Fandom: Iron Man 2
This is an actual rewatch as a part of my MCU rewatch. (Previously: Agent Carter and Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk.) For a long, long time, the Iron Man trilogy was my favorite of the solo movies, and I love it to this day. Yes, including Iron Man 2, which I know a lot of people hate.
I love how this opens with a voiceover of the end of the last movie, because that moment he says I am Iron Man gives me chills every time.
It amazes me how much I like MCU Iron Man and this movie in particular, because it highlights so many of the things I hate, like the privatization of weapons and protection (peace, as Tony says), rich, powerful men getting rich and powerful in part by abusing the people who work with and for them (Howard Stark, you give me complicated feelings), Tony's speech at the Expo claiming worldwide peace because of him and Iron Man, etc. (I do like the thread that ties from here into Age of Ultron and Civil War (and even Infinity War); here is confidence is high and overwhelming, at least publicly, but that falls apart and falls away until he sees, again, all the damage he's done himself and with the Avengers. Also: still trying to follow in Howard's footsteps, Tony you give me so many feels.)
I love Vanko's introduction here, the juxtaposition of first how he feels about his father versus how Tony and Howard did not get along and then his building scene to mirror the one we got for Tony in the cave during the last movie. (Shallow note: I love, love, love shots of people working at forges, beating metal, with at least part of their arms bare. Even if they are not otherwise attractive, that will do it for me every time.)
The use of the articles and magazine covers to show how Tony and Iron Man have taken over news and world action is great, too. (I'd forgotten that Iron Man got person of the year.)
The Stark Expo! I would love to fly through the fireworks like he does. I like how this ties back to Howard's public presence and to the Captain America show before he heads to Europe. There's a great fanvid that juxtaposes these images very well. (I think it's to "Ride to California" but a quick search didn't pull it up.)
Oh, damn, I forgot this was a damn year-long Expo. Shit, Stark. I also forgot about the first person cam as he leaves the Expo. It's a good way to show the overwhelming nature of media and attention, but ug, vertigo.
Senator Stern versus Tony Stark was never, ever going to go well. Also, as much as I hate the privatization of security, the idea of the USA getting ahold of that weapon is horrifying. (Sorry, Rhodey.) Stark constantly looking back at Pepper. I love them so much.
Justin Hammer. I love how he uses Howard against Tony. (SWORD. SHIELD. HA. Also, Tony wants to be the shield for the world even though the government wants it to be their weapon.)
RHODEY. You look a little different, but it's good to see you. Also, I love how they try to use Rhodey against Tony, too, and the process of choosing pieces of what he's written in his report to use as weapons. Far more nuanced than I expected from a superhero movie.
And then Tony using his fancy tech to take over the screens to show the people the truth of the knock-off Iron Man devices and Justin Hammer in his own test. Love it.
"It's working. We're safe. America is secure. ... I've successfully privatized world peace."
Goddamnit, Tony, you make it really hard to like you even when you're personable and charismatic.
(I know a lot of his attitude in this movie is forced to hide that he's dying, but it builds from his actual personality.)
ENERGY WHIPS. Vanko pleases me.
Tony, JARVIS, the robots, and the workshop. I love this part of his movies. (Good use of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" too.)
Ugh, donating art to the Boy Scouts of America. Gross, Stark.
"I don't care about the liberal agenda anymore." Gee, shocking, Stark, rich white dude bored by the liberal agenda. Haaaaaaa.
I love the scene where he makes Pepper CEO. Their sharp back and forth is delightful, and Tony saying this all flip but having really done a lot of thinking and work, making Pepper his successor, it's always been her. UGH, my heart. MY HEART. (I love Pepper's competence; it's one of my favorite things in Tony/Pepper stories in the MCU, and I'll take any recs you have, new or old stories.)
Boxing! And NATASHA. And Tony bringing her into the ring (that shot of her going under the ropes is deliciously hot). And her fighting with Happy. I love it. More Tony and Pepper flirting, and both of them watching Natasha leave the room, ugh, I love them so much.
Christine Everhart! It's so great to see you again and being a successful reporter. Sharp and pushy, and I love it.
The quiet moments with Tony alone, tracking his blood toxicity, and the arc reactor so bright in his chest. Going to drive knowing it is a bad idea, because it is a bad idea. His recklessness is gorgeous and terrifying and perfect.
