Iron Man 2 faces the unenviable task of living up to its predecessor. The success of the first movie was a surprise to many, and part of what made it so fun was its arrogant anti-hero Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr. His quippy, cocky, charismatic character was truly a breath of fresh air from the conventional action movie heroes we’re assaulted with each summer. So now that the cat’s out of the bag, can the sequel capture the same magic? Sort of.

Tony is basking in the glow of all the attention being foisted on him after he “privatized world peace,” as he calls it. He is a major celebrity now, and at the Stark institute, he is presented in the same manner you would see a band introduced at a stadium concert.

A splashy little group of “Starkette” dancers wearing hot shorts and bra tops dances in the background while Stark addresses his adoring masses. All the spectacle looks like a show straight out of Las Vegas. The ego-stroking has gone straight to Tony’s head, and his hubris has rendered him quite unlikable.

In Moscow, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) seethes by his father’s deathbed as he watches ad nauseam television coverage of Tony Stark’s big reveal as Iron Man. His father whispers, “It should have been you” just before dying. Vanko feels his family (who has worked for the Starks in the past) has been wronged by the Stark family, and he starts plotting his revenge, building a specialized suit that is equipped with deadly whip-lasers.

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With the release of Iron Man 2 this week, Captain America on the way next year and The Avengers coming in 2012, Marvel is, of course, going to be bring us more and more comics that tie-in with those movies. This time around we’ve got a preview of one of those titles that helps us understand more about the inner workings of The Avengers team.

With Avengers: The Origin already out in stores, Marvel is about to release Avengers Academy into the wild. Here’s what you need to know about this new title:

From acclaimed creators Christos Gage and Mike McKone. The Heroic Age is here and the Avengers must train a new generation of heroes. But who are they? And what dark secret will turn their world–and potentially the entire Marvel Universe–upside down by the end of the issue?

If you think this is just another teen hero book…the last page shocker will prove you wrong.

Check out some preview pages and covers for the comic after the jump. Avengers Academy #1 hits comic store shelves June 3.

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With all the movies coming out these days its easy to get lost in all the promotions by the studios. In an effort to get audiences interested in their particular film, they often deluge potential movie goers with a whole bunch of promotional stuff that due to the sheer amount, is often overlooked or just plain ignored. Sometimes, however, something comes along that’s kinda fun and deserves a bit of attention.

One such promotional tie-in is Universal’s current Get Him to the Greek song contest. To enter is simple, especially for all you budding rockstars out there.

Just record your cover version of Infant Sorrow’s (Russel Brand’s fictional band in the film) hit song “Bangers, Beans & Mash” and enter for a chance to win a trip to the world premiere of Get Him to the Greek at L.A.’s famous Greek Theatre. 20 runners-up will win limited edition Infant Sorrow merchandise, so don’t feel bad.

Get Him to the Greek features Jonah Hill and Russell Brand and is directed by Forgetting Sarah Marshall‘s Nicholas Stoller. It tells the story of a record company executive (Hill) with three days to drag an uncooperative rock legend (Brand) to Hollywood for a comeback concert. It also stars Sean Combs, Elisabeth Moss, Rose Byrne and Colm Meaney. It hits theaters June 4.

The Iron Man 2 hype machine is in full effect leading up to Friday’s release of this summer’s most anticipated comic book property to hit the big screen in 2010. This week alone, we’ve brought you news of the ‘Iron Man Central’ app hitting iTunes, as well as some of the ‘Iron Man 2′ easter eggs to keep an eye for while you’re watching the flick, and now Marvel Digital has released 4 new free digital comics for their free Marvel Comics App available in the iTunes App Store.

While the app is free to download, comics generally cost around $1.99/each, with Marvel releasing a batch of new freebies each week. This week, with all eyes on Iron Man 2, the free choices revolve around this popular franchise.

