In the sequel, Tony Stark is suffering from health problems from the artifical heart device he wears and is also coming under pressure from the government to hand over his technology. A rival weapons manufacturer, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), is trying to outdo him; and a Russian engineer/psychopath, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), has replicated his tech and is coming after him. Scarlett Johansson also joins the fray as  S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Black Widow.

The obvious problem ith Iron Man 2 is that it feels too cluttered with supporting characters and various subplots that are clearly trying to put jigsaw pieces into place for The Avengers. Samuel L Jackson features rather too heavily as Nick Fury to this end and Mickey Rourke doesn't really work as the villain. Sam Rockwell is effective though as Hammer and is always a very watchable and slightly offbeat actor.

The action scenes are fun when they arrive with state of the art special effects and there is an entertaining climactic battle. Iron Man 2 feels like a poor relation to the first film but it is well made and it is generally entertaining with Downey again giving a charismatic performance as this very human superhero endowed with the most incredible technology. The problem this sequel has essentially is that it suffers in comparison to its illustrious predecessor and feels far less fresh and novel. Favreau later complained that Iron Man 2 wasn't the film he wanted to make. He felt it was rushed into production and became too much of an advert for The Avengers. Watching the film it's hard not to have sympathy with this assessment.


(71) THE SHADOW (1994)

The Shadow was directed by Russell Mulcahy and based on the pulp magazine character of the same name. This film got mixed reactions from audiences and critics alike. While some appreciate its homage to the original source material others find fault in its convoluted plot and uneven execution. Alec Baldwin is the titular character, Lamont Cranston, a wealthy playboy turned vigilante. Baldwin brings a reasonably suave and enigmatic charm to the role, capturing the essence of Cranston's dual nature as both a dark avenger and a man grappling with his own dark past. The character does come across as a bit vague though. Whether this is deliberate is hard to say.

The film's visual style is pretty good. The Shadow's noir-inspired atmosphere, with its dark, moody cinematography and impeccable production design, successfully captures the essence of the 1930s setting. From the iconic visual of the Shadow's flowing cape to the retro-styled architecture, the film's aesthetics add a layer of authenticity and immersion to the story.
However, where The Shadow struggles is in its narrative execution. The plot often meanders, leaving viewers perplexed and struggling to keep up with the story's twists and turns. This lack of coherence is further exacerbated by weak character development, with many supporting characters feeling underutilised an