God, Vanko's slow walk onto the track, the reveal of his weapons, ugh, I get chills every time as his clothes burn and he starts whipping electricity around. (Still want.) Pepper and Happy taking Tony his suit, because of course they do. That slow motion flip of Tony's car, with the background noise disappearing and only the two of them and their sounds left. Vanko with his slow motion walk away from the firey crash. So cheesily dramatic and so perfect at the same time. God, I love this sequence.
Tony trying to fight without the suit, the blood on his face, Vanko whipping and whipping, ugh, I love this so damn much. Happy driving into Vanko. Pepper and Tony arguing while Vanko starts fighting back. And then the suit, the noise of it, the sleek design, the way it covers him so quickly. I love the different ways we see Tony improving the suit, including how he puts it on.
The fight between Iron Man and Vanko is gorgeous, too. We've just seen how cocky Tony is over the suit, and Vanko's electricity whips taking him apart at first, take him apart until he has to resort to brutal punching, the suit a terrible mess.
And Tony ripping that arc reactor from Vanko's device, that moment of shock between them, Tony crushing it, ugh, it's perfect.
And of course Hammer is ready to come get Vanko. He sees potential, and Vanko's going to use everyone he can to get what he wants. Love him.
There is something unexpectedly hot about Vanko nearly naked in that empty room, so bulky and unkempt next to Stark's sleekness. Vanko's speech about the Stark family being thieves and butchers and Tony trying to rewrite his own history is so on point and so starkly stated; also well done in the way he's set Tony up for the world to consume him. And of course he knows about the pallidium poisoning.
Also, Tony of the clean energy flying around in a private jet, yeaaaah. Rich boy. And yet at the same time, he's so broken here, so afraid, and dying, slowly. It's a great place to ... be healthy. Oh Tony. My heart hurts for him.
RDJ does a great job of playing Tony Stark with pathos and cockiness and deep emotions, and I love the character so, so much.
Vanko set against Justin Hammer, too, the scene with Tony Stark turned up to eleven, over the top and worse in so many ways, slimy and awkward even when he's trying to show the charisma and charm Stark has built into his cockiness.
I love how Rhodey softens when he sees how bad Tony looks even though a second ago he was sharp and professional and trying to talk Tony through what was happening. And of course Tony tells Rhodey things he's not telling anyone else and then lies to him about the worst of it in the next breath. I really love what we see of them, the way we see more and more of their friendship as we move through the movies. Rhodey worries about him so damn much.
I love Vanko's intelligence, how competent he is, how we have a good idea of what he could have done had he been given access to Stark's resources, how the Stark family stole and tore things down to benefit themselves over everything. Howard was caring and funny and clever and a genius, but he was also selfish and driven and obsessed. There's a lot of him in Tony.
Pepper and Rhodey trying so hard to get Tony and Stark Enterprises through this and Tony tearing things down at every moment, Tony dying and fighting it and not letting them help him. And god, that broken glass, shattering down, Tony is out of control, Tony is dangerous, and Rhodey is going to stop him. Also, Rhodey has access to the lab, because of course he does.
Rhodey suiting up is fantastic, and the way he kills the party, the way he's so angry at Tony and all the ways he's wasting what he has. And then of course the fight is gorgeous. I love them. (Ooooh, I forgot this had "It Takes Two" which is later echoed in Ant-Man and the Wasp.) And Tony lets him take the suit, ugh, my heart. My heart.
FURY! BLACK WIDOW! Everything is wonderful.
Bigger problems than Stark in the southwest region HI THOR HI.
I love that Fury knows more about Howard than Tony does and how Howard being such a terrible father (and he was) colors Tony's thoughts about him and everything he ever said to anyone. And god, that video message for Tony, there's a gorgeous moment here, heartbreaking and chilling. Howard didn't know how to be a father, he was terrible at it, but he also believes Tony is this genius who will create great things.
UGH, Tony trying to tell Pepper how he feels, and Pepper trying to put out these fires. (I lose both the kids in the divorce. HA.) And Tony being terribly obvious about Natasha. I love him.
And that moment when he realizes what his father built for him, the legacy Howard left in Tony and in the city of the future -- I get chills every single time. It just gets better when he starts using his technology to work with it. I love it. LOVE IT. It's so beautiful and emotional.
AND THEN WE GET MORE TONY STARK IN HARDWARE MODE DEAR GOD HOW ARE YOU SO HOT.
