46. Iron Man 2

               Our lovely Netflix shipped us a movie this week.  What movie? Iron Man 2 on spectacular blu-ray.  Iron Man 2 continues the story of Tony Stark. Stark being the party loving, narcissistic billionaire who, in the first Iron Man, decided to change his ways.  He built an alternative power source in his heart that helps him power a suit. The Iron Man suit.

                In building this suit Stark has brought peace to the planet. And for some reason the United States isn’t happy about that!  I never really get why the USA is unhappy with this but it proves the point that Iron Man is what the world needs. But what the world doesn’t know is that the paladium in the suit's power source is slowly killing Stark. So Stark's playboy ways start to get out of control because he only has so much time left.

         Joining the movie as the token bad guy that every super hero movie needs is Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko a Russian physicist whose dad was wronged by Stark's dad so he must destroy him. So he builds droids like the ones in the Star Wars prequel to attack him. The best part of the movie is the relationship and interaction between Stark and his assistant, true love (he realizes), Pepper Pots. I wish the story was more focused in on this since Downey and Paltrows chemistry is great. IM2 does a great job continuing the story and also working/setting up the Avengers storyline that is soon to come.   

Final Verdict: It's good. Someday I will own the Iron Man movies.

45. X2

              I would just like to state my professional blogging opinion. X2 might just be one of the best sequels of all time. It is right up there with all the others that have taken what is best about the original , expanded it and continued the story line in a way that is not just refreshing but superior to the first one. Just like the wonders that are Return of the Jedi, Dark Knight and Dumb and Dumberer: X2 is one fantastic  movie.

                And let me go on to state this movie has one of my favorite, if not my number one favorite, opening sequences of all time--Nightcrawler in the white house.  Amazing. Every time I see it I can't help but just get so pumped watching this.  It was absolute genius on Bryan Singers’ part to start the film off in such an awesome way. Sets the tone perfect for what  is to come in the movie about William Stryker’s attempt to rid the world of mutants.

                Like I said earlier X2 does a great job continuing the story of the first Xmen film.  While a lot of the movie centers around Wolverine. The other mutants get a chance to shine.  In fact you find yourself wanting more and more to see the lives of these mutants. I think they should make a movie just about wolverine.  He He. The only shame about this movie is that it’s the only time we get to see Nightcrawler.  He is not featured in X-Men 3: The Final Stand.  

Final Verdict: X2 is not only a good sequel but just a plain good movie. Worth keeping.

44. Unstoppable

              Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!  There is a train loose in southern Pennsylvania! What do we do? That is the basis of the fast pace, non stop thriller Unstoppable starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. Inspired by true events, whatever that is supposed to mean.

If someone held a gun to my head and said “Name your top 5 favorite actors” Denzel Washington would be in that top 5. He is absolutely one of the best actors of my generation. From John Q to Remember the Titans, Denzel is the man. Not too mention Antowne Fisher, one of the most underrated movies all time. This time Denzel is joined by Chris Pine, or Captain Kirk of the new Star Trek crew. They play two railroad workers on the job one day when they find out that the train number 777 is under full power and there is no way to stop it and it’s headed straight for them.

                I love how director Tony Scott here really made the Train the main focus of this movie. It really is “The Villian” of this movie. It is mean, relentless and destroying everything in its past. It is Darth Vader meets the Chrysler Building! The movie takes place across the landscape of southern PA and shows a great glimpse into how instantly we get our news in real time. This movie is non stop. Face paced. Unstoppable is a great title because you never know if that train is going to stop! And did I mention that Denzel is in it? 

Final Verdict: Own it.