Iron Man 2 (2010)

Genre: Superhero

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell

Running Time: 125 minutes

After revealing to the world that he is indeed Iron Man, Tony Stark’s star is on the rise. Unfortunately, superstardom makes him spin out of control. Justin Hammer, a rival weapons manufacturer, recruits Ivan Vanko, a Russian physicist, to try to ruin Stark’s legacy, so Iron Man will have to find his way again and spring back into action.

What an uninspired follow-up to the 2008 original. The story just seems to plod along, painstakingly, until it is finally time for the denouement. Most of the cast does okay, except maybe for Sam Rockwell and Mickey Rourke. Rockwell is usually good, but his performance here is kind of flat. And I never really believed in Rourke as a Russian bad guy. He does not even seem to believe it himself.

Overall, Iron Man 2 offers very few shining moments.

Rating: ««

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Genre: Superhero

Directed by: Louis Leterrier

Cast: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt

Running Time: 112 minutes

Dr. Bruce Banner is hiding in Brazil after a failed experiment gave him gamma poisoning, which transforms him into the Incredible Hulk for brief periods whenever his heart rate goes over 200 beats per minute. He works in a bottling factory while trying to find a cure for his ailment. After an incident in the factory has repercussions that make their way back to the States, General Thaddeus Ross, who was involved in the original experiment, sends his team on the hunt to capture Banner and that stuff in his blood that can create a fighting monster.

With a solid cast and a compelling story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this is a very good superhero film. Sure, there are a few predictable turns and some cheesiness here and there, but, overall, I was thoroughly entertained.

Rating: ««««

Tactical Force (2011)

Genre: Action

Directed by: Adamo Paolo Cultraro

Cast: Steve Austin, Michael Jai White

Running Time: 98 minutes

A team of four S.W.A.T. police officers get in trouble after a forceful intervention to stop a grocery store robbery. Since they caused a lot of damage, they are forced to go back to class and to go through some retraining. During a training exercise in a warehouse outside the city, the group encounter some members of the Russian and Italian mafias stuck in a quarrel over stolen property.

To say that this action film is not a classic is an understatement. The storyline makes no sense, the characters are one dimensional and the outcome is as predictable as it gets. It is loaded with clichés. As an action star, former wrestler Steve Austin is not without charm and you can see that the film does not take itself seriously, which is one small point in its favor.

Rating: ««

Iron Man (2008)

Genre: Superhero

Directed by: Jon Favreau

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Terence Howard, Jeff Bridges

Running Time: 126 minutes

Tony Stark inherited Stark Industries, a weapons manufacturer, from his dad. During a trip to Afghanistan to demonstrate a new missile, his convoy is attacked and he is captured by a group of terrorists, who offer to free him if he builds a missile on the spot for them. Not trusting that he will be really freed once he delivers, Stark builds a mechanized suit of armor that will transform him into superhero Iron Man and help him escape his captors. Once free, Stark wants to change the ways of his company, but he finds resistance on the inside.

This is a pretty good superhero movie. The action is fast-paced and the acting is solid, especially on Robert Downey Jr.’s and Jeff Bridges’ parts. Bridges is very believable as a bad guy, with the different look for him.

There is quite a bit of cheesiness here, but that is to be expected with this genre. This was the first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Rating: ««««

Everybody's Fine (2009)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Kirk Jones

Cast: Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell, Kate Beckinsale

Running Time: 99 minutes

Frank Goode is a retired man who recently lost his wife. He is expecting his kids to visit, but, one after the other, they call to say they cannot make it. Feeling a bit down, Frank decides to travel around the country to make a surprise visit to them. He comes to find out that three of his kids are hiding some information about the fourth one.

This is a cute tale about parental expectations. Robert De Niro carries this one on his very talented shoulders. He makes Frank Goode a touching old made in spite of the character's flaws. He makes us care about him. In spite of the talent involved in the supporting cast, these actors and actresses were not given much to work with in terms of multi-dimensional characters. Still, the story is compelling and hit me right in the feels on many occasions. It is a bit cheesy and predictably, but still sweet and touching.

Rating: ««««

Take Me Home Tonight (2011)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Michael Dowse

Cast: Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler

Running Time: 97 minutes

Matt Franklin graduated from MIT, but he still works at the video store in the mall. With his twin sister and his best friend, Matt goes to a party in the hope of finally finding an in with his high school crush, Tori Frederking.

Honestly, it took me a long time to get into this movie. The acting is fine, but the story seemed to drag along aimlessly at first. Business kind of picked up towards the end, to make this film somewhat enjoyable.

Rating: «««

Game of Death (1978)

Genre: Action

Directed by: Robert Clouse

Cast: Bruce Lee, Gig Young, Dean Jagger

Running Time: 100 minutes

Billy Lo is a martial arts movie star who finds himself in the crosshairs of the underworld. After a failed murder attempt on his person, Billy fakes his own death for a while to plot his revenge on the criminals who tried to kill him.

Bruce Lee started shooting the fight scenes for this film in 1972, but stopped to work on Enter the Dragon. The actor died before he could return to it. Robert Clouse completed the film, using stand-ins and even a cardboard cut-out. The original fight scenes are awesome and some of the action is good, but the whole thing feels like an exploitation of Lee’s death. Not a totally bad film in itself, but not great either.

Rating: «««