Coulson and the Captain America shield. And, of course, Tony uses it as something to level his coil. Coulson is off to New Mexico (HI THOR), and then back to Tony creating things. I love you Tony Stark. (Shallow: And your arms holy hell man.)
Another juxtaposition of Tony's work and Vanko's work, both of them changing their base designs, both of them creating something, but Tony's has layers of use, Vanko's is, it seems, purely a weapon and nothing else.
God, Rhodey trapped in the suit with Vanko controlling it, attacking Iron Man, trying to tell him where they're coming from so he can avoid the attacks. Tony taking it outside to try to keep the civilians safe. UGH HEART.
Pepper and Natasha being so competent, shoving Hammer aside to try to get things done, Natasha heading off to stop Vanko (and we'll get to see Black Widow come out in even more force, I love it), this ending is amazing. AMAZING. Dramatic and full of explosions and fear and my favorites being amazing.
Black Widow, why are you wearing your hair down for this? That is not a choice I see her making in this situation when she had time to change. Especially when her fighting style is so flippy. Which I love; someday, I'd like to see a vid with all the different women and their fighting styles highlighted, because some of them are balletic and flippy like Black Widow, some are brutal like Peggy Carter (she just beats people down, no real finesse to it), some are both smooth and brutal, like Okoye -- I want to see all the different ways they fight shown off.
Pepper: YOU WERE DYING WHAT THE HELL TONY THAT IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME
Tony: I TRIED
Black Widow: Can you two please FOCUS
Black Widow gives Tony his best friend back. And then Tony and Rhodey bickering over how to set up instead of being in the kill box and them taking way too long. Oh, boys, you're both pretty. Now take these drones to school.
God, Pepper getting things done at the Expo, staying until everyone is safe. God, I love her. And that ending with her and Tony, and Pepper trying to quit, and Tony actually being gentle with her, and that kiss, finally that kiss, I ship them so damn hard, their snark and their bickering and Rhodey making fun of them, because he's amazing. I ship the three of them so hard, too. So hard.
Iron Man yes, Tony Stark not recommended. OUCH. My heart. Tony wants to be a part of something so badly and when he finally admits it, he's rejected. UGH, I love you, Tony Stark. I don't know how or why, always, but I love you.
This entry was original posted at https://escritoireazul.dreamwidth.org/467630.html with
comments. Reply here or there.
I love how this opens with a voiceover of the end of the last movie, because that moment he says I am Iron Man gives me chills every time.
It amazes me how much I like MCU Iron Man and this movie in particular, because it highlights so many of the things I hate, like the privatization of weapons and protection (peace, as Tony says), rich, powerful men getting rich and powerful in part by abusing the people who work with and for them (Howard Stark, you give me complicated feelings), Tony's speech at the Expo claiming worldwide peace because of him and Iron Man, etc. (I do like the thread that ties from here into Age of Ultron and Civil War (and even Infinity War); here is confidence is high and overwhelming, at least publicly, but that falls apart and falls away until he sees, again, all the damage he's done himself and with the Avengers. Also: still trying to follow in Howard's footsteps, Tony you give me so many feels.)
I love Vanko's introduction here, the juxtaposition of first how he feels about his father versus how Tony and Howard did not get along and then his building scene to mirror the one we got for Tony in the cave during the last movie. (Shallow note: I love, love, love shots of people working at forges, beating metal, with at least part of their arms bare. Even if they are not otherwise attractive, that will do it for me every time.)
The use of the articles and magazine covers to show how Tony and Iron Man have taken over news and world action is great, too. (I'd forgotten that Iron Man got person of the year.)
The Stark Expo! I would love to fly through the fireworks like he does. I like how this ties back to Howard's public presence and to the Captain America show before he heads to Europe. There's a great fanvid that juxtaposes these images very well. (I think it's to "Ride to California" but a quick search didn't pull it up.)
Oh, damn, I forgot this was a damn year-long Expo. Shit, Stark. I also forgot about the first person cam as he leaves the Expo. It's a good way to show the overwhelming nature of media and attention, but ug, vertigo.
Senator Stern versus Tony Stark was never, ever going to go well. Also, as much as I hate the privatization of security, the idea of the USA getting ahold of that weapon is horrifying. (Sorry, Rhodey.) Stark constantly looking back at Pepper. I love them so much.
