Post One Hundred Thirty Two: Iron Man

Wow.

I mean, really, what more can be said? The makers (particularly Favreau) and the stars (particularly Downey) nailed it. Up and down, left and right. Captured the character perfectly, and made it ridiculosly entertaining.

I have read that Iron Man is the best reviewed movie of 2008, so I'm not going to waste more space heaping more well-deserved praise on it. But I do have a couple of notes and addenda:

First off, Rhodey's comment "Next time, baby!" while looking at the Mark 2 armor was near-perfect.

Second, Jeff Bridges was great as Obadiah Stane: shaved head and full beard works for him. He should consider a permanent change.

Third, the tease at the end of the credits (which I have been made aware of; I, the idiot, didn't stay until the end) was genius. The "Avengers Initiative," indeed. Brilliant.

But on to the addenda. I have read that in addition to announcing "Iron Man 2" for April 30, 2010, Marvel's quarter financial report has noted that Matthew Vaughan's Thor will be released June 4, 2010 [HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!], "The First Avenger: Captain America" will debut May 6, 2011 and "The Avengers" hitting the silver screen July 2011. But back to Thor: I read on Wiki that Thor himself will cameo first in Iron Man 2.

Does anyone else realize just how brilliantly Marvel is handling these things now that they have their own studio? Teases, tie-ins, cameos, team-ups . . . DC only dreams of having things so good (not that this is going to affect my attending The Dark Knight on opening day).

Anyway, the Thor announcments have gotten me thinking. While I initially had some misgivings about the movie when I first heard about it, I'm really interested in how they're going to do it. From what I have read, the writer is focusing on the Asgardian world; gods, giants, etc. I think that will work in and of itself.

But then how to tie it into the Avengers movie? I think they have to blend the Marvel Universe with the Ultimates universe. At the end of the initial movie, Thor is punished by Odin for being too cocky/egotistical, and banished to Midgard (Earth). Just as was done in the Marvel Universe. However, instead of taking the whole Donald Blake alter ego storyline, have him perceived as the "delusional" superhuman as portrayed in the Ultimates. I think that could be pulled off pretty well.