What I liked most about this movie was the pacing. The movie did have some parts that could have been explained a bit more and also Black Widow was just an intro character, unfortunately.
War Machine was just like he was supposed to be essentially just as strong as IM but diff specs. Hope he gets his own movie. Although for his most interesting story line (bucking with Norman Osborn) is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY after the current Marvel Universe. Don Cheadle was much better than T Howard. Howard played a punk Rhodey. Cheadle was really cool and his demeanor actually fit a soldier's.
Also for those that thought this should have been more action than you dont understand that Marvel is about exposing their characters not making Transformers 2. Tony Starks while brilliant and brave is a fractured soul. Just giving him Pepper Potts in the movie is waaaaaaay too goood for him.
On last thing. The comedy was great.Mickey Rourke was great and could have been better/ He was as gritty as the PG-13 label allowed him to be. He stole the show anytime he was onscreen.
I liked this movie much more than the first movie. Then again I'm not a HUGE IM fan. I actually buy Thor books (possibly the best series ever, go read the books from decades ago and you'll still love the character). And Captain America's books after 9/11 are superb.
If Marvel movies EVER get to their comic storylines that REALLY make their characters great $$$$ will come pouring in. I mean seriously whiplash??? I hear Favreau is hoping for Mandarin, we'll see.
Anyway this was another transition movie. First movie suit was created. 2nd Tony beats the blood poisoning and War Machine is created. I liked the story but you cant have Iron Man fighting nobody's all the time. He needs to fight someone with a REALLY big name in the next movie.
Also make the movie a bit grittiier. It did do a good job but you could tell JV held back a lot.
CGI was amazing. This movie would have been worth seeing in a real 3-D format. Not all 3-D is created equally. Do not go see movies whose 3-D was made after the fact, with a technique called "layering". It sucks.