Media Project: Enterntainment Weekly Review of Iron Man 2

Release Date: May 7, 2010
Rated: PG-13 Length: 125 minutes
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, and Samuel L. Jackson
GRADE:




When the first Iron Man film came out 2 summers ago it was considered by many viewers to be a critical success. People enjoyed its action packed storyline, the impressive visuals, and Robert Downey Jr.’s wise-cracking antics as the hero Tony Stark aka Iron Man. Yes many even compared it to The Dark Knight that summer and even said that it was one of the best comic book movies of all time. Now the next part might shock you a bit but I was one of the weirdos at the time that didn’t think to highly of the movie. In fact, I thought the whole film was mediocre at best, with some above average visuals, and some funny lines by Robert Downey Jr. and nothing more. That said though, at the time I thought there was a good base to build a good sequel off of. So, like your typical action moviegoer, I rounded up my dude friends and caught the Iron Man 2 midnight premier and prepared myself for some good old fashion summer action movie testosterone. After viewing the movie however, it turned out I was only partly right about it being better.


Iron Man 2 continues the story of billionaire turned international crime fighter Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and his Iron Man suit, six months after the events of the first film. Right now, the United States senate is trying to confiscate the Iron Man suit as a weapon for the military but Stark won’t let them have it because he has “successfully privatized world peace.” Meanwhile a Russian scientist named Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) has a grudge against Stark and his family and plans to execute his vengenance by making a suit of his own to kill Stark with. To compound this, Stark’s rival businessman Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) wants the Iron Man suit so he can make his own and sell it to the military and he’ll do anything to get his hands on it, even if it means working with Vanko. Now, Stark must suit up again to stop these two before it’s too late.


Robert Downey JR. as Iron Man prepares to blast some bad guys.

Now lets get the good stuff out of the way first and make no mistake there was plenty to like here. Like the first film the movie is non-stop visual eye candy. It has some of best computer film graphics around and it’s hard not to think Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle look cool in their Iron Man suits. The film also doesn’t lack any star power either featuring some new faces like Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer. But by far the best thing about the film is Robert Downey Jr who plays the hero Tony Stark aka Iron Man. He brings out the best of Stark’s character like his ego, his narcissism, and playboyish attitude. Like the first film he is the life and soul of the movie and is the most fun to watch on screen.

But unfortunately the second film had many of the same problems I had with the first. As I said before I love Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark but where the film does well in the Stark department it does bad in the Iron Man one. Some of the best parts of this movie are when Downey Jr. is in his Iron Man armor but like the first he’s hardly ever in it. The film felt like there was maybe 30 minutes of Iron Man while there was about an hour and half of Tony Stark. The other problem I had was how underused some of the stars were in this film like Don Cheadle as James Rhodes aka War Machine and Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko aka Whiplash. Cheadle seemed almost bored throughout the movie and his character never seemed to take flight even after he became War Machine. Rourke was barely in the movie too and he’s the feature villain! The sad thing is that there were times in the film where you feel like Rourke’s character might finally explode and get exciting but it never happens. Using these two actors so lightly is kind of like using a gun to open a can of beans, it’s over kill! Sadly too, despite the impressive visuals, the action scenes are few and far apart during the movie. They all seemed to come at the very start and the very end with a long hour and a half lay over between them. Now this would be forgivable if the story was engaging at all but it’s not. It’s better than the first but at times the story ventures from being somewhat interesting to downright boring and confusing and it’s hard to sit through it. When the film picks up though it really does pick up, but the time in between those sequences can be so long you might fall asleep before they even come.


Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko aka Whiplash, still sporting his same hairdo from "The Wrestler."

In the end, the film is still far from awful and despite my criticisms it’s mostly a solid movie. When the film gets entertaining it really is hard not to watch and enjoy yourself but unfortunately when it gets bad it’s hard not to fall asleep too. It’s worth the watch and money for sure and hardcore fans of the first film will probably enjoy it too. The “iron”y is the second film might not be as successful as the first but I actually enjoyed it more.

