Perhaps this year just feels better than most lately. The titles that we get this summer are just disgusting: The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones, X-Files 2, Prince Caspian, The Incredible Hulk, Hancock and of course, Iron Man.

And if the rest are as good as Iron Man was, then we’re in for a treat.

(As of this writing, it’s already estimated to have made $101 million this weekend)

First off, I just want to give some props to Jon Favreau for directing this film. He’s come a long way from Swingers, my favorite movie of all-time, and to helm a film with a budget estimated around $150 million, that’s a far cry from Swinger‘s $200,000.

I think some may have even been worried about him taking on such a huge project, but no one is thinking that now. He has a smash hit on his hands, one of the best superhero movies ever. I still like Batman Begins and Spiderman 2 as my two favorite superhero movies, but Iron Man is right up there.

It’s no understatement in saying that Robert Downey Jr. is the reason this movie is successful. He IS Iron Man. His particular humor and wit are perfect in playing Tony Stark, a bazillionaire weapons manufacturer.

There are scenes during the creation of Iron Man’s “suit” where Downey is alone, talking to his robot helpers, and it would be hard seeing anyone else in that role without the same ability to entertain the audience all on his own.

I heard one reviewer say that this movie might not appeal as much to kids because of the slower development of Iron Man and the illegal weapons trading subplot. And I can see that, because it did take a good while for Iron Man to finally make his full-fledged appearance.

In fact, you really only get a few scenes with Iron Man in action. Not as much as you got perhaps in Batman Begins, or Spiderman 2, but it works here.

I loved seeing the way in which Iron Man comes about. Stark is captured by some terrorists who want him to build them a Jericho missle, but in turn he makes a very crude looking iron exoskeleton to help blast his way out.

Seeing his weapons being used by the same terrorists he thinks he’s helping fight, Stark has a change of heart once he gets back home. He decides to take the idea of his iron suit, use it to battle these enemies on his own and destroy his weapons.

One thing I was blown away by in this movie was the special effects. Top-notch. Ultra awesome. When Stark is making his Iron Man suit in his shop, the computers he uses are insane. Holograms that you can insert your arm inside and move around. Robots that help him out. Multi-monitors that connect to flat-table screens that in turn project upwards in 3D.

It was sick.

The supporting cast was also superb. Gwyneth Paltrow was great in her role as Pepper Potts, Stark’s assistant. They have some great scenes together, there affection for each other evident.

Jeff Bridges plays the bad guy, and with a huge beard and shaved head, he fit the part to a T. Terrance Howard, although in a somewhat small role, did an admirable job.

In fact, I really have no quibbles with the film other than the end. It’s not really a spoiler to give away that Iron Man will be involved in a bit fight before the end. Pretty much every superhero movie ends this way.

But this one just left me wishing there had been a bit more. I’ll let you decide if it was missing anything.

Still, the very, very end of the film, right before the credits roll, totally capture the man who is Tony Stark and how different he is from other superheroes we’ve seen lately. And I loved it.

Oh yeah, and as Jason wrote a few days ago, do not miss the ending credits to Iron Man. You have to wait a bit, but STICK AROUND. I saw so many people leaving the theater early on Friday, and I wanted to yell at them all to sit in their seats so they could see the end.

That little treat makes me pumped for a potential sequel, which after $101 million opening box office weekend, is definitely going to happen.

Mike’s Rating: 9 out of 10

I must admit that it’s an impressive trailer. I thought the first trailer was actually pretty good. This one actually brings into the mix the supporting players and continues the slightly humorous one liners. Since the supporting cast is so impressive I think it was a good call to make sure to at least show them in the trailer.

Jeff Bridges also proves that once a man reaches a certain age he should immediately shave his head and grow a beard…if he wants to look really, really cool.

Iron Man is directed by Jon Favreau and stars Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges.

Iron Man opens in theaters on May 2.

Iron Man is directed by Jon Favreau and stars Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges.

Iron Man opens in theaters on May 2.

A psychological thriller that tells the story of a man (Hayden Christensen) who suffers “anesthetic awareness” and finds himself awake and aware, but paralyzed, during heart surgery. His young wife (Jessica Alba) must wrestle with her own demons as a drama unfolds around them.

But the reviews for the film were off the wall bad. Apparently, the director didn’t do a very good job of making the medical parts of the film believable. I’m thinking that might be important since the whole concept is medical based. Of course, I’m still not sold on Christensen as a dramatic actor (he managed to bring Natalie Portman down to near vomit inducing levels) so I can see how a film that centers around him could be a problem. Still, Jessica Alba is fun to watch.