On a different level, Gwyneth Paltrow also turns in a great performance as Pepper Potts – Stark’s assistant. There is the obligatory love story underneath the larger story of the movie, but hey, the filmmakers had to find a way to bring the women into the theaters! I commented to my roommate that the reason I liked Paltrow in this role is that it was a change from the generic, ditzy chick flick role that she sometimes gets cast in. Chick flicks – ugh.

And it is completely unfair to talk about this movie without mentioning the great performance turned in by Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane and later as the Iron Monger. Excellent – just excellent. The opening sequence in the movie really sets the stage for the close relationship that the audience believes exists between Obadiah and Stark. The opening sequence alone was worth the trip to the movie theater as was the ending battle between these two characters. Did anyone else feel like Jeff Bridges was channeling Jesse Ventura in this role? I did!

All in all, this was a brilliant movie with great performances. The use of the Afghanistan locale and the prisoner of war scenario was also a good move (and for those of you that may not know, that is pretty much the same Ironman story from the comic books). In today’s society, pitting an American against a terrorist cell is sure to make movie goers happy. I liked the added intrigue of the terrorists using Stark’s own weapons in their fight against the Americans and the innocents of Afghanistan. More good writing!

If you have an opportunity to go see this movie, then I highly recommend you check it out. Great performances, great story, great movie.

I thought that the movie was good while I was watching it. There was an interesting story and some unbelievable deaths in the movie. However, as I was watching it I began to realize that there was something sorta wrong going on here. The thing is, while you’re watching the movie, you can’t really sit and think what is wrong with the story because there is always something else going on that draws your attention.

For instance, there is a part in the movie where Professor X is killed (or so you would think unless you stick around until after the credits). Anyone who ever read the comics (I did not) or knows anything about the series (I do) knows that this is a completely ridiculous event. The guys is supposed to be this big super human mutant or whatever. I’m not quite sure how it works, all I know is that he’s not supposed to die.

The thing is, you can’t stop to figure out what the hell is going on because the house is flying and Magneto is getting his ass kicked and there’s just a big mess going on.

I don’t want to give away too much of the movie. If you’ve got the money, I would suggest going out to see this movie.