A solid start to the summer movie season but don’t expect anything too special…

Broadcast style exercise

NORTHQUEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT IS CUTTING ITS DOMESTIC FARES BY UP TO 40 PERCENT FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELERS. (4)

FRANK DEWITT, CEO OF NORTHQUEST AIRLINES, SAYS QUOTE "WE LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS A HOLIDAY GIFT TO OUR CUSTOMERS." (3)

DISCOUNTS VARY DEPENDING ON TRAVEL DATES. WITH THE DISCOUNTED, NON-REFUNDABLE FARES, A PASSENGER COULD TRAVEL ROUND-TRIP BETWEEN BOSTON AND SAN FRANCISCO FOR AS LITTLE AS 349 DOLLARS. (3)

TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BY JULY 1 FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN NOVEMBER 20 AND JANUARY 5 IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES (3)

Broadcast stories

2 Struck, killed by train in Richmond


AN ACCIDENT IN RICHMOND KILLED 2 PEOPLE WEDNESDAY, WHERE AUTHORITIES SAY THAT AN AMTRAK TRAIN STRUCK THE TWO VICTIMS.

ACCORDING TO AMTRAK SPOKESMAN, VERNAE GRAHAM, THE TWO WERE HIT AND KILLED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CARLSON BOULEVARD AND OHIO AVENUE, AT ABOUT 1:40 P.M., NOT FAR SOUTH OF THE RICHMOND AMTRAK STATION.

AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE 39 PASSENGERS ON BOARD WERE ESCORTED ON FOOT TO THE STATION WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO BOARD ANOTHER TRAIN.

THE VICTIMS HAVEN’T BEEN IDENTIFIED BUT AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR DEATHS IS UNDERWAY.

BOTH TRACKS NEAR THE ACCIDENT WERE LATER ABLE TO REOPEN AT 5:35 A.M. ALLOWING AMTRAK SERVICE TO RESUME.



Horse spotted running on Highway 17 found safe and sound


A HORSE RETURNED HOME TODAY AFTER BEING SPOTTED GALLOPING ON HIGHWAY 17 AFTER ESCAPING FROM HIS HOME NEAR LOS GATOS.

THE HORSE, A 22-YEAR OLD RESCUE ARABIAN NAMED STAR, WAS CAUGHT AT HOME ON KENT WAY, AFTER GALLOPING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND TAKEN TO AN ANIMAL SHELTER IN SAN MARTIN.

STAR REUNITED WITH HIS YOUNG 10 YEAR-OLD OWNER ATHENA MUZUMBAR AND HER FAMILY IN HIS HOME NEAR A CORRAL PROPERTY SOUTH OF LOS GATOS OWNED BY SUZANNE CRISTALLO.

THE HUMANE SOCIETY WAS ORIGINALLY RELUCTANT TO RELEASE STAR BACK TO HIS FAMILY BECAUSE OF SUSPICION OF MISTREATMENT BUT AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE MUZUBAR’S, WHO HAD THE PREVIOUS OWNER CALL THEM ABOUT STAR’S HEALTH PROBLEMS THEY ALLOWED HIM TO RETURN HOME.

ACCORDING TO CRISTALLO, THE CULPRITE BEHIND STAR’S ESCAPE COULD BE A PONY NAMED OREO WHO LIKES TO SLIDE OPEN METAL LOCKS ON METAL GATES THAT CORRAL HORSES.

IT SEEMED THEN THAT STAR TOOK HIS CHANCE RUN WILD BECAUSE HE’S NEW TO THE FARM AND ACCORDING TO CRISTALLO STILL HAD QUOTE “NO ALLEGIANCE TO THE HEARD.”

STAR’S OWNER ATHENA SAYS SHE’S HAPPY TO HAVE HER HORSE BACK AFTER THE BRIEF SCARE.

Soft Broadcast lead

An Alarming Event

*Voice Over format

Fire-fighters are known for putting out house fires, forest fires, car-fires, but you wouldn't expect them to put out birthday candle fires.

A women's group from the First United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma were celebrating the 95th birthday of resident Mabel McCullough when they were unexpectedly interrupted by a group of firefighters who arrived at the house.

The firefighters, who were expecting to see smoke and fire at the house, arrived only to find 95 burnt out birthday candles. Apparently McCullough's birthday cake had exactly 95 birthday candles on it and upon blowing them out, with the help of her guests, the smoke triggered her fire alarm which mobilized the firefighters to come to the house.

