Mad Men 1.3

Marriage of Figaro

Rachel Menken accompanies Don around her store and they develop a mutual attraction for one another. Pete returns from his honeymoon and informs Peggy that their one night together was just that, a one night stand. Don is caught off guard when a man on a train calls him by the name of Dick Whitman. Most of the episode centers around Don's daughter's birthday party at the Draper home. Some friends gather, and it's apparent that Don isn't satisfied with his comfortable little life. A nice episode with some long scenes. Not much happens, but this episode develops the Draper family and the hellish existence of Don's perfect little world.

Grade: 8/10

Mad Men 1.2

Ladies Room

Betty Draper is feeling anxious and visits a doctor at Don's request. The boys take Peggy and Joan to lunch, Peggy learns of a bet between them. Pete is on his honeymoon, with Peggy anxiously waiting his return. Don's latest problem lies with crafting a proper ad for Right Guard. Don continues to see Midge. Pressure is put on Roger and Don to start advertising for Nixon. 

Grade: 7/10

Mad Men 1.1

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

The very first episode introduces us into the world of successful ad master Don Draper. Times are changing, and if Draper doesn't keep up with the youngsters at his firm, they'll take his spot. Peggy, a nervous and brand new assistant is hired and takes an immediate liking to the powerful and at times intimidating Draper. A meeting is held with the higher ups of a tobacco company to mull over future ad's. Draper has nothing planned for the meeting and considers himself finished. He returns to his wife and young daughter at the end of another long, but prosperous day. Peggy has a late night visitor.

Grade: 8/10

Iron Man 2

"Iron Man 2"

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson

Iron Man 2 looks solid on paper, but the film is anything but. Director John Favreau returns as director, and this second installment has lost most of the charm and wit that made that its predecessor successful. Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark, the billionaire playboy turned superhero. Stark has basically solidified world peace with his Iron Man suit, but the government wants the suit handed over to them. His girlfriend Pepper Potts (Paltrow) is now CEO of Stark Industries, she has less tolerance for his wild antics than the government. 

Mickey Rourke takes the reigns as the key villain of this film. He plays Ivan Vanko, a Russian with a family vendetta against the Starks. Rourke works well in the role as his sparse dialogue and presence is just enough to create a formidable villain for Stark. There is also Justin Hammer (Rockwell) an industrialist who has his own plans to take down Stark. Rockwell is perfect for this role, he’s an arrogant, and easy to dislike “higher up” that seems to be having fun with his role. 


The motivations of the villains remain the same as in the first film. Hammer and Vanko trying to produce replicas of the Iron Man suit. Vanko for himself, Hammer trying to make dozens of replicas to for his own personal gain. 

Oh, there’s more. Scarlett Johansson plays a sexy superspy that has correlations to S.H.I.E.L.D, which is hinting at the future Avengers film. Samuel L. Jackson plays Nick Fury; he doesn’t do much, but arrives just in time to give Stark the appropriate knowledge of how to save the day. There’s also Don Cheadle, who has taken over for Terence Howard in the role of Colonel Jim Rhodes, a friend of Stark, and a militant straight shooter. 

The script is bloated with characters and plot strands, but no actual plot. Screenwriter/Actor Justin Theroux’s script doesn’t include the bare bones wit between Pepper and Tony from the first film. Sure, it’s there, but it’s not as funny. The film has a few action sequences, few are fun or impressive. The middle part of the film lacks, it’s a flabby 2nd act that bores its audience. 


There is some fun to be had, Downey Jr. is always reliable, and it’s fun to watch Rourke and Rockwell in there respective roles, but the purpose of the characters is somewhat buried in spite of this franchise trying to be funny instead of exciting. The first Iron Man worked well because it blended its origin story perfectly with the necessary action scenes. Iron Man 2 has its mood swings, and the film ends up as a letdown in the end.

Undoubtedly there will be one more film to round out the trilogy and possibly an Avengers film which Stark’s character would appear in. Director Favreau and his cast are no doubt having fun, but something is wrong here, the wonder and excitement of the first Iron Man are gone.