devices. I was interested in putting Tony in a situation where he has to deal with people who have retrofitted his technology for much more lethal means than he ever conceived. It's like fighting a Lord of the Rings-type war with Iron Man armor.
Source
Fred Van Lente sheds light on Iron Man Legacy, a new ongoing set in Tony Stark's past.
December 8, 2009 - Thanks to his highly successful movie last year, Iron Man is enjoying more mainstream popularity than he's ever known in his 45-year history. That popularity has extended to his books, with Invincible Iron Man becoming one of Marvel's best-selling titles and even going on to influence the development of the second movie.
For a brief time last year it looked as if Iron Man would star in two concurrent ongoing series. However, it was quickly revealed that Iron Man: Director of SHIELD would make way for the new War Machine series. Flash forward to the end of 2009, however, and things are different. As anticipation builds for Iron Man 2, Marvel really is debuting a second ongoing series featuring the Armored Avenger. Iron Man Legacy will be written by Fred Van Lente (Amazing Spider-Man, Incredible Hercules) and drawn by Steve Kurth (Ultimate Armor Wars). The series will feature standalone story arcs that are set at varying points in Iron Man's career.
Naturally, we had plenty of questions about the new series, so we got Van Lente on the phone to find out what he has planned for Tony Stark. The most obvious question is whether the series will follow a similar path to Mike Carey's X-Men Legacy. In addition, we asked about potential movie ties and whether Legacy can function if Stark doesn't make it out of "Stark Disassembled" alive. In addition, we had Van Lente update us on his other future projects, including his contributions to "The Gauntlet" in Amazing Spider-Man and "Assault on New Olympus" in Incredible Hercules. And did someone mention Deadpool Legacy? Read on to find out more.
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IGN Comics: My first question after hearing the title of the series is whether you're taking a similar approach to what Mike Carey has done with X-Men Legacy?
Fred Van Lente: Well, in the sense that Charles Xavier dons the Iron Man armor... wait, no no, don't print that!
Basically, Iron Man Legacy is an ongoing that explores different aspects of Iron Man and his past in self-contained story arcs. We feel that Iron Man is an important enough character and a broad enough character that we can explore different aspects of his history and tell exciting stories that way.
IGN Comics: With everyone wondering if Tony is going to make it out of "World's Most Wanted" and "Stark Disassembled" alive, could this series function regardless of whether Tony survives in 2010?
Van Lente: Oh yeah. Without a doubt.
IGN Comics: Fraction's Invincible Iron Man has been as much about Pepper Potts and Maria Hill as it has about Tony. Would you say this series is much more focused on Iron Man himself?
Van Lente: Very much so. Our first arc is called "War of the Iron Men", and it involves a war torn country, Transia, in Marvel Europe. A paramilitary organization has gotten a hold of some Iron Man armor and is using it in ethnic cleansing. This is really Tony's worst nightmare. He wanted the armor to be the weapon to end all weapons, and now his fears have come true in the sense that someone is using this technology to start wars and continue wars. For various reasons, the US government can't get involved, so he flouts international law by intervening personally as Iron Man. This in itself causes a serious international brouhaha that calls in the villains and heroes of several different countries, namely Russia and China, who have their own stake in the Transian situation. The whole thing just kind of escalates from there. The phrase "War of the Iron Men" is very literal.
IGN Comics: From what I can tell about the second movie, it seems to be drawing in some elements from the "Armor Wars" storyline. Are you tackling some similar themes in this story?
Van Lente: Yeah, exactly. A lot of what we're doing is also sort of integrating more of the movie stuff into the Iron Man comic continuity like the arc reactor and the JARVIS computer, things like that.
IGN Comics: That integration is something Fraction has done really well so far. Are you basically trying to bring in what worked and make things more cohesive overall?
Van Lente: Exactly. In many ways, the whole purpose of the series is to bring in folks who were interested in Iron Man from the movies, and we can just jump into a standalone, self-contained adventure. So a lot of the stuff will perhaps seem more familiar to them than the people who are following current Marvel continuity.
IGN Comics: How would you describe this version of Tony Stark in relation to the one we're seeing now? How far back in Marvel continuity is this set?
Van Lente: Not that far back. It's set in a specific period of iron Man's history. I think I'm going to leave that as an Easter egg for fans to figure out. There are certainly enough clues in the first issue as to what period of Iron Man's history it's set in.
In many ways I'm vastly more interested in Tony Stark than Iron Man. I love exploring the technology of Iron Man and giving him new features to his armor. I'm adding an entirely new armor, which you're going to get in Iron Man Legacy #1. But I just love the idea of Tony Stark as this man who's really just larger than life. He's a handsome, billionaire genius. He's the sort of person that you and I may not be able to relate to very well. One of the challenges I have as a writer is to make Tony relatable to the reader, and I think one of the ways we're doing it in Legacy is basically backing him into a corner and forcing him to face his own demons from when he was a weapons manufacturer and see how he battles his way out. He decides to personally put an end to that, but in doing that he jeopardizes his country, jeopardizes his friends, and jeopardizes his life.
IGN Comics: Over the past few years, Tony's playboy billionaire side has been sort of downplayed in favor of other aspects of his character. Is that something you want to play up more in this series?
Van Lente: Yeah. Going back to the movies, I was very struck by Robert Downey, Jr.'s interpretation of him in the film because he is so able to combine the humor and devil-may-care aspect of Tony with his obvious intelligence and the moral struggle of what he has to do and what his company has to do. That's definitely something we're trying to bring to Legacy.
IGN Comics: It seems like a lot of the major Iron Man stories of the recent past, like Extremis and Fraction's series, have involved Tony struggling to evolve and become the Iron Man of the 21st Century. Will you be tackling that theme in the book?
Van Lente: Within this specific storyline, what Tony is confronted with is sort of what we're confronted with now in the global political arena. Some of the most dangerous weapons our troops face in Iraq and Afghanistan are not high-tech inventions but these primitive but very deadly Improvised Explosive Devices. I was interested in putting Tony in a situation where he has to deal with people who have retrofitted his technology for much more lethal means than he ever conceived. It's like fighting a Lord of the Rings-type war with Iron Man armor.
Source
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Does Iron Man 2 = Spider-Man 3?
Instead of being excited about another Iron Man movie, should we be concerned that it's going to be another over-stuffed, disorganized mess like Spider-Man 3? One British journalist thinks so, worryingly enough.
