Iron Man II thoughts
May. 10th, 2010 11:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seren_ccdFirst off, I think I need to see it again.
I will be the first to admit that I was very hesitant to see the sequel because of how much I adored the first one. The first Iron Man got me writing again. Seriously. I hadn't really written anything in almost a year, but I saw the film and I came home and for the next week, I was writing again. So, I hold the first film in a very special place in my heart.
Therefore, it's only natural that the sequel would, more than likely, let me down a little.
And it kind of did. Through absolutely no fault of RDJ, Gwyneth, Don Cheadle, etc. I'd like to point out. Any scene with Tony/Pepper, Tony/Rhodey, Tony/Happy, Pepper/Happy, I was bouncing.
The film, to me, seemed to suffer from the 'laundry list' way to make a movie. Meaning, there is this long list of 'stuff' that has to go into the film. For example, we need three explosions, one big battle, a car chase, etc.
As opposed to a story. And honestly, that's okay. Everyone has stuff they want to happen, but I think when you don't have a true story you're working to, things end up feeling a little disjointed.
And Iron Man II felt disjointed. It was lacking the charm and the mystery that the first one had. You knew exactly what everyone's motive was. I think if they hadn't shown all their cards right off the bat (Mickey Rourke's reason for vengeance - we see in the first five minutes, Tony's erratic behavior - he's dying from the palladium in his system, which again, we see very quickly) it would have been better.
It truly felt like they wanted certain scenes, and they worked backwards from that.
The whole making Pepper CEO felt like almost like a throwaway type of thing and since they didn't really explore that at all, I felt really cheated. (Fandom, I expect awesome stuff from you to fill in the gaps!)
Since, it felt so disjointed, I truly was not expecting the kiss at the end. My shippy heart would have just been happy with more UST and flirty banter. The kiss felt like it came out of nowhere and I just sort of blinked at the screen for a second. Then, I admit, I grinned a bit madly, because I do love that the only time RDJ is actually able to look Gwyneth in the eyes is when he's in the suit and it's still a close thing. ;D
I do think I need to see it again. I wasn't in the best of moods when I saw it and was rather exhausted from less than five hours sleep, so maybe it wasn't quite as ho-hum as I'm making it out to be.
BUT, here are the things I did like:
Sam Rockwell being smarmy and dancing. I've loved him ever since Charlie's Angels.
Agent Coulson. Oh, I love that guy. Bring on the David Mamet dialogue, man! He was wonderful.
In the scene where Jon Favreau's Happy Hogan beat up the guard, did anyone else go 'Hey! Pete finally won a round!'? You know, after his character on Friends? Just me? Okay...
Mickey Rourke. The whips were pretty badass. And that scene in Monaco was pretty awesome.
Anytime RDJ and Gwyneth talked to each other. They're kind of adorable.
Don Cheadle was a good Rhodey. Although, I'm still not sure why they felt the need to replace Terrance. I loved him too.
HE BUILT A PHOTON COLLIDER IN HIS BASEMENT! WITH HIS ARMS ALL SHOWING AND THAT WILL NEVER NOT BE HOT AS HADES!!! There should have been more of that. Way more.
JARVIS. There should have been waaaaaaaay more JARVIS.
All in all, it was entertaining, but not as good as the first one and we'll just have to see. Fandom, don't let me down! I want fic to fill in the gaps, people!
Goodness gracious that was long. I've also got Doctor Who thoughts, but I think I'll save those for tomorrow. :D
I will be the first to admit that I was very hesitant to see the sequel because of how much I adored the first one. The first Iron Man got me writing again. Seriously. I hadn't really written anything in almost a year, but I saw the film and I came home and for the next week, I was writing again. So, I hold the first film in a very special place in my heart.
Therefore, it's only natural that the sequel would, more than likely, let me down a little.