Justin Hammer. I love how he uses Howard against Tony. (SWORD. SHIELD. HA. Also, Tony wants to be the shield for the world even though the government wants it to be their weapon.)
RHODEY. You look a little different, but it's good to see you. Also, I love how they try to use Rhodey against Tony, too, and the process of choosing pieces of what he's written in his report to use as weapons. Far more nuanced than I expected from a superhero movie.
And then Tony using his fancy tech to take over the screens to show the people the truth of the knock-off Iron Man devices and Justin Hammer in his own test. Love it.
"It's working. We're safe. America is secure. ... I've successfully privatized world peace."
Goddamnit, Tony, you make it really hard to like you even when you're personable and charismatic.
(I know a lot of his attitude in this movie is forced to hide that he's dying, but it builds from his actual personality.)
ENERGY WHIPS. Vanko pleases me.
Tony, JARVIS, the robots, and the workshop. I love this part of his movies. (Good use of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" too.)
Ugh, donating art to the Boy Scouts of America. Gross, Stark.
"I don't care about the liberal agenda anymore." Gee, shocking, Stark, rich white dude bored by the liberal agenda. Haaaaaaa.
I love the scene where he makes Pepper CEO. Their sharp back and forth is delightful, and Tony saying this all flip but having really done a lot of thinking and work, making Pepper his successor, it's always been her. UGH, my heart. MY HEART. (I love Pepper's competence; it's one of my favorite things in Tony/Pepper stories in the MCU, and I'll take any recs you have, new or old stories.)
Boxing! And NATASHA. And Tony bringing her into the ring (that shot of her going under the ropes is deliciously hot). And her fighting with Happy. I love it. More Tony and Pepper flirting, and both of them watching Natasha leave the room, ugh, I love them so much.
Christine Everhart! It's so great to see you again and being a successful reporter. Sharp and pushy, and I love it.
The quiet moments with Tony alone, tracking his blood toxicity, and the arc reactor so bright in his chest. Going to drive knowing it is a bad idea, because it is a bad idea. His recklessness is gorgeous and terrifying and perfect.
God, Vanko's slow walk onto the track, the reveal of his weapons, ugh, I get chills every time as his clothes burn and he starts whipping electricity around. (Still want.) Pepper and Happy taking Tony his suit, because of course they do. That slow motion flip of Tony's car, with the background noise disappearing and only the two of them and their sounds left. Vanko with his slow motion walk away from the firey crash. So cheesily dramatic and so perfect at the same time. God, I love this sequence.
Tony trying to fight without the suit, the blood on his face, Vanko whipping and whipping, ugh, I love this so damn much. Happy driving into Vanko. Pepper and Tony arguing while Vanko starts fighting back. And then the suit, the noise of it, the sleek design, the way it covers him so quickly. I love the different ways we see Tony improving the suit, including how he puts it on.
The fight between Iron Man and Vanko is gorgeous, too. We've just seen how cocky Tony is over the suit, and Vanko's electricity whips taking him apart at first, take him apart until he has to resort to brutal punching, the suit a terrible mess.
And Tony ripping that arc reactor from Vanko's device, that moment of shock between them, Tony crushing it, ugh, it's perfect.
And of course Hammer is ready to come get Vanko. He sees potential, and Vanko's going to use everyone he can to get what he wants. Love him.
There is something unexpectedly hot about Vanko nearly naked in that empty room, so bulky and unkempt next to Stark's sleekness. Vanko's speech about the Stark family being thieves and butchers and Tony trying to rewrite his own history is so on point and so starkly stated; also well done in the way he's set Tony up for the world to consume him. And of course he knows about the pallidium poisoning.
Also, Tony of the clean energy flying around in a private jet, yeaaaah. Rich boy. And yet at the same time, he's so broken here, so afraid, and dying, slowly. It's a great place to ... be healthy. Oh Tony. My heart hurts for him.
RDJ does a great job of playing Tony Stark with pathos and cockiness and deep emotions, and I love the character so, so much.
Vanko set against Justin Hammer, too, the scene with Tony Stark turned up to eleven, over the top and worse in so many ways, slimy and awkward even when he's trying to show the charisma and charm Stark has built into his cockiness.
I love how Rhodey softens when he sees how bad Tony looks even though a second ago he was sharp and professional and trying to talk Tony through what was happening. And of course Tony tells Rhodey things he's not telling anyone else and then lies to him about the worst of it in the next breath. I really love what we see of them, the way we see more and more of their friendship as we move through the movies. Rhodey worries about him so damn much.