The Guardian's Stuart Heritage thinks that what we already know about the second Iron Man movie sounds worryingly familiar:
This time Iron Man 2 will have to balance Robert Downey Jr with Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke and Don Cheadle and Samuel L Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow, and a shedload of exploding robots. Plus, there's a good chance that Tony Stark's also going to be an alcoholic in this one. And that's where the worry starts to seep in.
A tangled love story? Too many villains? A hero struggling with his demons? Unless I'm mistaken, that sounds just like Spider-Man 3 – a superhero movie legendary in its bloated naffness.
We'll admit it; we're concerned about Iron Man 2 as well, but that's got more to do with Whiplash's costume than any story-related reason. After all, if Favreau and Downey Jr. could make the first movie as fun as it was despite not having a finished script, making two bad guys, two Iron Men and an alcoholic subplot work should be a piece of cake. But do we put too much faith in their talents? Let us know in the comments whether you're worried that IM2 may be too full for its own good.
Source
The Guardian's Stuart Heritage thinks that what we already know about the second Iron Man movie sounds worryingly familiar:
This time Iron Man 2 will have to balance Robert Downey Jr with Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke and Don Cheadle and Samuel L Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow, and a shedload of exploding robots. Plus, there's a good chance that Tony Stark's also going to be an alcoholic in this one. And that's where the worry starts to seep in.
A tangled love story? Too many villains? A hero struggling with his demons? Unless I'm mistaken, that sounds just like Spider-Man 3 – a superhero movie legendary in its bloated naffness.
We'll admit it; we're concerned about Iron Man 2 as well, but that's got more to do with Whiplash's costume than any story-related reason. After all, if Favreau and Downey Jr. could make the first movie as fun as it was despite not having a finished script, making two bad guys, two Iron Men and an alcoholic subplot work should be a piece of cake. But do we put too much faith in their talents? Let us know in the comments whether you're worried that IM2 may be too full for its own good.
Source
Friday, December 11, 2009
Why I'm starting to worry about Iron Man 2
by Stuart Heritage
The film is beginning to sound like Spider-Man 3, and we all know that is not a good thing
The nights are drawing in and it's chilly outside. Yes, it's winter and thus the perfect time for Hollywood to start banging on about its big summer blockbusters. That's why, right now, you can barely move for photos and snippets and rumours about Iron Man 2.
The point of them, of course, is to gee everybody up into a breathless froth ready for its release in May. However – and I might alone here – every new snippet of information about Iron Man 2 is making me a little bit more worried about it.
Although it ended up getting overshadowed by The Dark Knight, the first Iron Man felt like a breath of fresh air when it was released last year. Although it had to balance Tony Stark's origins story with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and a shedload of exploding robots, it still left enough space for Robert Downey Jr to be as breezy and irreverent as he liked. It wasn't a film about a tortured soul grappling with the weight of his social responsibility; it was Ocean's Eleven in a jetpack.
But this time round, it seems as though there won't be time for any of that. This time Iron Man 2 will have to balance Robert Downey Jr with Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke and Don Cheadle and Samuel L Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow, and a shedload of exploding robots. Plus, there's a good chance that Tony Stark's also going to be an alcoholic in this one. And that's where the worry starts to seep in.
A tangled love story? Too many villains? A hero struggling with his demons? Unless I'm mistaken, that sounds just like Spider-Man 3 – a superhero movie legendary in its bloated naffness. We've still got six months before Iron Man 2 is released – what's the betting that we'll soon start seeing magazines filled with exclusive on-set photos of the excruciating scene where Tony Stark dances around and cooks some eggs with Pepper Potts, or the bit where he grows a new haircut to indicate that he's turned evil?
Jon Favreau undoubtedly knows what he's doing, but the only feasible way that Iron Man 2 could cram in all of these different elements and still allow time for Robert Downey Jr to clown around would be to increase the film's length. And all that tends to do is make audiences shift around and worry about the onset of deep-vein thrombosis.
I'm only worried because I loved Iron Man. I want to love Iron Man 2. But I want the makers to remember what was so good about the original. After all, people won't watch Iron Man 2 to see hour after hour of mind-numbing action sequences. That's what Michael Bay is for, surely.
Source
The film is beginning to sound like Spider-Man 3, and we all know that is not a good thing
The nights are drawing in and it's chilly outside. Yes, it's winter and thus the perfect time for Hollywood to start banging on about its big summer blockbusters. That's why, right now, you can barely move for photos and snippets and rumours about Iron Man 2.
The point of them, of course, is to gee everybody up into a breathless froth ready for its release in May. However – and I might alone here – every new snippet of information about Iron Man 2 is making me a little bit more worried about it.
Although it ended up getting overshadowed by The Dark Knight, the first Iron Man felt like a breath of fresh air when it was released last year. Although it had to balance Tony Stark's origins story with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and a shedload of exploding robots, it still left enough space for Robert Downey Jr to be as breezy and irreverent as he liked. It wasn't a film about a tortured soul grappling with the weight of his social responsibility; it was Ocean's Eleven in a jetpack.
But this time round, it seems as though there won't be time for any of that. This time Iron Man 2 will have to balance Robert Downey Jr with Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke and Don Cheadle and Samuel L Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow, and a shedload of exploding robots. Plus, there's a good chance that Tony Stark's also going to be an alcoholic in this one. And that's where the worry starts to seep in.
A tangled love story? Too many villains? A hero struggling with his demons? Unless I'm mistaken, that sounds just like Spider-Man 3 – a superhero movie legendary in its bloated naffness. We've still got six months before Iron Man 2 is released – what's the betting that we'll soon start seeing magazines filled with exclusive on-set photos of the excruciating scene where Tony Stark dances around and cooks some eggs with Pepper Potts, or the bit where he grows a new haircut to indicate that he's turned evil?
Jon Favreau undoubtedly knows what he's doing, but the only feasible way that Iron Man 2 could cram in all of these different elements and still allow time for Robert Downey Jr to clown around would be to increase the film's length. And all that tends to do is make audiences shift around and worry about the onset of deep-vein thrombosis.
I'm only worried because I loved Iron Man. I want to love Iron Man 2. But I want the makers to remember what was so good about the original. After all, people won't watch Iron Man 2 to see hour after hour of mind-numbing action sequences. That's what Michael Bay is for, surely.
Source
Thursday, December 10, 2009
'Iron Man 2' Voted MTV Readers' Most-Anticipated 2010 Comic Book Movie
by Rick Marshall
Well, that certainly wasn't much of a surprise. After we asked readers to pick the 2010 comic book movie they're most looking forward to, they voted "Iron Man 2" the overwhelming winner — but not all of the results were as predictable as Tony Stark and War Machine's victory.
