Iron Man 2

Rating: 2/4 (Created purely to cash in on the original, Iron Man 2 is a waste of one’s time.)

Iron Man 2 is the 2010 sequel to the entertaining Iron Man. Here, Tony Stark is dying slowly due to palladium poisoning, leading him to self-destructive behaviour. He has a new nemesis, Ivan Vanko, the son of a Russian scientist who helped build Stark Industries. He is out to exact revenge by building an alternate arc-reactor powered armor and killing Iron Man using it.

Iron Man 2 is extremely disappointing. Robert Downey Jr. continues to exude immense charm, but he cannot save a wafer-thin plot that has been written with the sole purpose of cashing in quickly on the charm of the original. Scarlett Johansson, as Stark’s personal assistant is a treat to watch, but her role in S.H.I.E.L.D. and their introduction here is a gigantic mess! Iron Man 2 is not worth your time, even if you are a fan of Robert Downey Jr. or Scarlett Johansson.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Rating: 3/4 (Meaningless, funny and fast paced)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a 2005 comic take on the film noir movies. The film is narrated in flashback by Harry, the character played by Robert Downey Jr. A small time thief, destiny lands Harry in Los Angeles as a candidate for a detective role in a movie. He runs into his childhood sweetheart Harmony (Michelle Monagan) who is also an aspiring actress. Completing the trio is Gay Perry (Val Kilmer), a homesexual detective whose job is to prepare Harry for his role. Much like in a detective book, these three are thrown into a spree of mysterious murders being committed by someone, they need to figure out who and why.

Directed by Shane Black, Kiss Kiss Black Black strongly reminded me of Burn After Reading, by the Coen Brothers. Similar to BAR, strange events and people are thrust upon Harry and Perry without warning or reason. Robert Downey Jr. looking decades younger than in Ironman, shines through with brilliant acting and sarcasm. Val Kilmer thoroughly enjoys his role in KKBB, but Michelle Monagan sticks out like a sore thumb for bad casting. The movie has a relentless pace, nothing on screen makes much sense, but is funny. A good entertaining watch.

A Scanner Darkly

A Scanner Darkly (2/5) — Based on Philip K Dick’s sci-fi novel, the movie is set in the near future in CA. A major chunk of the population is addicted to a drug called Substance D which ruins their brain causing side effects like both hemispheres of the brain giving different versions of information to the person. Amidst this landscape are a bunch of drug addicts who are being tracked by the police to try to find the supplier. Things aren’t what they seem ’cause New Path, the drug rehabilitation clinic might actually be involved in the supply of Substance D.

The movie is animated using rotoscopy. This is a huge reason to watch the movie ’cause it adds a new dimension to the dreamy state of the addicts. Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr have given splendid performances. But, but, the story is so boring, the movie’s not worth seeing at all.