Movie Madness: Iron Man has landed, it must be Summer!

Right? At least in Movieland. Once the big blockbusters a.k.a. tentpoles start making their appearance, then it's definitely a sign that summer is upon us! (Just ignore that fluctuating mercury and the rain clouds that refuse to go away)

So in case you hadn't guessed, I went to see Iron Man 2 last weekend as part of my weekly father-daughter ritual of a cinematic adrenaline injection (well, sometimes I convince him to see less "exciting" stuff). Oh, and before anyone reading this across the pond says "huh? Doesn't Iron Man come out this Friday?! as in today?!", let this European who's frequently frustrated by months of waiting for movies from across the pond chant: "nah-nah-nah-nah-naaaaaaaaaaaaah!" :p (sorry 'bout that, apparently 2h of man-child on the big screen leads to childish behaviour on my part... I'm just glad I wasn't the one driving the car home! lol!) (and I actually wrote most of this right after I got home from the movie... haven't had time to polish it and post it until today though!)

Back to the movie. Did I like? YES! Did my dad? Ditto, but he says less than the first, although we both agree on preferring this bad guy:

seemed much more intimidating/threatening than Jeff Bridges last time around...

I found it to be just as much fun as the first movie, with a slightly darker edge in Tony Stark's madness, and with an even bigger ego -if that were possible! I did not dislike Scarlett Johansson (which I totally expected to), and had fun with the few Samuel Jackson scenes. The special effects are just as awesome as you'd expect. My big *argh!* moment would be with the recasting of a significant character... although I prefer Cheadle to Terrence Howard, but it's jarring to have to associate a new face and voice to a character in the same franchise... I had the same problem in The Dark Knight (yes Maggie Gyllenhall is a better actress than Katie Holmes, but she's so different from her I couldn't imagine her to be the same character, was very annoying!).

So all in all, for some explosive movie fun - and a great dose of Robert Downey Jr:

I'd definitely recommend the new Iron Man. :o)

Summer... plenty of "big" movies all vying for out attention, although I'm highly disappointed that there's no Potter! (organised according to US release dates, links send you to the movies' official pages with trailers, images etc.):

-April/May- 

• A Nightmare on Elm Street: nostalgia might take me to this...  that and my sister's raving recommendation (she saw it last night). Although it wouldn't be the same without my sister's best friend from childhood who went through a phase of wanting us to watch these almost every weekend, which resulted in the 4 of us sleeping in the same room... That or putting in a Disney movie after.
• Iron Man 2 (you've read my take above)
• Shrek Forever After: I loved the first, thought the second wasn't bad... intensely disliked the third! But this one looks like it might liven things up and it is the last one so... nah! DVD for me (dubbing, the voices really sell this and Antonio Banderas doesn't even dub himself in Spanish anymore!)

• Robin Hood: Ridley Scott, what have you done? I don't quite feel Russel Crowe as Robin... too old! But I'm a sucker for anything related to our favourite thief and I'll see Cate Blanchett in anything so I'll definitely be there! And now that I've seen the 2nd trailer (definite improvement on the first)... I can't wait for next week!!! :o)

• Sex in the City 2: can they still use that title if most of the story doesn't take place in "the" city? I'm not at all convinced by this one... but having seen the full series and the first movie how can I avoid it? Although I shudder at the thought of Carrie and co. in Spanish, so I might actually be able to convince myself to wait for the dvd (unless a friend propses an outing in which case I'm trapped!)
• Prince of Persia: Jake Gyllenhall = good. Video game turned movie... not another one?!?! but the trailer looks great... on the fence, will probably be a spur of the moment decision.

-June- 

• The Karate Kid: without mister Miyagi?! NO WAY!!! But... cute kid + lines like "I get it, you're like Yoda and I'm a Jedi"... probably catch it on dvd.
• The A Team: didn't they learn anything from Miami Vice and Charlie's Angels? Hit '80s TV series do not good movies make... but Bradley Cooper... yum! They're luring us in with chock-a-block action and eye candy! Dunno... doubtful unless my Dad drags me in. But wait! Is that Liam Neeson (in grey hair?!?!?) I see?! damn... I just might have to go after all... :p
• Toy Story 3: Haven't seen the second, won't be making it to the third
• Eclipse: Vampires vs Werewolves! Oh, and love-sick teens... Yup, I'll be there. :p

-July-

• The Last Airbender: just saw the trailer the other day... peaked my curiosity.
• Knight and Day: Tom Cruise is a +, Cameron Diaz is a - in my columns, but the trailer looked like a lot of fun so... knowing my dad he'll have me in the cinema for this one! ;o)
• Inception: Christopher Nolan + Leo DiCaprio?! ... I'm in!!!
• Salt: Angelina Jolie is back in action... should be fun! Plus it's been a while since we've gotten to see a woman kick some a$$ ;o)
• The Concert: I'm just adding this one in for those of you on the other side of the pond... this is a French movie I raved about before Christmas (see here), so go see it!!! 

-August-

• Eat, Pray, Love: Julia Roberts. Travelling in gorgeous places. Need I say more? ;o)
• The Expendables: Sly Stallone is someone I usually avoid... but the trailer is tempting.
• Nanny McPhee 2: haven't seen #1 so...

Did I miss anything? Any of those caught your eye or previously on your radar of "yay! summer movies!!!"?

You'll get my take on them as I see them if they really excite me (Movie Magic/Madness series), or briefly summarized in my Monthly Movies. If you catch them before me (probably thx to delayed release dates in much of Europe) and want to warn me against one or give another a heartfelt recommendation, please do so! :o)