In the end, "Iron Man 2" nabbed just over half the total votes, with Matthew Vaughn's "Kick-Ass" and Edgar Wright's "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World" each taking home 11 percent of the vote and sharing the runner-up spot. Both "Jonah Hex" and "Dead of Night" also had decent showings, with the latter receiving 7 percent of the total vote via a big outpouring of fan support and an active write-in campaign. (I'd accidentally left the Brandon Routh-starring film out of the poll.)
Read on for the full results and some reader feedback about the results.
POLL RESULTS
Iron Man 2: 53%
Kick-Ass: 11%
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: 11%
Jonah Hex: 8%
Dead Of Night (via write-in votes): 7%
The Losers: 4%
The Green Hornet: 3%
Priest: 1%
Red: 1%
Other: 1%
Bamf!: I wanted to say Green Hornet, I mean with Michel Gondry directing, it just feels so left-field and odd it HAS to be good, right? I'm also a big Edgar Wright nut and can't wait for Scott Pilgrim, but in the end it just has to be Iron Man 2 for me
Phear: Iron Man 2 is clearly a no-brainer here because of how amazing it's going to be. However, after reading the first 5 volumes of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. I honestly have to vote for it here because it's going to be amazing.
Bernsee: You didn't add the Dylan Dog "Dead of Night " movie that will be coming out in 2010. Should have made your list. I'm voting for that. Everything I hear sounds like it will be an awesome movie.
tralu: Man, tough choice between Iron Man 2 and Scott Pilgrim. Do I go with the suave, unstoppable cash-cow juggernaut that's bound to be good, or do I go with the scrappy underdog that has a lot of promise on paper but is still unproven? ...***** it. Scott Pilgrim it is!
BFisch: Iron Man 2, mainly because sequels tend to be very strong-they can focus off the origin and just jump right into the characters. Also, the new poster with War Machine looks awesome. However, I am excited for Scoot Pilgrim and Jonah Hex, but Iron Man 2 is really shaping up.
HollywoodSouth: Dead Of Night Because I Am In It
Source
Well, that certainly wasn't much of a surprise. After we asked readers to pick the 2010 comic book movie they're most looking forward to, they voted "Iron Man 2" the overwhelming winner — but not all of the results were as predictable as Tony Stark and War Machine's victory.In the end, "Iron Man 2" nabbed just over half the total votes, with Matthew Vaughn's "Kick-Ass" and Edgar Wright's "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World" each taking home 11 percent of the vote and sharing the runner-up spot. Both "Jonah Hex" and "Dead of Night" also had decent showings, with the latter receiving 7 percent of the total vote via a big outpouring of fan support and an active write-in campaign. (I'd accidentally left the Brandon Routh-starring film out of the poll.)
Read on for the full results and some reader feedback about the results.
POLL RESULTS
Iron Man 2: 53%
Kick-Ass: 11%
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: 11%
Jonah Hex: 8%
Dead Of Night (via write-in votes): 7%
The Losers: 4%
The Green Hornet: 3%
Priest: 1%
Red: 1%
Other: 1%
Bamf!: I wanted to say Green Hornet, I mean with Michel Gondry directing, it just feels so left-field and odd it HAS to be good, right? I'm also a big Edgar Wright nut and can't wait for Scott Pilgrim, but in the end it just has to be Iron Man 2 for me
Phear: Iron Man 2 is clearly a no-brainer here because of how amazing it's going to be. However, after reading the first 5 volumes of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. I honestly have to vote for it here because it's going to be amazing.
Bernsee: You didn't add the Dylan Dog "Dead of Night " movie that will be coming out in 2010. Should have made your list. I'm voting for that. Everything I hear sounds like it will be an awesome movie.
tralu: Man, tough choice between Iron Man 2 and Scott Pilgrim. Do I go with the suave, unstoppable cash-cow juggernaut that's bound to be good, or do I go with the scrappy underdog that has a lot of promise on paper but is still unproven? ...***** it. Scott Pilgrim it is!
BFisch: Iron Man 2, mainly because sequels tend to be very strong-they can focus off the origin and just jump right into the characters. Also, the new poster with War Machine looks awesome. However, I am excited for Scoot Pilgrim and Jonah Hex, but Iron Man 2 is really shaping up.
HollywoodSouth: Dead Of Night Because I Am In It
Source
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
With Real-Life Iron Man Armor On The Way, Is War Machine Next?
by Rick Marshall
Okay, so we're probably a long time away from developing a power source like the one powering Tony Stark's armor in "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2," but according to recent reports, we might be closer than you think to developing a version of "smart" armor like the one protecting Iron Man and War Machine.
According to Discovery News, scientists at a U.S. miltary facility in Michigan are currently researching applications for "piezoelectric" armor that can not only detect the size of bullets shot at it, but also identify the damage inflicted and generate small amounts of electricity in response. All of this could potentially allow for a similar heads-up display of the armor's current level of damage, weak points and various other conditions Tony Stark is alerted to while wearing the Iron Man armor.
"As a kid, everyone played those video games that showed you how much armor you had left as a percentage bar," said John Wray, a contractor for the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center. "That's exactly what we're working on here and more."
Over at SciFi Scanner, they further the video-game comparison with a few more details, explaining, "As it works now, data about the armor's integrity shows up on a monitor and is color coded so it's easy to understand: Green means you're good to go, black points out damage and red spots are where you've been hit."
While the science of the piezoelectric armor gets pretty involved, the basic premise is that the materials used in the armor produce a small amount of electricity when bent, but also bend when exposed to electricity. Two sensors are attached to each piece of armor, with one generating a low amount of electricity that runs through the armor into the other sensor.
When the armor is damaged, some of that electrical current isn't received at the second sensor, and a computer determines the level of damage indicated by that change in voltage.
Phew! Got all that?
In the end, this just means we're one step closer to jet-boots — and that's a discovery I think we can all agree needs to happen ASAP.
Okay, so we're probably a long time away from developing a power source like the one powering Tony Stark's armor in "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2," but according to recent reports, we might be closer than you think to developing a version of "smart" armor like the one protecting Iron Man and War Machine.According to Discovery News, scientists at a U.S. miltary facility in Michigan are currently researching applications for "piezoelectric" armor that can not only detect the size of bullets shot at it, but also identify the damage inflicted and generate small amounts of electricity in response. All of this could potentially allow for a similar heads-up display of the armor's current level of damage, weak points and various other conditions Tony Stark is alerted to while wearing the Iron Man armor.