I love Vanko's intelligence, how competent he is, how we have a good idea of what he could have done had he been given access to Stark's resources, how the Stark family stole and tore things down to benefit themselves over everything. Howard was caring and funny and clever and a genius, but he was also selfish and driven and obsessed. There's a lot of him in Tony.
Pepper and Rhodey trying so hard to get Tony and Stark Enterprises through this and Tony tearing things down at every moment, Tony dying and fighting it and not letting them help him. And god, that broken glass, shattering down, Tony is out of control, Tony is dangerous, and Rhodey is going to stop him. Also, Rhodey has access to the lab, because of course he does.
Rhodey suiting up is fantastic, and the way he kills the party, the way he's so angry at Tony and all the ways he's wasting what he has. And then of course the fight is gorgeous. I love them. (Ooooh, I forgot this had "It Takes Two" which is later echoed in Ant-Man and the Wasp.) And Tony lets him take the suit, ugh, my heart. My heart.
FURY! BLACK WIDOW! Everything is wonderful.
Bigger problems than Stark in the southwest region HI THOR HI.
I love that Fury knows more about Howard than Tony does and how Howard being such a terrible father (and he was) colors Tony's thoughts about him and everything he ever said to anyone. And god, that video message for Tony, there's a gorgeous moment here, heartbreaking and chilling. Howard didn't know how to be a father, he was terrible at it, but he also believes Tony is this genius who will create great things.
UGH, Tony trying to tell Pepper how he feels, and Pepper trying to put out these fires. (I lose both the kids in the divorce. HA.) And Tony being terribly obvious about Natasha. I love him.
And that moment when he realizes what his father built for him, the legacy Howard left in Tony and in the city of the future -- I get chills every single time. It just gets better when he starts using his technology to work with it. I love it. LOVE IT. It's so beautiful and emotional.
AND THEN WE GET MORE TONY STARK IN HARDWARE MODE DEAR GOD HOW ARE YOU SO HOT.
Coulson and the Captain America shield. And, of course, Tony uses it as something to level his coil. Coulson is off to New Mexico (HI THOR), and then back to Tony creating things. I love you Tony Stark. (Shallow: And your arms holy hell man.)
Another juxtaposition of Tony's work and Vanko's work, both of them changing their base designs, both of them creating something, but Tony's has layers of use, Vanko's is, it seems, purely a weapon and nothing else.
God, Rhodey trapped in the suit with Vanko controlling it, attacking Iron Man, trying to tell him where they're coming from so he can avoid the attacks. Tony taking it outside to try to keep the civilians safe. UGH HEART.
Pepper and Natasha being so competent, shoving Hammer aside to try to get things done, Natasha heading off to stop Vanko (and we'll get to see Black Widow come out in even more force, I love it), this ending is amazing. AMAZING. Dramatic and full of explosions and fear and my favorites being amazing.
Black Widow, why are you wearing your hair down for this? That is not a choice I see her making in this situation when she had time to change. Especially when her fighting style is so flippy. Which I love; someday, I'd like to see a vid with all the different women and their fighting styles highlighted, because some of them are balletic and flippy like Black Widow, some are brutal like Peggy Carter (she just beats people down, no real finesse to it), some are both smooth and brutal, like Okoye -- I want to see all the different ways they fight shown off.
Pepper: YOU WERE DYING WHAT THE HELL TONY THAT IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME
Tony: I TRIED
Black Widow: Can you two please FOCUS
Black Widow gives Tony his best friend back. And then Tony and Rhodey bickering over how to set up instead of being in the kill box and them taking way too long. Oh, boys, you're both pretty. Now take these drones to school.
God, Pepper getting things done at the Expo, staying until everyone is safe. God, I love her. And that ending with her and Tony, and Pepper trying to quit, and Tony actually being gentle with her, and that kiss, finally that kiss, I ship them so damn hard, their snark and their bickering and Rhodey making fun of them, because he's amazing. I ship the three of them so hard, too. So hard.
Iron Man yes, Tony Stark not recommended. OUCH. My heart. Tony wants to be a part of something so badly and when he finally admits it, he's rejected. UGH, I love you, Tony Stark. I don't know how or why, always, but I love you.
This entry was original posted at https://escritoireazul.dreamwidth.org/467630.html with
comments. Reply here or there.