And it kind of did. Through absolutely no fault of RDJ, Gwyneth, Don Cheadle, etc. I'd like to point out. Any scene with Tony/Pepper, Tony/Rhodey, Tony/Happy, Pepper/Happy, I was bouncing.
The film, to me, seemed to suffer from the 'laundry list' way to make a movie. Meaning, there is this long list of 'stuff' that has to go into the film. For example, we need three explosions, one big battle, a car chase, etc.
As opposed to a story. And honestly, that's okay. Everyone has stuff they want to happen, but I think when you don't have a true story you're working to, things end up feeling a little disjointed.
And Iron Man II felt disjointed. It was lacking the charm and the mystery that the first one had. You knew exactly what everyone's motive was. I think if they hadn't shown all their cards right off the bat (Mickey Rourke's reason for vengeance - we see in the first five minutes, Tony's erratic behavior - he's dying from the palladium in his system, which again, we see very quickly) it would have been better.
It truly felt like they wanted certain scenes, and they worked backwards from that.
The whole making Pepper CEO felt like almost like a throwaway type of thing and since they didn't really explore that at all, I felt really cheated. (Fandom, I expect awesome stuff from you to fill in the gaps!)
Since, it felt so disjointed, I truly was not expecting the kiss at the end. My shippy heart would have just been happy with more UST and flirty banter. The kiss felt like it came out of nowhere and I just sort of blinked at the screen for a second. Then, I admit, I grinned a bit madly, because I do love that the only time RDJ is actually able to look Gwyneth in the eyes is when he's in the suit and it's still a close thing. ;D
I do think I need to see it again. I wasn't in the best of moods when I saw it and was rather exhausted from less than five hours sleep, so maybe it wasn't quite as ho-hum as I'm making it out to be.
BUT, here are the things I did like:
Sam Rockwell being smarmy and dancing. I've loved him ever since Charlie's Angels.
Agent Coulson. Oh, I love that guy. Bring on the David Mamet dialogue, man! He was wonderful.
In the scene where Jon Favreau's Happy Hogan beat up the guard, did anyone else go 'Hey! Pete finally won a round!'? You know, after his character on Friends? Just me? Okay...
Mickey Rourke. The whips were pretty badass. And that scene in Monaco was pretty awesome.
Anytime RDJ and Gwyneth talked to each other. They're kind of adorable.
Don Cheadle was a good Rhodey. Although, I'm still not sure why they felt the need to replace Terrance. I loved him too.
HE BUILT A PHOTON COLLIDER IN HIS BASEMENT! WITH HIS ARMS ALL SHOWING AND THAT WILL NEVER NOT BE HOT AS HADES!!! There should have been more of that. Way more.
JARVIS. There should have been waaaaaaaay more JARVIS.
All in all, it was entertaining, but not as good as the first one and we'll just have to see. Fandom, don't let me down! I want fic to fill in the gaps, people!
Goodness gracious that was long. I've also got Doctor Who thoughts, but I think I'll save those for tomorrow. :D
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no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 12:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 02:52 pm (UTC)But the action in the sequel was very well done. And a lot of the dialogue was quite fun. I'd certainly recommend seeing itD
no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 01:27 pm (UTC)I was having a hard time nailing down my thoughts on the movie in any coherent, meta way. But I kinda came to a decision this morning on my walk to work that the movie just didn't have the internal framework the first did. The first was a story and had a center. This didn't so much. I loved bits and pieces of it, but as a whole, it didn't hit right or in the same way. I also felt that there was a lot of telling and not showing.
I 100% want to see Natalie having a Come to Jesus talk with Pepper about not freaking out over being slammed from all sides (Bill O'Reilly = a dick, even in fiction) and DOING HER JOB because she is awesome. Also for being all "Yes, Tony's a fucktard and yes, his shenanigans with Rhodey at the party had him almost physically damage you in a rather permanent way because he was being a juvenile alcoholic. DO NOT LET HIM OFF THE HOOK ON THIS."
There is just so much STORY for the movie that didn't get explored or, if it got shot, got cut. I wish to god we had access to all the shot material. That would be SO facinating.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 02:56 pm (UTC)Yes! Very much so. Why did they have to show the blueprints for the arc reactor with Mickey Rourke's dad's name at the very beginning? (And btw, the guy playing his dad looked Mickey Rourke's age. Just sayin')
And the really should have given Natalie/Natasha more to do. Especially in regards to Pepper, that would have been awesome. Ooh, I totally want Pepper, Happy and Natasha sparring in the gym while Tony watches and critiques them all.
There's going to be another one, right? Maybe they'll actually write a story first. :P
no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 03:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 03:23 pm (UTC)YEP. I kinda wish they hadn't cut so much stuff they'd done with her out. I appreciate that they really kind of incapacitated a lot of the Tony/Natasha story (I LOVE comics!Tasha and comics!Tony, but that's a very, very different canon), but it would have been kinda great for her to start out all sexytimes at Tony and us SEEING HER PROCESS Tony/Pepper and downshifting into what she kinda turned into. Which was (awesomely) Pepper's Girl Friday.
I SERIOUSLY want some Natasha and Pepper ruling the world fic. Maybe with Val (Nick Fury's badass partner/lady friend) helping out and all of them ordering people around.
I honestly think that Tony was never, ever made for the corporate world. He's too much the crazy inventor who needs/wants a basement and unlimited funding. He'd be a more focused Leonard De Quirm or something. Tony totally needs a Lucius Fox in his life. Someone to do all the corporate haggling/jockeying, so that he can get on with creating clean power and/or building stuff in the basement some more.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 03:36 pm (UTC)Precisely, and I'm not sure that's Pepper? She's awesome and amazing, but I think being CEO isn't really her shtick. That being said, I don't think she should go back to being Tony's PA. Hmmm...
us SEEING HER PROCESS Tony/Pepper and downshifting into what she kinda turned into.
Yes! We kind of saw the end result, ie. 'Save it for the honeymoon', but I wanted more. (I'd actually love to see some Natasha/Happy get drunk and bicker!fic, if I'm honest.)
no subject
Date: 2010-05-10 09:48 pm (UTC)Did love the kiss and kind of expected it, especially since he just saved her. And, you know, lots of UST.
Lots of funny parts, though, and highly entertaining. Also, would LOVE to read any Tony/Pepper fic you may write. *ahem*
no subject
Date: 2010-05-11 08:37 am (UTC)Yes! Because, he's Tony Stark. He's always going to be a bit self-destructive, but it would have made for a better story if they'd tweaked things a little.
That's probably what ticked me off the most. It's not like it would have taken much to make it more mysterious, so I feel a bit like they couldn't be bothered. Which always makes me huffy.
Also, would LOVE to read any Tony/Pepper fic you may write. *ahem*
Duly noted. :D Maybe after this season of Doctor Who is over and I see the movie again...
no subject
Date: 2010-05-11 05:20 am (UTC)This leads me to two conclusions:
1) Your fantabulous fanfiction has invaded my brain.
2) I must have a thing for desks.
If you ever have the urge to write such a thing, here is your inspiration (http://www.amazon.com/Swinging-Sticks-Kinetic-Desk-Sculpture/dp/B001AXR9L4).
Also, yes. I agree with almost everything you've said about the film. Did you ever watch The West Wing? It's absolutely one of my favorite TV shows of all time, and Agent Coulson played a character named Agent Casper (a Secret Service agent. The actor is just good at playing agents, isn't he?) and I loved him then and I love him now and I most certainly will love him in the future. I've got to say, the whole "I will watch Super Nanny as you drool into the rug" bit was pretty fantastic.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-11 08:40 am (UTC)And oh my god! That is awesome! Hee! I didn't realise that I could invade brains. Yikes! I have a thing for desks too, to be honest. And I love that idea with the flippy thing... Hmmmm... Maybe after Doctor Who is finished... *grins*