"As a kid, everyone played those video games that showed you how much armor you had left as a percentage bar," said John Wray, a contractor for the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center. "That's exactly what we're working on here and more."
Over at SciFi Scanner, they further the video-game comparison with a few more details, explaining, "As it works now, data about the armor's integrity shows up on a monitor and is color coded so it's easy to understand: Green means you're good to go, black points out damage and red spots are where you've been hit."
While the science of the piezoelectric armor gets pretty involved, the basic premise is that the materials used in the armor produce a small amount of electricity when bent, but also bend when exposed to electricity. Two sensors are attached to each piece of armor, with one generating a low amount of electricity that runs through the armor into the other sensor.
When the armor is damaged, some of that electrical current isn't received at the second sensor, and a computer determines the level of damage indicated by that change in voltage.
Phew! Got all that?
In the end, this just means we're one step closer to jet-boots — and that's a discovery I think we can all agree needs to happen ASAP.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
'Iron Man 2' International Poster Offers Dark Vision Of Tony Stark
by Rick Marshall
We already saw the first official "Iron Man 2" poster arrive online this week with a shot of War Machine, and now another poster from the much-anticipated blockbuster has hit the 'Net. This time around, it's an international teaser poster for "Iron Man 2" that offers a darker take on Robert Downey Jr. and his billionaire industrialist, Tony Stark.
The new poster makes its debut at Empire, and Stark certainly doesn't look happy in the shot. The new image features Downey Jr. in the Iron Man armor sans helmet, with slightly bowed head and eyes staring at the camera. The only light in the shot comes from the armor's uni-beam in the center of his chest (though I think it's called a "repulsor transmitter" in the film).
So now the question becomes, what could Stark be so unhappy about?
From what we know of the film thus far, Stark is likely to face a host of problems in the film — among them, Mickey Rourke as former Russian inmate Ivan Vanko (a.k.a. Whiplash) and Sam Rockwell as rival industrialist Justin Hammer. The addition of Scarlett Johansson as Russian superspy Natasha Romanoff (a.k.a. The Black Widow) to the cast is still somewhat of a wildcard, as the character has been both hero and villain in the Marvel universe at different points in her history.
Of course, there's also the question of what role War Machine will play in the film. Actor Don Cheadle, who plays a "significant" role as James "Rhodey" Rhodes in the "Iron Man" sequel, previously told MTV News that conflict between War Machine and Iron Man will be a central theme in "Iron Man 2."
Source
We already saw the first official "Iron Man 2" poster arrive online this week with a shot of War Machine, and now another poster from the much-anticipated blockbuster has hit the 'Net. This time around, it's an international teaser poster for "Iron Man 2" that offers a darker take on Robert Downey Jr. and his billionaire industrialist, Tony Stark.The new poster makes its debut at Empire, and Stark certainly doesn't look happy in the shot. The new image features Downey Jr. in the Iron Man armor sans helmet, with slightly bowed head and eyes staring at the camera. The only light in the shot comes from the armor's uni-beam in the center of his chest (though I think it's called a "repulsor transmitter" in the film).
So now the question becomes, what could Stark be so unhappy about?
From what we know of the film thus far, Stark is likely to face a host of problems in the film — among them, Mickey Rourke as former Russian inmate Ivan Vanko (a.k.a. Whiplash) and Sam Rockwell as rival industrialist Justin Hammer. The addition of Scarlett Johansson as Russian superspy Natasha Romanoff (a.k.a. The Black Widow) to the cast is still somewhat of a wildcard, as the character has been both hero and villain in the Marvel universe at different points in her history.
Of course, there's also the question of what role War Machine will play in the film. Actor Don Cheadle, who plays a "significant" role as James "Rhodey" Rhodes in the "Iron Man" sequel, previously told MTV News that conflict between War Machine and Iron Man will be a central theme in "Iron Man 2."
Source
Monday, December 7, 2009
Five Rules For Taking War Machine Solo After 'Iron Man 2'
by Josh Wigler
There's much ado about War Machine going on right now, and it's not hard to understand why — as you can see from the recently revealed "Iron Man 2" poster, the guy is just flat-out cool.
While "Iron Man" fans are already well aware of James "Rhodey" Rhodes, the character is set to explode even further thanks to his armored up role in "Iron Man 2," this time played by Don Cheadle. Beyond the upcoming superhero film, Cheadle is reportedly signed on for a role in "The Avengers," meaning we haven't seen the last of War Machine by a long shot.
But if the character proves popular enough, maybe Rhodey could wind up with a film franchise of his own. If that happens, here are some suggestions for how to make that "War Machine" spinoff work.
1. A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE: The good news about a "War Machine" movie is that we wouldn't need an origin story, thanks to the set-up involved in the "Iron Man" franchise. Still, it would be nice to get a sense of the character's early life through a series of flashbacks. Rhodey's history as a soldier and combat pilot could lay the groundwork for the main plot of the movie, while also serving to show some badass war-based flashback sequences.
2. OLD FRIENDS, NEW FRIENDS: It would be interesting to see Robert Downey Jr. play second fiddle to Don Cheadle in a "War Machine" movie, but I would be cautious about giving Tony Stark too much screen time. This is Rhodey's movie, so a bit-sized part for RDJ would suffice. Besides, there are plenty of other comic book characters that could be utilized in a "War Machine" spin-off, such as mercenary Parnell Jacobs and occasional armor-bearer Bethany Cabe.
3. TARGETING THE ENEMY: There is no shortage of excellent Iron Man villains to choose from that War Machine himself has personal ties to. Characters like Zodiac and Radioactive Man could make for interesting nemeses, though I'd love to see Rhodey go after the Ghost, an enigmatic assassin with a bone to pick against corporate America. Maybe Ghost could cause severe injury to Stark, prompting War Machine to embark on a vengeance quest. That's a movie I'd pay to see!
4. WEAPONS OF WAR: One of the biggest distinctions between War Machine and Iron Man is their choice of weaponry. Whereas Tony's armor is sleek and refined, Rhodey is all about the heavy artillery. But beyond rockets and gatling guns and other forms of massive firepower, War Machine is a hero that can really operate outside the box — in Greg Pak's recent run on the character, Rhodey was able to assimilate surrounding bits of technology into his own suit, almost like a Transformer. Seeing that in live-action would be very, very cool.
