The Double Feature

Well, it wasn't exactly a double feature because I didn't see two movies on the same day. I did, however, see two movies two days in a row, so, for the sake of this blog post, it shall be considered a double feature. It should be obvious that there might be some spoilers below, so read at your own risk or read and find out how the movie ends (though, I never reveal that in my reviews of films).

First Up: A Suit of Iron With a Man Inside - The Sequel

As sequels go, this wasn't the best, but it was a good adventure. Most comic book story sequels these days can barely live up to their predecessor and this was no different. The original Iron Man movie not only gave the viewers a good origin story, but also a flawed hero. An egotistical self destructive man with money (sounds a lot like Batman Begins). Of course, that is where the stories differ because The Dark Knight (the sequel to Batman Begins) was one of the best comic book sequels ever. Even better than the first set of Batman movies with Michael Keaton and its original sequel Batman Returns, which had the unfortunate luck to have not only Danny DeVito as the Penguin, but Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. Though, Michelle Pfeiffer did look good in tight leather. And, in the sequel to Iron Man, there is a point where Scarlett Johansson gets sewn into a leather outfit (figuratively, as it seems that would be the only way for her to fit).

The movie's pace seemed slow in parts, but made up for it with the number of action scenes - a number at least doubled from the original. Isn't that the mantra of the action sequel?

"More money, more explosions, more effects and more toy tie-ins"

Regardless, the movie still works and the information that is added later on by Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury in regards to SHIELD (don't worry if you don't know what it means. Only the die hards really know what it stands for - me included) and the Avenger Initiative (again, something the comics fans already know about) were helpful in setting up exactly what will happen in the next couple of years in regards to the other movies that are currently in production under the Marvel Banner.

A good movie with good effects and a decent story. Not as great as the original movie, but Robert Downey Jr. continues to show that he "gets" Tony Stark's life as if he had lived it (and to some respects, he has).

****

But wait, there's more...

The second film that I saw was Robin Hood. And no, this was not the one by Mel Brooks, Kevin Costner, Errol Flynn or even Disney. This was in fact, the "true" story of how Robin Hood came to be.

While I can agree that the story of Robin Hood has really been a tale of good versus evil, it is also the tale of a man who had lost everything that once was his and his vow to either get it all back or destroy the people that took it from him.

This movie is said to draw its story from factual evidence and while I am no scholar of the Crusades, I can admit that the story they offer is very plausible, except for the fact that most historians know that Richard the Lionheart actually returned to England and lived several more years before his death. This movie, like other movies that are based in history, are only "true" to those who tell the story like it. For others, the story of Robin Hood, is more like the Kevin Costner version (except with a British accent). And for some others, the story of Randall Wallace (Braveheart) is really the story of Robin Hood (some historians point to the similarities between Robin Hood and Wallace and affirm that they could have been one person and two separate legends).

Anyway...the action is fast paced and even though there are a few slower times, they are there to add characterization and plot substance and therefore are requisite to the film as a whole. Russell Crowe does a good job as Robin Longstride - a man with no memory of his past. Turns out, his dad was a really cool guy that helped the barons forge a pact many years ago and was killed for it.

Robin did learn one thing out of remembering who his father was and that was that everyone should "Rise and Rise Again Until Lambs Become Lions". Or, "Keep Trying and Never Give Up". Here's the deciding factor of this review. I could either mention that Yoda said "Do or do not, there is no try." Or, I could go with Jim Valvano's last recorded speech before his passing in 1992: "Don't give up. Don't ever give up." I guess I actually quoted both, but I think both can fit here. Yes, you have to "do" as Yoda said and you have to not give up, as Jimmy V. said and you just have to keep doing your best doing what's right.

All in all, both were very good action films. Though one centered on Fantasy and Science Fiction and the other centered on historical figures, each made a case for themselves as good stories. There was enough conflict in each film to make each explosion and death almost necessary. As a comic fan, I enjoyed Iron Man 2 and as a Robin Hood fan, I enjoyed that movie as well.

Until Next Time.