Isn't it funny how time changes things?

And when I say time, I'm not talking about months or years; I'm talking about mere days. And when I say 'things,' I'm talking about one thing: Iron Man 2. I saw the film a second time last night, and after telling one of my friends my problems with it, we all came out of the theater saying that we liked it better than the first. So what happened? I'm not sure, but all I can say now is that I take back some of the things I said about the latest Tony Stark adventure. Some of them:

1) Tony Stark becomes nothing more than a jackass: originally I felt that this was pervasive through most of the film after that birthday party scene (that part still sucks, though). On my second go-round, I found Tony much more enjoyable for the most part, and bits of humor that seemed forced originally were suddenly amusing. This leads me to point #2...

2) The charm has been sucked out: While I'm still bothered by the stammering, the spark between characters did seem to give off more heat this time around. That said, the Justin Hammer character, though in the talented hands of Sam Rockwell, is irritatingly inconsistent. One minute he's just a Tony Stark-lite rival, the next he borders on incompetence. What gives?

3) The pacing/action scenes: The biggest 'wha' during round two was how much faster it felt. The opening 30-40 minutes were a blast, and the big action scenes at the end seemed more lively. However, Johannson's mixed martial arts battle is still the best thing in the whole damn movie.

Conclusion: Though there are still a few problems with the second installment, I'm actually going to go out on a limb and say that after giving Favreau and crew a second chance with a more open mind, I might actually like this film more than the 2008 original. Mr. Stark, you've been upgraded...

New Grade: B

"Iron Man 2" - REVIEW

Part of the charm of Tony Stark, the hero of the Iron Man series, is his combination of brilliance and snark. Arrogant? Yes. Self-centered? Yeah. Oddly appealing nevertheless? The answer Iron Man (2008) was yes. In the sequel? Eh...not so much. The central problem with Jon Favreau's sequel is that the character traits that helped carry the first film through its origin-story checklist are either toned down or absent altogether. Stark's snarkiness has been replaced with a cockiness that borders on obnoxious, particularly in a scene where he becomes drunk at his own birthday party. This leads to a sluggish fight between Tony and James Rhodes (Don Cheadle, taking over for Terrence Howard) that calls to mind a similar scene from Spiderman 3 *shudder*. Oh, and while this plays out, "Another One Bites the Dust" is playing in the background. Yup. Even worse is that the snappy repartee between Tony and other characters has devolved into irritating Robert Altman-esque convos of people talking rapidly over each other without anything interesting or amusing to say.

That's not to say that Iron Man 2 is a bad film, but it's just so far beneath its predecessor in almost every aspect that the fun is minimized. Picking up where the original left off, the sequel focuses on Stark's out-in-the-open status as Iron Man, and the many foes he acquires ranging from Congress, to a rival arms dealer (Sam Rockwell), to a revenge-bent Russian physicist (Mickey Rourke). Some have made the argument that the film's fault is in trying to pack too much into the story, and they're correct to an extent. The film never feels overwhelmed or chaotic, but it could have benefited from sharper focus; either Rockwell's Justin Hammer or Rourke's Ivan Venko should have been cut as a villain. Rourke could have been an incredibly entertaining villain with his electro-whip weaponry, and Rockwell's overzealous Hammer could have been an intriguing rival, but combining the two somehow drags the film down. Meanwhile, one character who is interesting and fun enough to merit a better-developed subplot (Scarlett Johannson's Natalie Rushman) does little save for one acrobatic action scene that's better than all of the explosions and lasers combined. Elsewhere, Paltrow's Pepper Potts, one of the most enjoyable characters from the first go-round, is reduced to a nagger trying to keep Tony under control.

If there's one area where this sequel does improve on the original, it's the action. While there's still nothing groundbreaking (Favreau shoots the battles in a rather workman-like fashion), they're bigger and more exciting than before, although the final confrontation feels like a whimper following a big bang. As I said before, the best action scene is also one of the shortest, and involves a character who barely got anything to do other than be a means by which to further the subplot to set up the eventual Avengers film. The special effects, which felt so fresh and seamless, now feel totally unspectacular, while the sound mix simply sounds LOUDER without been more effective. Aside from the occasional flippant one-liner, Iron Man 2 is sadly missing the wit and charm of the original, and now feels as robotic as the suit Tony Stark wears.