5. THE HEART OF THE ARMOR: Above all else — the crazy armor, the vast weaponry, the awe-inspiring villains — a "War Machine" movie needs to rely on the same central ingredient that made the "Iron Man" franchise so successful: character. Rhodey is much more than just a guy in a suit — he's got a rich backstory, an excellent personality and, maybe most importantly, a phenomenal actor filling the role. By focusing the movie on the man driving the armor rather than the armor itself, "War Machine" could be a truly worthwhile experience.
Source
There's much ado about War Machine going on right now, and it's not hard to understand why — as you can see from the recently revealed "Iron Man 2" poster, the guy is just flat-out cool.
While "Iron Man" fans are already well aware of James "Rhodey" Rhodes, the character is set to explode even further thanks to his armored up role in "Iron Man 2," this time played by Don Cheadle. Beyond the upcoming superhero film, Cheadle is reportedly signed on for a role in "The Avengers," meaning we haven't seen the last of War Machine by a long shot.
But if the character proves popular enough, maybe Rhodey could wind up with a film franchise of his own. If that happens, here are some suggestions for how to make that "War Machine" spinoff work.
1. A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE: The good news about a "War Machine" movie is that we wouldn't need an origin story, thanks to the set-up involved in the "Iron Man" franchise. Still, it would be nice to get a sense of the character's early life through a series of flashbacks. Rhodey's history as a soldier and combat pilot could lay the groundwork for the main plot of the movie, while also serving to show some badass war-based flashback sequences.
2. OLD FRIENDS, NEW FRIENDS: It would be interesting to see Robert Downey Jr. play second fiddle to Don Cheadle in a "War Machine" movie, but I would be cautious about giving Tony Stark too much screen time. This is Rhodey's movie, so a bit-sized part for RDJ would suffice. Besides, there are plenty of other comic book characters that could be utilized in a "War Machine" spin-off, such as mercenary Parnell Jacobs and occasional armor-bearer Bethany Cabe.
3. TARGETING THE ENEMY: There is no shortage of excellent Iron Man villains to choose from that War Machine himself has personal ties to. Characters like Zodiac and Radioactive Man could make for interesting nemeses, though I'd love to see Rhodey go after the Ghost, an enigmatic assassin with a bone to pick against corporate America. Maybe Ghost could cause severe injury to Stark, prompting War Machine to embark on a vengeance quest. That's a movie I'd pay to see!
4. WEAPONS OF WAR: One of the biggest distinctions between War Machine and Iron Man is their choice of weaponry. Whereas Tony's armor is sleek and refined, Rhodey is all about the heavy artillery. But beyond rockets and gatling guns and other forms of massive firepower, War Machine is a hero that can really operate outside the box — in Greg Pak's recent run on the character, Rhodey was able to assimilate surrounding bits of technology into his own suit, almost like a Transformer. Seeing that in live-action would be very, very cool.
5. THE HEART OF THE ARMOR: Above all else — the crazy armor, the vast weaponry, the awe-inspiring villains — a "War Machine" movie needs to rely on the same central ingredient that made the "Iron Man" franchise so successful: character. Rhodey is much more than just a guy in a suit — he's got a rich backstory, an excellent personality and, maybe most importantly, a phenomenal actor filling the role. By focusing the movie on the man driving the armor rather than the armor itself, "War Machine" could be a truly worthwhile experience.
Source
Sunday, December 6, 2009
'Iron Man 2' Toy Preview Offers More Peeks At War Machine, Whiplash And 'Mystery Army-Builder'?!
It's been a big week for "Iron Man 2" news, and now we have yet another peek at one of next year's most hotly anticipated movies — or more accurately, the toys based on the film.
Not only does the upcoming line of "Iron Man 2" toys grace the cover of comic shop catalog "Previews" this month, but the advertisement for the line also features a close-up shot of the War Machine figure, complete with James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Don Cheadle) in the armor. While the full figure is blacked out in the ad, the close-up image of Cheadle in the armor offers a nice peek at what we can expect to see in the film — especially given this week's poster debut of the War Machine armor.
But that's not all we get to see from the "Iron Man 2" line, either.
Just a page later in the catalog, there's also an ad for the upcoming line of "Iron Man 2" Minimates (a popular line of miniature, articulated collectible figures). Three of the figures are blacked out, but we do get a peek at the miniature versions of Iron Man, Whiplash (Mickey Rourke), Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and — because you demanded it— Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau)!
Yes, the "Iron Man 2" director finally has his own action figure! (Personally, I plan to pretend it's an action figure of his character Mikey from "Swingers," but that's just me.)
And there are two more items of note from the Minimates ad, too. First, it's worth noting that the version of Whiplash we see in the toy line is the same version we've seen in the first photos of Rourke released from the "Iron Man 2" set. Many had speculated that this was an early version of the Whiplash armor, and that he'd don a more complete version later in the film — but if the toy line is any indication, this could be the only version of Whiplash we'll see.
Additionally, the titles of the blacked-out figures are also worth noting. The ad promises that the line will include (along with the aforementioned figures) War Machine, another version of Iron Man, and... a "high-tech mystery army-builder."
How's that for a tease, eh?
You can check out the ad below for the outlines of the three figures not shown, then be sure to let us know what you think of the all this new info — and who the "mystery army-builder" could be!
Not only does the upcoming line of "Iron Man 2" toys grace the cover of comic shop catalog "Previews" this month, but the advertisement for the line also features a close-up shot of the War Machine figure, complete with James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Don Cheadle) in the armor. While the full figure is blacked out in the ad, the close-up image of Cheadle in the armor offers a nice peek at what we can expect to see in the film — especially given this week's poster debut of the War Machine armor.
But that's not all we get to see from the "Iron Man 2" line, either.
Just a page later in the catalog, there's also an ad for the upcoming line of "Iron Man 2" Minimates (a popular line of miniature, articulated collectible figures). Three of the figures are blacked out, but we do get a peek at the miniature versions of Iron Man, Whiplash (Mickey Rourke), Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and — because you demanded it— Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau)!
Yes, the "Iron Man 2" director finally has his own action figure! (Personally, I plan to pretend it's an action figure of his character Mikey from "Swingers," but that's just me.)
And there are two more items of note from the Minimates ad, too. First, it's worth noting that the version of Whiplash we see in the toy line is the same version we've seen in the first photos of Rourke released from the "Iron Man 2" set. Many had speculated that this was an early version of the Whiplash armor, and that he'd don a more complete version later in the film — but if the toy line is any indication, this could be the only version of Whiplash we'll see.
Additionally, the titles of the blacked-out figures are also worth noting. The ad promises that the line will include (along with the aforementioned figures) War Machine, another version of Iron Man, and... a "high-tech mystery army-builder."