Two issues go into the way-back machine, all the way to 1968 for some classic silver-age Iron Man action with issues #225 and #280. The third issue is a bit more up-to-date with The Invincible Iron Man #1 which details some of the events of the first flick. And finally the fourth free issue from Marvel Digital this week, Black Widow Saga #1, gives readers an insight to this mysterious character from the second film.

So what are you waiting for? Fire up your iPhone or iPad and let’s get primed for all things Tony Stark! After the jump, take a closer look at these free issues. Free is good, right?

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I’m normally more of a first person shooter kind of a guy so when Activison and Bizarre Creations first announced their Blur racing game, I really wasn’t all that interested. However, after seeing all the inventive trailers, screenshots and having a chance to check out the game, I’ve changed my mind because this game looks, and is, pretty kick-ass and I hope it does well.

With that in mind, our friends at Activision have sent us another trailer for the game and, as always, we can’t wait to share it with you. Like last time, this one is another trailer showcasing the game’s multiplayer features. These features, and many more, have been able to be used during the game’s online miltiplayer beta which has been going on for some time.

The online beta, one of the most successful in Activision’s history with over one million downloads, will now add even more features including the following: the ability to play A-Class cars in standard playlists, an expanded Supercar Racing Playlist that include races in Tokyo and Amboy, Power-Ups that now shuffle so each race has different Power-Up placement and the ability for Players to earn double the amount of fans for each race.

These features, not coincidentally, are the ones highlighted in the trailer today. So, to check them out click through to watch it. Blur hits the streets in North America on May 25 and Europe on May 28.

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Even though the latest iPhone OS (aka OS 4.0) is still in Beta and has only been released to developers, that hasn’t stopped people from installing it and then posting what they find on the Internets. Let’s face it, when its something from Apple, it’s just really hard to keep it a secret.

Case in point is a report over at one of our favorite Tech sites, The Boy Genius Report, where they detail the latest goodies found in Apple’s recent revision to the iPhone OS 4.0 Beta, now known as Beta 3.

Check out what they found:

File Sharing

Apple is finally going to allow you to transfer files to and from your iPhone straight from your computer.

Media Player Widgets
When you enable the multitasking interface you see a new set of widgets that control the iPod application.

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In case you’re not familiar with the story of actor Steven Baldwin. He’s had a long career, was pretty popular and did some decent movies, including The Usual Suspects. But now, according to reports, he’s broke and needs money.

So, what do celebrities do when they’re broke and need money? They turn to the Internets of course. Although, according to the site established by a Christian ministry for Baldwin he didn’t commission them to put it together, they are just doing it to help out the actor.

What does all this have to do with Joss Whedon and his ass-kicking chicks? Glad you asked. Watch the video after the jump and all will be revealed in a pretty hilarious way.

Enjoy and don’t say we never gave you anything good.

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Since Favreau’s first Iron Man film pulled the wool over the eyes of many fans by sneaking in a special scene after the credits, fans are now on the hunt to make sure they are aware of as many secrets as possible before Iron Man 2 hits theaters at midnight tonight.

We brought you a description of this film’s post-credit sequence last week, in which we get a peak at an upcoming film from Marvel Studios. Now we’re getting a few killer screen shots of even more hidden secrets from the flick.

We have to be fair to everyone and let you know that these can be a MAJOR SPOILER for those who don’t want to know. Of course, we understand that Iron Man 2 will tie into other films under the Marvel umbrella such as Thor, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, and The Avengers, but this gives us more concrete proof.

Check out the images taken from Iron Man 2 after the jump, or wait till you see the film and come back for a full analysis of just what you saw. Either way, it’s cool to see that Favreau had the foresight to add these easter eggs. Thanks to our pals at ComicBookMovie.com for the analysis.

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This is a recap for Happy Town, episode 2, “I Came to Haplin for the Water,” and it will have spoilers in order to discuss plot points. If you did not see the pilot for Happy Town last week, you can watch it on the official ABC website.