Grade: B-/C+

3 New "Iron Man 2" stills

Yet ANOTHER trailer on this foolish day in April: "Iron Man 2" in IMAX

Nice job advertising the IMAX....by putting "IMAX" in super small print at the very end...

Scarlett needs you to see "Iron Man 2"

She might just kill you if you don't...

Final poster for "Iron Man 2" arrives

Y'know, Paramount, you have over a month until this sure-thing blockbuster arrives in theaters. Do you maybe want to tell your marketing team to try something a little less like the poster released last week? Why bother giving us a new poster if it's just a different arrangement of talented heads? And you're not even going to include ONE of your two main villains???

2010 2nd Quarter Preview: April, May, June

With only three full days left in March, it's once again time to look ahead to find more excuses to visit the theater over the next three months. 2010 is off to a decent start so far (well, I've only seen four movies so...), but thankfully, we're about to leave the dreaded first quarter behind and move into late spring and early summer! Cue the string of back-to-back big budget box office hopefuls, and the occasional summer indie (maybe even one that goes all the way to the top) hoping to successfully offer an alternative to the loudness of big studio fare. These eleven films aren't the only reasons to go the theater over the next three months (I'm sure some will undergo release date changes, not to mention that summer indies have painfully slow expansions and can appear out of nowhere), but they're the most notable.

11. The A-Team [June 11 - Wide] dir. Joe Carnahan

Who's in it?: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copely, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson

What's the story?: An adaptation of the 80s TV action series.

Why:

• It looks loud and fun.
• Sharlto Copely, who had a terrific breakout in District 9 is getting work. Yay!
• Cigar-chomping Liam Neeson.

Why Not:

• Uninspired trailer.
• TV adaptations don't have the best history.
• Why does Bradley Cooper always look so smug?

10. Jonah Hex [June 18 - Wide] dir. Jimmy Hayward

What's the story?: A bounty hunter tries to stop a voodoo practitioner from unleashing the undead to liberate the Old South.

Who's in it?: Josh Brolin, Michael Fassbender, Megan Fox, Michael Shannon, John Malkovich

Why:

• Strong cast.
• Good source material with a cool mix of magic and the Old West.

Why Not:

• No trailer. No new posters. No buzz. Nada.

09. Date Night [April 9 - Wide] dir. Shawn Levy

What's the story?: A case of mistaken identities traps a married couple in a gangster-filled night of insanity.

Who's in it?: Steve Carrell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, Taraji P. Henson

Why:

• Carrell and Fey are a great comic duo, and star on two of the best comedies currently on TV.
• The action-comedy genre is tricky, but when done right it can be a blast.
• Great supporting cast.
• Solid trailer.

Why Not:

• Funny people doesn't mean a funny movie.
• Could be a classic case of "everything funny was in the trailer".
• No early word.

08. I Love You, Phillip Morris [May 7 - LA only] dirs. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

What's the story?: A con man falls in love with a fellow in mate, and tries to maintain a relationship as he continuously escapes/is trapped in prison.

Who's in it?: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro

Why:

• A true and unique story that reportedly handles the homosexual subject manner extremely well.
• Strong praise for the performances (especially McGregor).

Why Not:

• It's been delayed for ages.
• The reviews have generally been good, but not great.
• It's difficult to tell how much of Jim Carrey's schtick is intact for the performance.

07. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time [May 28 - Wide] dir. Mike Newell

What's the story?: Prince Dastan must return a time-controlling dagger to its home to prevent an evil wizard from using its powers to take over the world.

Who's in it?: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Artreton, Alfred Molina

Why:

• The 2003 video game (of the same name) was a stellar example of how video games can tell a simple-yet-engaging story, mixed with amazing action and environments.
• The game's creator, Jordan Mechner, was commissioned to come up with the story.
• Director Mike Newell is no stranger to big budget fantasy fare; he directed 2005's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
• Jerry Bruckheimer has likened the tone to Pirates of the Caribbean.
• The trailer doesn't make the film look cheap.

Why Not:

• Was Gyllenhaal the best choice for the prince?
• The story is quite different from that of the video game, which has a knockout of a finale. If it ain't broke...
• The special effects look fine, but that's it.
• Pirates of the Caribbean (well, the first one) was a special pop culture phenomenon with a brilliant lead character. Just having two comically bickering leads doesn't mean that you'll achieve the same charm of that franchise.

