Movie Review: Iron Man starring Robert Downey, Jr. 

Halle-freakin'-lujah! The summer of slick action flicks has finally begun. 

Nobody does 'cool' the way that Robert Downey, Jr. does. From scene one of his fantastic new action superhero movie Iron Man, you are swept up in the story, easily believing that he is his character: an uber-cool, ultra-intelligent, sexy powerhouse of a man (likely not that different from Downey himself).

In the film's title role, Downey plays Tony Stark, a multi-billionaire hotshot, robotics engineering whiz, and co-owner of his family's weapons manufacturing business. He is a man's man: that guy that all guys want to be, and that all women want to be with. He is a man who is equally feared and admired... epitomizing the scotch swilling, mojo swinging king of cool.

Yet no sooner does the film's introductory sequence get under way than Tony gets knocked off his high horse - in a major way. While traveling in Afghanistan to promote his latest line of weapons, his caravan is bombed and he is taken hostage. His captors want him to build them a weapon to use against the country he so loves and wants to protect. He refuses, then pretends to give in as he uses the supplies they provide to build hatch an escape plan. Instead of a bomb, he builds himself a computerized bulletproof 'iron' suit that is tough enough to essentially allow him to shoot, flamethrow - and even fly - his way through the terrorist village and escape certain death. On the way out, he notices something quite disturbing: that these terrorists managed to somehow get their hands on some of his company's weapons.

Three months later, when Tony manages to make it back home, he experiences a reawakening of the soul. Much to the chagrin of his business partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), best friend Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard), and doting personal assistant Pepper Potts (the luminous Gwyneth Paltrow), Tony decides to stop manufacturing weapons and instead focuses on perfecting his "Iron Man" design. Determined to stop evil once and for all, this is where the action in the flick starts to get good, as he builds, tests, and utilizes his kick-ass design in an effort to help rebuild U.S. military war efforts.

Smart, sassy, and oh-so-sexy, Iron Man - the latest in a line of movies based off of Marvel comic series - kicks off what is bound to be an exceptional summer of action flicks. Downey couldn't have been better - many times being the sole reason why my eyes were glued to the scene. Such a role for him has been a long-time coming - and he certainly doesn't squander this opportunity to turn his career around in a major way.

The movie is funny, entertaining, and sleek, while also managing to have a somewhat interesting story and a splash of heart as well (Stark's relationship with his close personal assistant Pepper Potts is particularly charming). Particularly engaging are the scenes that simply include Tony and his robotic lab assistant, an inanimate character that holds its own throughout the film as a comedic nod to younger viewers.

If there was any issue I had with the film at all, it was that I wanted more action from Iron Man himself; only once did we see him going out and kicking some ass - which made the movie feel a bit like the first in a three-part franchise, setting up the story for more action to come. And, I must say that Paltrow's talent was a bit squandered; I would have liked to see her step up to the plate a bit more, rather than simply play the standard Marvel damsel in distress.

But the set-up and execution of what is bound to be just the first in a new Marvel film franchise is a good one: fun, entertaining, and splashy. The best part? The ending leaves it wide open for a sequel.

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: A-

• Paramount Pictures, Rated PG-13. Tickets available online at Fandango.com. Official site: www.ironmanmovie.marvel.com.

• Watch the Trailer:

 Coming soon to theaters: Miss Conception starring Heather Graham

You know, no shit - just the other day, I was wondering: whatever happened to Heather Graham? It's like after doing 1999's Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, her career has suffered or something. (Got me how that one happened... Ahem.)

Okay, but every so often, her name pops up in obscure indie-ish films (Gray Matters), yadda, yadda, yadda... but rarely is it for something I'm even remotely interested in seeing (Broken). And it's too bad, because I've actually missed her goofy charm making its appearance in the mainstream (Scrubs).

 I'll tell you what, though: after seeing the promo trailer for her new movie, Miss Conception, I'm beginning to wish that she just would have remained obscure.

See, for a while now, I've been happy to just sit back and wait for Heather Graham to rebuild her career - to come back shiny and fresh and new. I've been waiting for the Heather Graham I once believed in to swoop in and blow everyone away with her newly discovered sense of self, and a new ability to choose a role that will actually garner her some respect.

