The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Plot
Jeffrey Lebowski loves to call himself 'The Dude'. He doesn't have a job and his only work is to go bowling and have a good time with his 2 buddies Walter and Donny. Walter is a Nam war veteran and Donny has this knack of being rebuked for each question he asks.

Due to a confusion arising out of the same name, The Dude is mistaken to be a big shot of the same name and 2 people come to his home, rough him up and pee on his rug. The big Lebowski has a young wife Bunny who is into pornography and she takes money from many parties without bothering to return the money. There are people who are after her for the money.

The Dude gets mixed up with the Big Lebowski after Bunny goes missing suddenly. The Dude is asked to be the courier to deliver the money to the supposed kidnappers. He is offered some money for this job too. The Dude is now caught between the parties who are after the money from Bunny, the supposed kidnappers and also with the big Lebowski and his manager. The big Lebowski's daughter also uses the Dude like a sperm donor for her child

In the end, The Dude realizes that everything is just a sham and that the big Lebowski wants Bunny dead and Bunny has not been kidnapped at all. But unfortunately, in the ensuing fight in the climax, he loses his friend Donny to the bullet. Finally, The Dude gets back to his laid back life on the bowling alley along with his aggressive friend Walter.

                                                                   

Hits

• Jeff Bridges looks the part as The Dude. Always clad in casuals and with his coolers and long locks in place, he is a true rock star. And his voice covers all the emotions easily.
• John Goodman as the aggressive Walter is another guy with dude looks. The huge frame and the light coolers go so well with him. He impresses in the scenes when he spews aggression worked up in him from his Nam days. 
• Steve Buscemi plays the unfortunate Donny. A nice touching cameo from him. We feel bad for his death. 
• The ladies in the film are all ever willing to expose. A good time for the lads.
• Philip Seymour Hoffman as manager Brandt is another charismatic character and he has a way with his words

Misses

• Some confusion due to too many characters in the movie

VERDICT

Another complex and enjoyable entertainer from the Coen brothers. It's sort of a buddy movie in the end. 

Iron Man (2008)

Whats it about:
   Tony Stark is the head honcho of Stark Industries, the leading weapons manufacturing company in the world. He is sort of a playboy and lives the high life. He is accused of making profits out of war and destruction. He is initially not bothered about such criticism and continues his pursuits of creative genius. He is one real visionary indeed.
     All this changes after a trip to Gulmira in Afghanistan where he goes to demonstrate the Jericho missile to the US army. He is kidnapped by the 'Ten Rings' group and is ordered to make another Jericho missile for them. Tony and a  doctor ally start working as captives. But Tony uses the arc reactor technology and develops an amazing, high powered sort of an Iron man to overpower the 'Ten Rings' men. He escapes from Gulmira and returns back home, a changed man.
      Tony realizes his responsibility towards the human race and vows to go out of business. But his greedy guardian and his dad's ally Obadiah Stane refuses to budge and asks Tony to keep a low profile. During this time Tony really gets into developing a new really advanced Iron Man that can fly, using the very same arc reactor technology. Tony also gets to know that Obadiah actually wants him dead and has been making double dealings with the Ten Rings.
       Obadiah steals the arc reactor technology from Tony and builds his own huge version of the Iron Man and incapacitates Tony. But Tony uses the spare arc reactor and does one final heroic act and demolishes Obadiah.
       Colonel Rhodes and Miss Pepper Potts stand by Tony at all times and in the end Tony reveals himself to the press as the Iron Man.
                                                                          

                                                                          
Hits

• Supreme technological innovations shown in the scenes where Tony makes the Iron Man suit. It literally gives you the goose bumps when Tony interacts with machines with A.I like Jarvis and Butterfingers. 
• Robert Downey Jr. alternates between being super cool and intense. A star to the core. 
• Gwyneth Paltrow as the naive Pepper Potts is so very cute and like-able. 
• The scenes when Iron Man first reveals himself in the cave fights are thrilling and tense.
• All the Iron Man suit preparation scenes involving Tony and his A.I. machines are superb
• When Iron Man flies almost till the moon like an airplane, it makes you feel in awe.
• Excellent visual effects. Great cinematography. 

Misses

• Jeff Bridges is wasted in a mundane villain role
• The climax fight between the 2 Iron Men gets too bombastic.

VERDICT

Original, different and an entertaining superhero movie.  Technically among the best ever films