06. Clash of the Titans [April 2 - Wide] dir. Louis Leterrier

What's the story?: Perseus, the son of Zeus, must stop the gods from unleashing total chaos (and the kraken) on increasingly anti-theist mankind.

Who's in it?: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Artreton, Alexa Davalos, Mads Mikkelson

Why:

• Rockin' trailer (that song better be on the soundtrack)
• How can you resist seeing Liam Neeson bellow "RELEASE THE KRAKEN!" on the big screen?
• Special effects have come a looooong way since the original, lending the film a slick, super-charged vibe. The action looks kinetic without being confusing.
• Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes on screen together again. Schindler and Goeth don't have sh*t on Zeus and Hades.
• The studio actually gave the film more money to add extra monsters/gods.

Why Not:

• Could extra monsters/gods create clutter?
• Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk had effective action, but was utterly brain dead in between fights.
• Could struggle with tone issues. Will they try and be gritty and epic, or maintain some of the camp of the original?
• A rushed conversion to 3D has left those at previews unimpressed (the film was delayed a week because of this conversion).
• Sam Worthington needs to carry the movie, and, like Keira Knightley, he can be very good or very bland.

05. Robin Hood [May 14 - Wide] dir. Ridley Scott

What's the story?: An archer in the army of Richard the Lionhearted fights against the Normans and becomes the legendary Robin Hood.

Who's in it?: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, Danny Huston, Max Von Sydow, William Hurt

Why:

• A fresh, gritty take on the Robin Hood story with a knock out cast.
• Crowe and Scott are a reliable combination.
• Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, together at last.
• Ridley Scott films always have lush period details, making you feel like you're in X time period.
• The action is reportedly very gritty, with very few special effects shots (most of which are just for a fleet of ships).
• Brian Helgeland, the writer behind that masterpiece LA Confidential, wrote the screenplay, trying to give it a more historical angle.

Why Not:

• The off chance that it ends up being dull.
• Crowe and Blanchett may not have the right chemistry.
• The actor who plays King John seems a little over the top ("I declare him an out-LAAAAAAAAAW!!")

04. Kick Ass [April 16 - Wide] dir. Matthew Vaughn

What's the story?: Dave Lizewski, an ordinary student, decides to become a super hero, and inspires a wave of masked vigilantes, angering a local mob syndicate.

Who's in it?: Aaron Johnson, Nicholas Cage, Mark Strong, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Moretz

Why:

• Fantastic reception from the SXSW Film Festival. Some reviews hailed it as the best super hero flick behind The Dark Knight (albeit completely different in tone).
• The mix of visceral action and laugh out loud comedy also has a surprising share of emotional weight.
• The performances have earned across the board praise, especially young Moretz as the purple-haired, foul-mouthed Hit Girl.
• Finally a chance to see Nicholas Cage give a knowingly silly performance.
• Mintz-Plasse is inching closer to breaking out of his McLovin' mould.

Why Not:

• Matthew Vaughn's last film, Stardust, was generally well received, but was really a clunky, poorly structured film. Let's hope it doesn't carry over here.

03. I am Love [June 18 - Limited] dir. Luca Guadagnino

What's the story?: At the turn of the millennium, a prominent Milanese family is shaken by romantic passions and infidelity.

Who's in it?: Tilda Swinton, various and sundry Italians

Why:

• Have you seen the trailer? If you haven't, it calls to mind A Single Man, which teased beautifully without giving away its minimal plot at all.
• Early reviews have been extremely positive, especially for Swinton, who was criminally snubbed for Oscar consideration last year for her work in Julia.
• The music is by opera composer John Adams, who is composing his first ever film score (sadly, the music in the trailer is from previous work).
• Even if it's bad, it will sure as hell be gorgeous.

Why Not:

• Is it just empty prettiness?

02. Toy Story 3 [June 18 - Wide] dir. Lee Unkrich

What's the story?: When Andy departs for college, the toys are donated to a day-care, and must cope with the change.

Who's in it?: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Ratzenberger, Joan Cusack, Michael Keaton, Bonnie Hunt

Why:

• The original Pixar masterpiece comes full circle.
• According to early word, if WALL-E or UP!, made you cry, you'll be bawling over the last (brilliant) 20 minutes of this one.
• Written by Michael Arndt of Little Miss Sunshine fame.