How's that for a tease, eh?
You can check out the ad below for the outlines of the three figures not shown, then be sure to let us know what you think of the all this new info — and who the "mystery army-builder" could be!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Paramount has Removed Iron Man 2's Footage from YouTube
Could this mean something great is Coming??
I know this may no matter because I'm sure everyone has seen the Comic-Con footage by now, thanks to YouTube. Well now you'll be out of luck with finding it there because the sequel's Distributor, Paramount Pictures, has made sure each copy be removed from the site. This is what it says on differnet uploads of the footage:
"This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Paramount Pictures Corporation."
Well, now I think that they're planning to release something even better. A very nice Teaser in HD with a bow on top. This just adds evidence to the mention that the Teaser Trailer will debut on Christmas Day.
Source
I know this may no matter because I'm sure everyone has seen the Comic-Con footage by now, thanks to YouTube. Well now you'll be out of luck with finding it there because the sequel's Distributor, Paramount Pictures, has made sure each copy be removed from the site. This is what it says on differnet uploads of the footage:
"This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Paramount Pictures Corporation."
Well, now I think that they're planning to release something even better. A very nice Teaser in HD with a bow on top. This just adds evidence to the mention that the Teaser Trailer will debut on Christmas Day.
Source
Friday, December 4, 2009
Marvel Gives IRON MAN's Whiplash a New Comic
The character of Whiplash in the Marvel universe has been so convoluted and confusing over the past forty years since his introduction in 1968, that Marvel has decided to launch a new four issue limited series entitled Iron Man vs. Whiplash.This time, Whiplash will have the same alternate name as his motion picture counterpart, Ivan Vanko played by Mickey Rourke, a name created solely for the film and not found in any past Marvel comics.
Due out December 3, Iron Man fans will get a sneak peek inside this new Whiplash character and a look at his armor. Marvel describes the plot line,
As Tony Stark heads back to the big screen for "Iron Man 2," he brings with him a host of new problems and big enemies. One particularly painful thorn in his side will bethe armor-clad, energy whip-wielding villain known as Whiplash. To get you up to speed on all things Whiplash, Marvel's kicking off a four-issue IRON MAN VS. WHIPLASH limited series beginning in November.
"Before he flays the metal off of Tony Stark's hide in 'Iron Man 2,' this is every True Believer's chance to crawl inside the twisted head of the wicked Whiplash," boasts Editor Bill Rosemann. "If it's jet-setting, globe-trotting, eye-popping action you crave, IRON MAN VS. WHIPLASH will make you believe that Tony Stark is indeed a cool exec with a heart of steel...and Whiplash is the fiend that will break it!"
Yes, the first issue was supposed to be out in November, but it's now being released December 3rd with issue #2 coming out December 23rd and the third and fourth following in the first quarter of 2010.
The four issue series is written by Marc Guggenheim and Brannon Bragga.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Scarlett Johansson "Geeked" About Iron Man 2
The 25-year-old actress said starring as the Black Widow in the sequel to Iron Man was "a total dream come true."
Actress Scarlett Johansson is a busy woman. Between filming Woody Allen movies and playing concerts with Pete Yorn, Johansson is also an active supporter of such charities as Oxfam, (RED), and USA Harvest. The medical magazine WebMD interviewed Johansson for the November/December issue and, between questions about her charity work, managed to slip in a few questions about Iron Man 2.
Johansson told WebMD that landing the role of the Black Widow in director Jon Favreau's follow-up to Iron Man was "a total dream come true." She continued:
"I was such a fan of the first movie. It's just super action packed, and I'm so geeked about about it. Jon Favreau, the director, is also super geeked out about it, so we're in it together."
Johansson said that the film role offered her new challenges as an actress:
"It was a whole new world for me, but I built a lot of strength, that's for sure. Working on the wires and being suspended in the air, you throw one wrong kick or punch and, yeah, you're out of whack. But once you're working with the stunt crew and they're going through the craziest stuff, you feel bad about complaining that your knee has been blue for three months. The guys doing the stunts in those Iron Man suits, they can't move in it and can't take it off. I'd say, 'Have you peed today?' and they're like, 'No, we can't move, we can't take it off, we can't drink water.'"
Johansson confirmed that she will be appearing in The Avengers and said that she hopes her success will help shine some light on the causes she has championed.
"If you already have the spotlight shining on you, it's great to direct that towards a cause you believe in and that you can stand behind. It's nice to be a voice for people who don't have a voice."
Iron Man 2 opens May 7th (April 30th in the UK and AU)!
Source
Actress Scarlett Johansson is a busy woman. Between filming Woody Allen movies and playing concerts with Pete Yorn, Johansson is also an active supporter of such charities as Oxfam, (RED), and USA Harvest. The medical magazine WebMD interviewed Johansson for the November/December issue and, between questions about her charity work, managed to slip in a few questions about Iron Man 2.
Johansson told WebMD that landing the role of the Black Widow in director Jon Favreau's follow-up to Iron Man was "a total dream come true." She continued: "I was such a fan of the first movie. It's just super action packed, and I'm so geeked about about it. Jon Favreau, the director, is also super geeked out about it, so we're in it together."
Johansson said that the film role offered her new challenges as an actress:
"It was a whole new world for me, but I built a lot of strength, that's for sure. Working on the wires and being suspended in the air, you throw one wrong kick or punch and, yeah, you're out of whack. But once you're working with the stunt crew and they're going through the craziest stuff, you feel bad about complaining that your knee has been blue for three months. The guys doing the stunts in those Iron Man suits, they can't move in it and can't take it off. I'd say, 'Have you peed today?' and they're like, 'No, we can't move, we can't take it off, we can't drink water.'"
Johansson confirmed that she will be appearing in The Avengers and said that she hopes her success will help shine some light on the causes she has championed.
"If you already have the spotlight shining on you, it's great to direct that towards a cause you believe in and that you can stand behind. It's nice to be a voice for people who don't have a voice."
Iron Man 2 opens May 7th (April 30th in the UK and AU)!
Source
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
'Iron Man 2': A brief history of War Machine
by Darren Franich
The new poster for Iron Man 2 (launched on Yahoo Movies) prominently features War Machine, Iron Man’s partner-in-Armor. This has me incredibly excited. I love War Machine. Because of an accident of timing, I’ve always thought of War Machine as the original armored hero. Iron Man is just a pale, more colorful imitation.
