Iron Man was one of the most realistic and enjoyable superhero films of the last decade (Oughts? Noughts?). It captured both the struggle and the enthusiasm that we imagine anyone bequeathed superpowers would experience. (And it made for a dang funny RiffTrax.)
Though Iron Man may not be one of Marvel's most recognizable superheroes, being overshadowed by the likes of Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Incredible Hulk, his theatrical debut paid off and quickly warranted itself a sequel. Last summer's purchase of Marvel by Disney hasn't slowed down the fast track our tin-can hero is on. The summer blockbuster season kicks off on May 7, 2010, with Iron Man 2:
The trailer shows Iron Man joined in combat by Rhodey as War Machine, as foreshadowed in the first film. The Mandarin was also a hinted villain in Iron Man, but I didn't recognize the enemy above; I had to consult IMDb to determine that it is Mickey Rourke as "Whiplash". Whoever that is (I don't follow the comic book), it's better than rumors that Stark's villain would be alcoholism, as seen in the 1979 comic book storyline "Demon in a Bottle" — that plot was already handled by 2008's Hancock.
What are your thoughts for Iron Man 2? High hopes, or low expectations?
I'm looking forward to it. I'd also like to see Iron Man help out the general hunting the Hulk.
Steve, it appears that Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury, so we may indeed see more momentum toward the formation of the superhero team known as the Avengers.
I don't think hunting the Hulk was ever on the agenda, though. There were hints in 2008's Hulk movie that the movie's villain was created by the same serum used to make Captain America. I think that's what they wanted out of the general.
But that scene at the end of the Hulk movie had the general who was hunting the hulk visited by Tony Stark; I can't remember what he said, but I thought it gave the impression that a technological (i.e., Stark Industries or Iron Man) solution was needed to capture the Hulk.
There has been some discussion online of including the Hulk in the planned "Avengers" movie because of the cameos you mentioned, but star Ed Norton hasn't been able to give any definitive answers. Bruce Banner's alter ego has been a member of the team in Marvel Comics, but the current push (both in print and cinematically) has been to focus on founders Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America.