Why Not:

• The one in a million chance that it's either just "good", or even "bad". Yeah, probably not.

01. Iron Man 2 [May 7 - Wide] dir. Jon Favreau

What's the story?: Tony Stark must deal with his newfound super hero status, demands from the government to hand over the Iron Man suit, and new threats from a business rival and a deranged Russian villain with a vendetta named Whiplash.

Who's in it?: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johannson, Samuel L. Jackson

Why:

• The first was a surprise thrill ride, and this one looks bigger and better.
• Mickey Rourke looks f-ing insane.
• With the Tony Stark universe established, the film can jump right into the good stuff without all of the set up from before.
• Fun new cast members.

Why Not:

• I still wish Emily Blunt had gotten the Black Widow role over Johannson.
• It could be judged too harshly next to its predecessor.

"Iron Man 2" TV spot

New, character-filled "Iron Man 2" poster

Except for Sam Rockwell, because Hollywood apparently hates him...

New "Iron Man 2" trailer

"Iron Man 2" trailer!

This looks like even more fun than its predecessor. With the "Iron Man" universe now set up, Jon Favreau and crew can really let loose with the good stuff, much like Christopher Nolan did with "The Dark Knight"...though I'm guessing this film won't be nearly as dark.

"Iron Man 2" Poster: Whiplash

Second poster for "Iron Man 2"

"Iron Man 2" teaser poster...maybe there's a teaser trailer on the way(please)???

Extended behind-the-scenes look at "Iron Man 2" (2010)

On set footage from "Iron Man 2" courtesy of ET

New picture of Sam Rockwell in "Iron Man 2"

"Iron Man 2" Comic Con footage emerges

A description of Jon Favreau's "Iron Man 2" teaser footage

Sadly, no videos have been made available anywhere...

Source: Slashfilm.com

Jon Favreau premiered a sizzle reel for Iron Man 2 during the film’s Hall H panel. You can read a description of the footage after the jump.

Tony Stark is eating a donut while laying in the hole of the huge donut on the roof of Randy’s Donuts. Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury yells up “Sir, I’m gonna have to ask you to exit the donut!”

Cut to: Stark and Fury inside the restaurant eating and chatting. Stark asks if Fury was going to ask him to join his group again, to which Nick responds “I remember, you do everything yourself. How is that working out for you?” Stark asks Fury if he is supossed to look at his working eye or the eye patch.

Cut to: A government court hearing, where Tony is talking with Pepper Potts a few rows behind him. Senator Stern Asks Tony if he posseses a weapon, the iron manweapon. Stark says that its not a weapon, and that technically it’s a high tech prosthesis.

“Its a weapon Mr Stark!

“If your priority was to protect…”

“Well you can forget it!”

“I am Iron Man, the suit and I am one. You cant have it!”

The Senator calls Rhodey to the stand. Rhodey walks by Stark and tells him he’ll deal with it.

The Senator asks Stark what his point is and Stark responds that his point is “You’re welcome, I’m your nuclear deterrent,” … “I’ve kept the world safe, what more do you want? I tried to play ball with these ass clowns!” The Senator then says “F— You Mr. Stark!”

A montage begins with shots of newspapers and magazines with Stark on the cover. Voice over in a Russian accent “You come from a family of thieves and butchers…” Shots of Rourke putting together his whiplash suit. A bunch of random shots, including a bunch of girls dancing in front of a display with the American flag, and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, kicking ass. Rourke arrives at the race car track in his Whiplash suit. He activates it and the wires light up with electricity as he whips them around. Stark is bloody, in his racing suit, down on the concrete. We see a close-up of Rourke laughing.

Cut to: Iron Man flying through the night air, dodging missiles which explode behind him, as he blasts towards Earth.

The Iron Man 2 logo appears on the screen, along with the music.

Then we get an extra sequence. Rhodey in a air plane hanger. Justin Hammer walks over and asks what this is about and Rhodey says it’s classified. Hammer looks down at a suit, which appears to be Stark’s old Mark II armor. “Is that what I think it is?” “What can you do for us?” Hammer shows Rhodey a bunch of different weaponry. Rhodey tells Hammer “I think i’ll take it.” “Which one?” “All of it.” Cut to: A shot of War Machine blasting off his guns.

More new "Iron Man 2" stills