But now that I've seen this new trailer, I can't sit idly by any longer; I must speak out. I feel obligated, Miss Conception Graham, to clue you in on something: I don't think that this film - the plot for which revolves around a pre-menopausal woman achingly desperate to have a baby - is going to do you any favors. I mean, last year was the year of preggo films (see: Juno, Knocked Up); this is so five minutes ago. And even if it wasn't, did you really have to do it with a fake English accent?:

Really?!

And did it have to be in a film that is so obviously cliché - that looks so vapid, so vacant, so cheesy that I can barely sit through the preview? Come on, Heather. You're better than this! Read some self-help books; get a therapist. Do what needs to be done! Because I believe I can speak for all of your fans when I say: we want our Heather Graham back: the one that is the little blonde cutie pie with the goofy grin and awkward charm. The one that shows some brains, some spunk, and is downright adorable. We wish you luck, Ms. Graham, we really do. But this version of yourself: the English accented desperate bimbo? Well, she's just gotta go.

• Miss Conception starring Heather Graham and Mia Kirshner: First Look Studios. Release Date: June 6, 2008. Tickets available online at Fandango.com.

Movie Review: Doomsday starring Rhona Mitra and Bob Hoskins 

Despite its B-level campiness, Doomsday is a top-notch feminist horror/sci-fi gorefest. I haven't had this much fun watching a bloody flick since... well, since Director/Writer Neil Marshall's last flick, The Descent. (If you like gory movies - but still want it to have a feminist twist - be sure to check it out.)

For starters, Doomsday stars the fabulous Rhona Mitra as an ass-kicking military Major named Eden Sinclair. She is a bad-ass, chain-smoking military leader who pulls off the role with a haughty - but not whiny - vibe, managing to be beautiful without being sexualized. To top it all off, her character comes complete with a delightfully campy fake eyeball that she can take out, roll down a hallway, and make recordings of her surroundings with. It is awe-freakin'-some - in the way that only a campy, B-level sci-fi flick can be.

In addition to the blood and gore - which is so over the top that it comes off as hilarious rather than disturbing - there are several laugh-worthy moments throughout the film, not the least of which is a scene in which a decapitated head screams while sailing through the air. Marshall is, in a few words, the Tarantino of sci-fi horror, and - in a way - the Joss Whedon of the gore genre. This is not to say that his heroines are necessarily overtly witty or even girly - but it is very clear that he respects gender boundaries and doesn't use a gory movie as an excuse to demoralize women or to create a form of 16-year old boy torture porn. It is quite evident that he loves his craft and - in Tarantino fashion - Doomsday provides a very obvious outlet for Marshall to explore and pay tribute to classic apocalyptic films such as the Mad Max trilogy.

Overall, what impressed me the most about Doomsday was its lead character. Rhona Mitra's stint as Major Sinclair solidly established herself as one of my favorite female protagonists of all time. She was strong and smart, capable and honorable: the perfect heroine. And - most astonishingly - her character wasn't sexed up. She wasn't about tits and ass; she was about kicking ass and taking names. She wore a modest haircut, sensible clothes and shoes, and small stud earrings. And the only part of her body that was shown off was exactly what you'd see if a man had been cast for the role: muscles. (Damn, she's built!) And this is precisely what brings me to the point that Doomsday could easily be considered a feminist movie: at any one point in the film, the lead character could have been of either gender - male or female - with the exact. same. result.

How's that for gender equity?

Okay, so I'm not pretending that Doomsday is a miraculous movie. The plot - which revolves around a virus that kills off most of the population of Scotland and leaves behind some truly psycho human beings - has more than a few holes. But this isn't a movie that is meant to be intellectual; it is a film that must be seen for one reason and one reason only: pure, raw entertainment value. Doomsday isn't for the faint-hearted; if you have trouble watching heads chopped off, bunnies being blown up, rampant cannibalism, and f-bombs a-flying, then this isn't the film for you. Then again, if you're capable of going into the film with your eyes wide open, your brain turned off, and your sense of humor ready to go - then then you'll love Doomsday... camp and all.

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: A-

• Rogue Pictures, Rated R. U.S. Release Date: 03/14/08. Tickets available online at Fandango.com.

• Watch the Trailer: