Change Your Image
benjamitesandwich
Reviews
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Not as good as "Iron Man", but good enough to satisfy me after a two year wait.
I had high hopes for "Iron Man 2". But as time passed and the film was released a week early in Europe, I forced myself to erase those high hopes to make the movie enjoyable and not painful to watch due to what the early reviews had said. Let's just say it was a good thing my expectations were lowered.
"Iron Man 2" starts right off the bat in Moscow, Russia with Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) sitting at his father's, Anton Vanko, deathbed. Anton passes and Ivan, in his state of grief, begins constructing an exoskeleton suit using blueprints to the Ark Reactor. Next we see Iron Man, A.K.A. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), jumping off a plane and landing in his expo. It looks like it's all fun and games until we soon discover that the thing in Stark's chest that's keeping him alive is polluting his blood and is slowly killing him. Soon, the government wants Stark to hand over Iron Man to the United States because it's considered a weapon. If you think that that's not a lot on Tony's plate, wait until you hear this: He is attacked and nearly killed by the bloodthirsty Ivan Vanko on the Monaco raceway who was focused on killing him. Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) happens to see the whole event and takes Ivan to help him create an army of drones to beat his business rival, Tony Stark. However, Ivan had other plans in mind. After the Monaco scene (which was quite awesome), the movie starts to hit a rough path and begins to go downhill. But towards the end of the film, it went back up and went smooth sailing.
There was a great performance from the cast (especially Sam Rockwell and Mickey Rourke). Don Cheadle, who replaced Terence Howard from the first movie, as James Rhodes/War Machine did a fantastic job; a lot better than Howard. Scarlett Johansson was super sexy as Black Widow ('nuff said). It was also good to see Jon Favreau have more screen time this time around. I also have to give congrats to Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
This movie was better than my low expectations. I hadn't been expecting what this movie brought and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But for me, the best thing about the movie was seeing Ivan change from Whiplash, to bad "A" Crimson Dynamo at the end of the movie for the final fight (who is my favorite Iron Man villain next to Mandarin). My thoughts were raised about this film and it now sits on the throne with all the other greatest comic book movies. "Iron Man 2" did not soar as high as it's predecessor, but it's not low enough to be shot down.
7.5/10
P.S. Stay after the credits if you want to see Thor's Mjolnir.
Monk (2002)
It's time to say goodbye
I have been watching Monk ever since the beginning 8 seasons ago. I have been a major fan. I have been holding this review until the very last episode had aired. Well, it has, and this is what I have to say.
After 8 seasons and over 125 cases solved (including Trudy's) Monk had been the funniest, most engaging, and absolutely the BEST show on television (in my opinion). I had stuck with this show until the end; until I had to say goodbye to Mr. Monk. Well, that is what I am going to say now. Goodbye to my favorite show, a true television treasure. Goodbye to the most remarkable show ever aired on television.
Here's to you, Monk :)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Unarguably the best film of 2009, as well as one the the best I have ever seen. . .
*Caution, May Contain Spoilers*
Where the Wild Things Are is the first movie in which I had laughed, cried, grew angry, and even gotten a LITTLE scared in a whole movie. Never have I experienced emotions such as this than in any other movie. It is true, though, that Where the Wild Things Are is NOT for kids under the age of 10.
The movie starts with Max (Max Records) chasing his dog through his house holding a fork. At first I could have sworn that his intentions were to actually kill the poor thing, but he didn't. We see Max next building an igloo. He is trying to get his sister's attention but she won't listen to him and soon there after her friends destroy his little snow fort and send Max running into his house crying without saying sorry or doing anything about it. Later on in the beginning Max's mom (Catherine Keener) ignores Max while she is with her new boyfriend. Max goes a little crazy and bites her mom and runs away into the city streets and off into a patch of forest where he finds a boat and sails to where the wild things are. There he discovers huge harry creatures (Carol, KW, Ira, Judith, Douglas, Alexander, and a big black bull whom is unnamed) who befriend Max because he claims to be a "king". Soon Max is plunged into a fantastic journey that is pack full of emotions just like I stated earlier.
Where the Wild Things Are is unarguably the film of 2009 as well as one of the best movies I have ever seen. Spike Jones has put a lot of work into making the 9 sentence book into a full length movie and he succeeded. The movie is a deeply moving tale of coming to grips with emotions and connecting with the people we love. Max had to learn that on his own. And we have the benefit of Max's great adventure to learn from.