I think everyone realizes at this point that comic book film adaptations aren’t going anywhere. Sure, many of them have been embarrassing disasters, but if ones like this keep being made, I’m all for it. Iron Man stands with Spider-Man 2, Batman Begins, and Sin City as one of the best comic book superhero movies of recent times. Maybe it’s not quite as good a film as them, but damn if it wasn’t just as entertaining. You know what — nevermind — it’s easily just as good as S-M2. I’ve never been the biggest fan of that series anyway.

I’m a pretty big Christian Bale fan, but Robert Downey Jr. fits his role as Tony Stark just as well as Bale fits Bruce Wayne. And RDJ doesn’t have an awkward, overcompensating Batman voice to offset his awesomeness. RDJ is still the same snarky, cocky Tony Stark inside his suit. A suit that is totally fucking badass, by the way. I’ve never been a comic guy, so I’ve never thought hard about comparing the vast number of superheroes, but after seeing Iron Man, I’m pretty sure Tony Stark is the one I’d want to be.

Let’s see (I’m going by the movies here):

- Peter Parker is a awkward nerd who battles with inner demons by becoming an whining emo bitch. And Mary Jane is not hot.

- Bruce Banner is fairly emo, too. And boring. I’d WANT to be angry all the time and just destroy everything in my path. But no, Ang Lee had to get all emotional, obviously.

- The Punisher is badass, but his entire family was killed, which isn’t cool at all.

- Superman is pretty much the most boring guy ever. Plus, I’d die in some horrific way as if I were “cursed.”

- Sin City is just too depressing of a place to live.

- Fantastic Four? No comment.

- Ghost Rider? OK, I’m done with the mediocre to shitty comic book movies.

- Bruce Wayne is the closest one, but even he had to deal with seeing his parents being killed right in front of him. So he has an excuse to be brooding. And the batsuit and matching toys, while cool, don’t hold a candle to the Iron Man suit.

- Tony Stark is a fucking genius, who also happens to be an asshole and alcoholic who treats women like objects. Did I mention the suit is awesome?

Go check out the film. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s as good a summer blockbuster that has come along since, well, the last Batman movie.

Right now, Grand Theft Auto IV is having its midnight launch of the US East Coast (the time zone that matters). I never preorder games anymore, unless there’s an awesome free bonus. I still have little doubt I’ll be able to walk into Best Buy tomorrow morning and pick up a copy for my 360. I’ll check both Best Buys that are on the way to class. If that doesn’t turn out well…I guess I’ll check Walmart or something. I really do not expect such drastic measures. I even put a month GAF ban on it.

The reviews GTA IV is getting are absolutely off the charts. Pretty much the most lavishly praised game since The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, perhaps even more so. I just felt like typing that whole title out for once. I’m getting caught in the hype at the last minute, like with Halo 3. And with both series, the last iteration really didn’t do much for me. But somehow I’m sure that GTA IV won’t disappoint like Halo 3. And there’s no game coming out analogous that could overshadow GTA IV the way Call of Duty 4 showed up Halo 3 by releasing around the same time.

This upcoming weekend there is the release of Iron Man and Redbelt. (And I didn’t even realize until today that Harold and Kumar 2 was released last Friday). The former is probably known by everyone, and I’m pretty sure it will rock, if only due to Robert Downey Jr. being the star. And the special effects don’t look too bad either. Redbelt is written by David Mamet and revolves around MMA. That’s enough to get me to want to see it. In case you are unaware, Mamet wrote Glengarry Glen Ross. That’s all you need to know.

Last but not least, there was SUPPOSED to be a new The Dark Knight trailer virally leaked today, but it never surfaced, unfortunately. I think Warner Bros. was just messing with fans. Talk about blue balls. My anticipation of that movie has been much greater than that for GTA IV. Still over two and a half months away. ARGH. But hopefully by the end of the week, it will be on the internets.

Of course, this whole post will be wrong if I am not hired. But at least I’ll have GTA IV. Hopefully.