Let me explain. I grew up during a bizarro-world phase of comic book history when practically every major iconic character was being killed or otherwise eliminated to make way for a newer model, usually with some kind of chic mecha-costume add-on that would look great on an action figure. (You like Superman? Try Cyborg Superman! You like Batman? Try Gold-Plated Batman!)
Iron Man wasn’t immune to the reboot shenanigans; at one point, the armored avenger turned evil and died, only to be replaced by a college-aged time-travel version of himself. This led to a messy James Bond, Jr. period that everyone has agreed to never mention again, under penalty of torture.
During this extreme low point in Iron Man’s publishing history, War Machine was my hero. In the comics, War Machine was the alter ego of James “Rhodey” Rhodes, a Marine vet who served as Tony Stark’s personal pilot slash second banana. He filled in as Iron Man a few times over the years, but got his own totally badass monochrome armor suit when the comic book speculator bubble demanded more spin-offs Tony Stark faked his own death.
Over the years, War Machine has played a dual role in the mythos of his more famous progenitor. On one hand, he’s an everyman who provides Iron Man with some firm moral grounding (a good thing when you’re a workaholic billionaire supergenius.) On the other hand, he can be a loose cannon, more willing to follow his gut than the cerebral Stark. The recasting of Don Cheadle as James Rhodes (bye bye, Terrence Howard) may indicate that he’ll be more the everyman moral compass: Cheadle’s spent most of this decade playing that kind of character. (Although check out Devil in a Blue Dress for evidence that he can do loose cannon just fine.)
Here’s some essential background to fill your days with War Machine enjoyment as we all wait for May to arrive:
War Machine, issues 1-25
The 1994-96 volume of War Machine is a surreal time capsule of pre-9/11 steroidal jingo that now plays like a PG-rated version of Rambo III-era Stallone. In the first story arc, War Machine goes to the (thankfully fictional) African country Imaya to solve an international incident. As this cover indicates, this was not an era that glorified soft power. As far as I can tell, the series was never collected into a trade paperback. However, if you’ve got five bucks and cab fare, I can give you my entire mint-condition collection.
U.S. War Machine
Coming out of Marvel’s R-rated MAX line-up, this series was written and drawn by Chuck Austen, better known for an insane run on X-Men (like, “Surprise, you’re the son of Satan!” insane.) A bleakly funny and totally weird take on the War Machine character, U.S. War Machine placed Rhodes in complex geopolitical, ethical, and racial contexts that Iron Man 2 is sure to avoid.
Marvel Vs. Capcom
There may be a strategy to playing Marvel Vs. Capcom, the mash-up series of video games which saw comic book icons face off against classic videogame characters (Wolverine vs. Mega Man, go!) But I only ever knew it as a seizure-inducing coin-op button masher, where literally any two-button combination would make your player fire all kinds of insane energy beams at your opponent. If you’re that kind of player, War Machine is probably the cheapest coolest character to play. Just check out this clip, where War machine uses seven kinds of anime beam blasters in less than a minute. (Warning: watch with sunglasses on.)
War Machine appeared in the original Marvel vs. Capcom, while Iron Man was absent. I take this as a tacit admission that I wasn’t the only person who once believed that War Machine was a more interesting character. What do you think, PopWatchers? Are you excited about the addition of a second Armored superhero? Are you worried that too many superheroes will cause a Batman Forever-esque creative implosion for the franchise? And let’s settle this once and for all: Is War Machine an awesome name, or a terrible name?
Source
The new poster for Iron Man 2 (launched on Yahoo Movies) prominently features War Machine, Iron Man’s partner-in-Armor. This has me incredibly excited. I love War Machine. Because of an accident of timing, I’ve always thought of War Machine as the original armored hero. Iron Man is just a pale, more colorful imitation.
Let me explain. I grew up during a bizarro-world phase of comic book history when practically every major iconic character was being killed or otherwise eliminated to make way for a newer model, usually with some kind of chic mecha-costume add-on that would look great on an action figure. (You like Superman? Try Cyborg Superman! You like Batman? Try Gold-Plated Batman!)
Iron Man wasn’t immune to the reboot shenanigans; at one point, the armored avenger turned evil and died, only to be replaced by a college-aged time-travel version of himself. This led to a messy James Bond, Jr. period that everyone has agreed to never mention again, under penalty of torture.
During this extreme low point in Iron Man’s publishing history, War Machine was my hero. In the comics, War Machine was the alter ego of James “Rhodey” Rhodes, a Marine vet who served as Tony Stark’s personal pilot slash second banana. He filled in as Iron Man a few times over the years, but got his own totally badass monochrome armor suit when the comic book speculator bubble demanded more spin-offs Tony Stark faked his own death.
Over the years, War Machine has played a dual role in the mythos of his more famous progenitor. On one hand, he’s an everyman who provides Iron Man with some firm moral grounding (a good thing when you’re a workaholic billionaire supergenius.) On the other hand, he can be a loose cannon, more willing to follow his gut than the cerebral Stark. The recasting of Don Cheadle as James Rhodes (bye bye, Terrence Howard) may indicate that he’ll be more the everyman moral compass: Cheadle’s spent most of this decade playing that kind of character. (Although check out Devil in a Blue Dress for evidence that he can do loose cannon just fine.)
Here’s some essential background to fill your days with War Machine enjoyment as we all wait for May to arrive:
War Machine, issues 1-25
The 1994-96 volume of War Machine is a surreal time capsule of pre-9/11 steroidal jingo that now plays like a PG-rated version of Rambo III-era Stallone. In the first story arc, War Machine goes to the (thankfully fictional) African country Imaya to solve an international incident. As this cover indicates, this was not an era that glorified soft power. As far as I can tell, the series was never collected into a trade paperback. However, if you’ve got five bucks and cab fare, I can give you my entire mint-condition collection.
U.S. War Machine
Coming out of Marvel’s R-rated MAX line-up, this series was written and drawn by Chuck Austen, better known for an insane run on X-Men (like, “Surprise, you’re the son of Satan!” insane.) A bleakly funny and totally weird take on the War Machine character, U.S. War Machine placed Rhodes in complex geopolitical, ethical, and racial contexts that Iron Man 2 is sure to avoid.
Marvel Vs. Capcom
There may be a strategy to playing Marvel Vs. Capcom, the mash-up series of video games which saw comic book icons face off against classic videogame characters (Wolverine vs. Mega Man, go!) But I only ever knew it as a seizure-inducing coin-op button masher, where literally any two-button combination would make your player fire all kinds of insane energy beams at your opponent. If you’re that kind of player, War Machine is probably the cheapest coolest character to play. Just check out this clip, where War machine uses seven kinds of anime beam blasters in less than a minute. (Warning: watch with sunglasses on.)