Now that I have seen the first two episodes of Happy Town, here are a few of my initial thoughts on the series. I enjoyed the second half of both episodes quite a bit more than the first. I have found it difficult to initially get into the show, but by the end of each episode I have been completely engrossed.

I enjoy quirky, but I do not enjoy goofy, and some of the characters are quickly veering into annoying territory (I’m looking at you, Stiviletto brothers.) I feel like some of these characters are coming across as being badly acted, and it seems to take down the quality of the show a notch. There are still plenty of talented actors on the show, and that might be why some of the weaker ones stand out.

I do think the show suffers in the writing department. I didn’t notice it so much the first episode, when I was trying to keep all the characters and plot-lines straight, but in the second episode I noticed sloppy dialogue and meandering scenes that easily could have been tightened up.

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Everyone knows the drill when a new comic book movie comes out. The market gets flooded with the standard promotional tie-in products. There’s an influx of new comics featuring the title character hitting the shelves.

A new line of toys based on the movie and its characters are sure to come out. And let’s not forget the comic book turned movie turned video game which is sure to come out as well.

After these standards, any other product that can be thought of from breakfast cereal to t-shirts to birthday favors becomes fair game. Instead of sticking to the cheap themes that most movies go for to make a quick buck, Iron Man 2 has decided to step it up a notch. Pairing up with high end clothing and accessory brand Diesel, they will be releasing the Only The Brave Limited-Edition Iron Man 2 Eau de Toilette Spray.

Now, while every comic book fanboy out there wants to smell like Tony Stark, we regret to inform you that this limited edition does not smell like motor oil and cheap bourbon. Instead it is a simple repainting of Diesel’s current Only The Brave cologne bottle.

The scent is described as ” Top notes of modern leather contrast with the fresh aroma of sparkling lemon and the warmth of amber and cedar in Only The Brave, a masculine fragrance that epitomizes determination and bravery.” So while it lacks the boozehound smell, it does resemble what everyone pictures in Tony Stark.

Diesel’s Only The Brave Limited-Edition Iron Man 2 Eau de Toilette Spray can be purchased online here. Go on, you know you want some.

When your work spreads as far across the  digital range as mine does, it can occasionally provide a nice bit of synergy. Or repetition.  It depends on which word you want to use, I suppose. After watching Hombre last week, I resolved I would seek out as many of Elmore Leonard’s Western adaptations as I could. The first on my list was the original 3:10 t0 Yuma, which I’ve never managed to watch in its entirety.

And what happens? I joined Matt Raub on The Flickcast this week, and was called upon to recommend a movie. With Russell “Robin Hood” Crowe on the brain and Leonard queued up for Western Wednesday, only one came to my screen-burnt brain: James Mangold’s remake of 3:10 to Yuma.  I promptly kicked myself after. Talk about beating a dead horse, and using up your good material.

But it couldn’t have worked out better. Delmer Daves’ 3:10 To Yuma is an entirely different animal than Mangold’s, and neither of them have much in common with Leonard’s original short story. If you’re a film nerd (and especially if you’re an aspiring director or screenwriter), you couldn’t find an easier compare and contrast exercise than this.

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As with most weeks, this week brings a crop of new movies and TV programs on Blu-ray and DVD. Among the ones we’re interested in this week are two Doctor Who TV Movies, X-Men, Volume Five, the Blu-ray release of NINE and the Blu-ray debut of Saving Private Ryan (pictured above with Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Vin Diesel, Adam Goldberg and Edward Burns)

Movies

Doctor Zhivago Anniversary Edition ~ Omar Sharif, Julia Christie (Blu-ray)

Fallen ~ Paul Wesley, Tom Skerritt, Bryan Cranston (Blu-ray and DVD)

Leap Year ~ Amy Adams, Matthew Goode (Blu-ray and DVD)

Nine ~ Daniel Day-Lewis (Blu-ray and DVD)

No Time for Sergeants ~ Andy Griffith, Don Knotts (DVD)

Saving Private Ryan ~ Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Edward Burns (Blu-ray and DVD)

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