The firefighters didn't stick around for cake but they did have their pictures taken with McCullough.

Topical Blog Post

*Decided to do a little sports bit on a couple of the Bengals 2010 draft class. Hope you like it!

Gresham and Shipley Headline an interesting Bengals 2010 draft class


The 2009 AFC North Champion Bengals may have pumped some faith into their small but loyal fan base these last few days with the players they took in this year’s NFL draft.

The two picks that immediately standout are Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham and Texas wide receiver Jordan Shipley. Gresham and Shipley should both be immediate impact players next season for the Bengals that will help open up the passing game for Pro-Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer. Gresham helps give Palmer the play-making tight end he’s never had in his seven-year career with the Bengals, while Shipley helps give Palmer a solid route-running possession receiver that he can count on on third-down.

The Bengals’ 2010 draft class does have some questionable calls though. Cincinnati was in need of an elite safety to man the middle of the field for the Bengals top cornerback tandem, Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall but didn’t succeed in trading up to get top safeties like USC’s Taylor Mays or Texas’s Earl Thomas. And while both Gresham and Shipley are considered in large part to be solid picks, the Bengals had chances to draft other stalwart receivers like Dez Bryant in the first round, and fan favorite Mardy Gilyard in the third round.

The Bengals though believe they made the right choices here but for many Bengals fans, these picks could be “hit” or “miss.” The team and it's fans are hopeful though, and maybe, just maybe, a little excited too.

Copy Edit the World #3 re-do

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Island-survivor/0d48f1c3-e324-4749-aca1-109901b099c2

"After getting directions to Fanene’s home, Busch found himself off the beaten path and into the woods by a stream. His first look at Fanene was memorable but also given what Busch learned about his relentless approach, it was fitting. Fanene was working, wearing work boots and a native robe while holding a weedeater."

"weedeater" is two words

"Then on the next snap Fanene chased Ben Roethlisberger out of bounds and dragged him down on a play that reinjured the quarterback’s throwing thumb. Later Roethlisberger babied an interception to Thurman that set up the Bengals’ insurance score with just under seven minutes left."

"reinjured" is spelled "re-injured."


http://www.bengals.com/cda-web/article-module.htm?id=4d42ba3d-5b59-4f93-aefb-1cc144376296&seoTitle=Lewis-draft-take-Scheffler-talks-denied§ion=news&vv=print

"“I don’t think you want to alter it,” said Lewis of his team’s board during the gap between the first and second rounds. “I think you have a chance to re-look. ‘Boy, nobody thought this guy was going to be sitting there.’ Kind of what you did in the past at the start of the fourth. ... Probably overthink it, overanalyze it. Probably not the best thing to do.”"

"Overthink" and "overanalyze" are two words: Over think, over analyze.

""Hopefully he does or he can, but I can't guarante that. He doesn't have to," Lewis said. "And that's generally a good situation for the team. Because I think the guys respect that. That gives everybody on the current roster a good feeling. There's nothing guraranteed here. Everybody earns the opportunity to be out there on that field and that's my job to fit them in the right spots.""

"Gurante" and "guranteed" are spelled "guarantee" and "guaranteed"

Feature Story Structure

The football helmet was made to protect players from sustaining head trauma during games, but still a shockingly large amount of all high school football related injuries happen to the neck and head.

There are approximately 20,000 injuries in high school football each year. 12 percent of all victims become permanently disabled and 13 youths also died last year. A shocking 35 percent of all these injuries occur to the neck and head and many critics are blaming the helmet for this.

Pete Stenhoff, a junior at Chula Vista High School in Redmond, Calif., was one of these players who sustained such an injury. During a game in his senior year, he rammed his head into the ball carrier’s chest and effectively cracked his vertebrae in his spine. Stendhoff is now confined to a wheel chair for the rest of his life. Despite this though, he is not bitter.


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Wasn't sure if you wanted me to conclude the story in anyway but I did keep the first two paragraphs. Anyways I wasn't exactly sure what the nut graf and transition exactly was but I'm assuming right now that what I wrote is correct but let me know how it could be better if I didn't do it right.

~Wes