Iron Man 2 (2010)

How does a movie that cost $200M make money? Star power, special effects, surprises, and a pretty good story. This movie has them all and made more than 50% back on the opening weekend. How nice for the suits in Hollywood.

The sequel itself was better than I expected and a lot of fun to watch. I can highly recommend the Blue-ray version with the surround sound turned WAY up.

Robert Downey Jr returns as the barely-in-control Tony Stark. Supposedly his character is based on the Oracle founder Larry Ellison who has a cameo role to go along with his liberal product name placement throughout the film.

Gwyneth Paltrow returns as Pepper Potts and gets her shot at the top spot. No spoilers here.

My favorite new character is played by Scarlett Johansson. Her boss is played deliciously by Samuel L. Jackson.

Don Cheadle comes on board as Rhodes. I actually like his version better.

Mickey Rourke clearly did his homework here. Best thing he has done in a long time.

Watch this movie with someone who will enjoy sitting back, turning it up, and rock(et)ing OUT!

The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

Mel Gibson at 26. Sigourney Weaver at 32. Linda Hunt at 37. All are a bit older now and have done some very popular, and not so, work.

Linda Hunt won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar here, and her character is the fulcrum point for the other 2 main characters played well by Mel and Sigourney. Bottom line, this is a story about learning to give up whats urgent for what's important.

It is beautifully photographed and set to music. The characters who come and go are well set for the story. While it is a difficult story to watch at times, it is a fairly historical look into a time in another country most of us are totally unfamiliar with.

The best way to watch this movie is to put yourself in the place of one of the 3 main characters and ask yourself what you would have done in their place.

Watch this movie with someone who may not be familiar with how international news was reported prior to the internet.