We’re pretty much in accord on the movie. We seem to have similar motivations in moviegoing, both as to the “fun” and “not having our intelligence insulted.”

I liked the repartee between Pepper and Tony a lot, thought it a high point. I guffawed at Pepper’s “taking out the trash” remark. As I did at the bit on the airplane - purely as someone nowhere near current on the comic I didn’t balk at Stark seducing his good pal Rhodey into getting drunk and acting like a frat rat. Obviously “seduction” in more than the sexual sense is a major skill of Tony’s; but what really made me hoot was the attendants cavorting on the in-flight dance floor, complete with stripper pole. I could completely see Stark having a plane with something like that aboard.

Interesting insight on Downey’s addition of the cheeseburger business. For me it worked on another level: after wandering Europe for a few weeks (too many) years ago I found myself eagerly seeking out a McDonald’s in someplace like Cologne - something I haven’t voluntarily done too often in my whole adult life. I really craved that taste of home. Fascinating that the longing for a burger was also used to symbolize Stark’s turnaround.

All in all, an excellent piece of craft. I could definitely see catching it more than once in the theater.

Thanks for your insight on the likely villains in the sequel. Again, I don’t know enough about the comic to’ve caught the Red Mandarin reference.

I still have to wonder how the need to generate suspension of disbelief will play out, if they carry through with Fury’s “Avengers Initiative,” thereby moving solidly into the costumed-superhero genre. And I guess they’re going to: it’s not a huge secret (but *spoiler alert!* anyway) that Tony Stark flashes a quick cameo in the almost-released Hulk movie - Berardinelli says he “steals the movie.”

Then again, it’s not as if I’m opposed to costumed-superhero flicks. I enjoyed the first two X-Men movies. And I guess Favreau, the writers, and Downey have earned the benefit of the doubt, here, haven’t they?

The movie becomes a story about a man who decides he’s not going to waste his life. I don‘t need to suspend my disbelief to watch this movie. Yes you don’t need to turn off your brain—good call on that. OK, Stan Lee as Hugh Hefner, being cuddled by three bodacious babes was a bit hard to swallow, but it’s his movie and his cameo. In an interview, Stan said this cameo was the most fun, ever. Yes, this movie is about fun. I go to movies to be entertained, not to have my intelligence insulted. Yes, the dialog was witty with some deliciously snarky moments.

The pas de deux between Pepper and Tony was spicy. And, those scenes revealed the depth and the extent of their friendship. They could have said Pepper had been Tony’s girl Friday / personal assistant for many years, but they *showed* that Pepper had worked all those years. When they spoke and interacted, you *felt* they had history. I’m visually-oriented. Don’t tell me, show me. And, that made it real for me, too.

I’ve always liked Iron Man. I collected the comics. But, I came to the movie with an open mind. OK, no Happy Hogan – Pepper romance. What a relief! I never liked Hogan. Vietnam v. Afghanistan is not a big deal. I’m not happy with what they did with Rhodey. He’s supposed to be Tony’s pilot and best friend. The interlude on Tony’s private jet was the level of clowning around they did in the comics. That was disappointing, but not devastating. As a result, the movie portrayed Tony as more solitary than he was in the comics. But, the comics showed him as a more decadent wastrel. Stane was splendidly done in both media. I’m glad Favreau picked Stane over the terrorists. A big hero needs a big nemesis to help showcase his sparklypoo heroics.

Yes, the cast made “Iron Man” work as a film. It always helps to select a cast that can actually act. Downey made some interesting comments about the film. He added the cheeseburger obsession to the film based on his own experience. Back in his drug days (daze), he was flat, busted, broke. He had money in his pocket for a cheeseburger at Burger King. He had hit bottom. After he finished that burger, he turned his life around. He put that in the movie. I guess that made it real for him? Downey thought of the role as “a challenge of making a wealthy, establishmentarian, weapons-manufacturing, hard-drinking, womanizing prick into a character who is likable and a hero.” Score!

Probably the best thing about this movie is the varied and successful ways it handled the exposition necessary to bring the newbies up to speed. The movie opens with an awards ceremony that info dumps Tony’s life to date. It was fast, clean, and hit the highlights. Reporter Christine Everhart gives a quick bio on Pepper, who agrees and adds “taking out the trash” as yet another of her duties. Verily, twas the cattiest remark in the movie. I like the way it showed Tony’s trial and error development of the armor, as well as Stane’s lack of testing, when he iced up. The final battle was clumsy. They came across like men who were not used to being armored superheroes. One could see the learning curve in action. That worked for me, too.

Yes, to a sequel. When Stane was in Raza’s tent, putting the sonic hurt on him, there was a wall hanging in the background with 10 rings—the ten rings of the Red Mandarin. Dum da dum dum!