War Machine appeared in the original Marvel vs. Capcom, while Iron Man was absent. I take this as a tacit admission that I wasn’t the only person who once believed that War Machine was a more interesting character. What do you think, PopWatchers? Are you excited about the addition of a second Armored superhero? Are you worried that too many superheroes will cause a Batman Forever-esque creative implosion for the franchise? And let’s settle this once and for all: Is War Machine an awesome name, or a terrible name?
Source
First Iron Man 2 Poster Reveals War Machine
The first theatrical teaser one-sheet movie poster for Iron Man 2 debuted this evening at Yahoo! Movies and I am already convinced it will find a place on my wall.
The poster reveals the first "clear" official image of War Machine aka Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes (Don Cheadle). Up until now the only glimpse of War Machine came from fuzzy illegal photos and videos snapped at the Iron Man 2 presentation this past summer's San Diego Comic-Con.
The arrival of this poster means the first Iron Man 2 teaser trailer is likely just around the corner. Current speculation suggests it will debut in front of James Cameron's Avatar on December 18.
John Favreau returns behind the camera for the Iron Man sequel along with the first film's stars Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow. Newcomers include Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer, Mickey Rourke as Whiplash, and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow.
Iron Man 2 takes off in theaters on Ma7 7, 2010.
Source
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
'Iron Man 2' Star Don Cheadle Talks War Machine Unveiling At Comic-Con
'War Machine makes a very impactful appearance in the movie,' the actor says of the sequel.
By Larry Carroll, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
SAN DIEGO — The Poet Laureate of our age, LL Cool J, once described himself as "the man of the hour, the tower of power." With all due respect, that torch was passed on this weekend to the biggest new cinematic character to emerge from Comic-Con: War Machine. And his mama didn't even need to tell him to knock tens of thousands of geeks out — but he did it anyway.
In case you live in a cave and the ripple effect hasn't hit you yet, Jon Favreau and his "Iron Man" posse made Comic-Con history Saturday night, unveiling dazzling new sequel footage that had fanboys swooning in the aisles like 12-year-old girls at a JoBros concert. At the end of the clip, sleazy arms dealer Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) offers Col. James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) a variety of massive weapons, only to have the buyer announce that he wants "all of them." Cue the shot of an evil-looking Iron Man doppelgänger in full attack mode, weaponry erupting from every orifice.
Moments after the ear-shattering applause in Hall H faded, we caught up with man of the hour Cheadle to discuss his tower of power.
"War Machine makes a very impactful appearance in the movie," promised the Oscar-nominated star of such films as "Hotel Rwanda" and "Crash," discussing a story line that adheres to his character's evil machinations in the "Iron Man" comics. "It's significant."
But what, exactly, is War Machine? Well, in the comics, Rhodes was a friend to Tony Stark who took over as Iron Man when the billionaire industrialist's alcoholism, purported death, or other dangers made him unable to put on the suit. Responding to a threat from Justin Hammer, Stark designed his all-out battle masterpiece — the "Variable Threat Response Battle Suit, Model XVI, Mark I" (nicknamed "War Machine") — which Rhodes would eventually wear. Over the years, Stark and Rhodes have had many falling-outs and reconciliations, usually surrounding one's perceived misuse of the technology — and often resulting in Rock' Em, Sock 'Em Robot-esque battles between the two stubborn, super-suited men.
Whether "Iron Man 2" will follow that formula is anybody's guess, as Favreau and his team have made a habit out of sampling from various incarnations of comics while sprinkling in their own elements. But Cheadle told us that with the second film exploring the notion of a superhero's outing of himself, Tony and Rhodes aren't always going to see eye-to-eye.
"[Our relationship] has gotten deeper," explained the actor, who took over the role from Terrence Howard. "In the first film, Tony wasn't saying he was Iron Man.
"Now that he's embraced it," Cheadle said of the May 2010 film, "there's all these attendant problems and pressure and questions that all the characters surrounding him have to deal with."
Source
By Larry Carroll, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
SAN DIEGO — The Poet Laureate of our age, LL Cool J, once described himself as "the man of the hour, the tower of power." With all due respect, that torch was passed on this weekend to the biggest new cinematic character to emerge from Comic-Con: War Machine. And his mama didn't even need to tell him to knock tens of thousands of geeks out — but he did it anyway.
In case you live in a cave and the ripple effect hasn't hit you yet, Jon Favreau and his "Iron Man" posse made Comic-Con history Saturday night, unveiling dazzling new sequel footage that had fanboys swooning in the aisles like 12-year-old girls at a JoBros concert. At the end of the clip, sleazy arms dealer Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) offers Col. James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) a variety of massive weapons, only to have the buyer announce that he wants "all of them." Cue the shot of an evil-looking Iron Man doppelgänger in full attack mode, weaponry erupting from every orifice.
Moments after the ear-shattering applause in Hall H faded, we caught up with man of the hour Cheadle to discuss his tower of power.
"War Machine makes a very impactful appearance in the movie," promised the Oscar-nominated star of such films as "Hotel Rwanda" and "Crash," discussing a story line that adheres to his character's evil machinations in the "Iron Man" comics. "It's significant."
But what, exactly, is War Machine? Well, in the comics, Rhodes was a friend to Tony Stark who took over as Iron Man when the billionaire industrialist's alcoholism, purported death, or other dangers made him unable to put on the suit. Responding to a threat from Justin Hammer, Stark designed his all-out battle masterpiece — the "Variable Threat Response Battle Suit, Model XVI, Mark I" (nicknamed "War Machine") — which Rhodes would eventually wear. Over the years, Stark and Rhodes have had many falling-outs and reconciliations, usually surrounding one's perceived misuse of the technology — and often resulting in Rock' Em, Sock 'Em Robot-esque battles between the two stubborn, super-suited men.
Whether "Iron Man 2" will follow that formula is anybody's guess, as Favreau and his team have made a habit out of sampling from various incarnations of comics while sprinkling in their own elements. But Cheadle told us that with the second film exploring the notion of a superhero's outing of himself, Tony and Rhodes aren't always going to see eye-to-eye.
"[Our relationship] has gotten deeper," explained the actor, who took over the role from Terrence Howard. "In the first film, Tony wasn't saying he was Iron Man.
"Now that he's embraced it," Cheadle said of the May 2010 film, "there's all these attendant problems and pressure and questions that all the characters surrounding him have to deal with."
Source
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