Iron Man

Robert Downey, Jr., appeared to be a star on the rise in 1987 with his career-making performance as Julian in “Less Than Zero.” After a few years of solid performances, Downey jumped to the “A-list” with his Oscar nominated performance in the title role of “Chaplin” in 1992. Unfortunately this success was followed by years of drug-related arrests and outrageous behavior that reduced the actor to being mere tabloid fodder. Virtually uninsurable, Downey appeared in a series of forgettable roles and just recently gained back a measure of respectability.

C omic books have always been somewhat of an underground culture primarily appreciated by boys and a few self-proclaimed "geeks." Other than some early success in serial shorts such as "Flash Gordon" and "Buck Rogers," movies based on comic books have mostly featured characters that have transcended the genre, such as Batman and Superman. In recent years, this has changed, thanks in no small part to Marvel Studios. The production company as it is currently known was founded in 1993 by Israeli businessman Avi Arad.

National flags are painted on the walls of the New Hope Gymnastics building, not surprising after one learns that it was first built as a training center for the 1984 U.S. Olympic women’s volleyball team. Above the familiar interlocked Olympic rings on one of the walls, there’s also a phrase: “We have a dream.” Twenty-five years later, gymnasts who come to New Hope still have a dream. They frequent the Fountain Valley facility, located in the Los Caballeros Sports Village, with ambitions of their own. The boys’ team at New Hope recently showed how much it could achieve, winning the prestigious Iron Man trophy after the Southern California State Junior Olympic Men’s Gymnastic Championships meet March 15 in Riverside.

Gymnasts from SCATS in Huntington Beach laid claim to gold medals in various team competitions at the State Championships held in Santa Ana. Coached by Albert Avchian, Grigor Chalikyan and Mitchell Claman, the SCATS boys' squad won medals and individual titles in Level 6, 7 and 10 competition, which is overseen by the U.S.A. Gymnastics organization. Level 6 Alex Anunciation grabbed gold on the vault and the high bar in becoming an all-around state champion.

Rick Fignetti There hasn't been a drought for waves, as the last swell hung around Surf City for days. Many of those were way overhead, the cliffs were even bigger and I heard Box Cars, that big outside peak by the cliffs, was breakin' with a few brave hearts out. The windless days with the hazy sun and warm air temps and fun surf were a great treat in January. Right here in town last weekend the National Scholastic Surfing Assn. took advantage of those conditions, to run its fifth Explorer season contest.

Mike Sciacca Returning to familiar ground is the theme for the football programs at Edison and Ocean View high schools. Edison, which lost to Long Beach Poly last Dec. 8 at Edison Field for the CIF Southern Section Division I title, opens the 2002 season earlier than a majority of county schools. Friday night in Hawaii, the Chargers will begin their 2002 campaign against host Lolani High in a 7 p.m. kickoff. "We're looking forward to a great trip," Edison coach Dave White said.

C omic books have always been somewhat of an underground culture primarily appreciated by boys and a few self-proclaimed "geeks." Other than some early success in serial shorts such as "Flash Gordon" and "Buck Rogers," movies based on comic books have mostly featured characters that have transcended the genre, such as Batman and Superman. In recent years, this has changed, thanks in no small part to Marvel Studios. The production company as it is currently known was founded in 1993 by Israeli businessman Avi Arad.

In “Iron Man 2,” industrialist Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) appears to be enjoying his heightened celebrity around the world. Not only is Stark one of the world’s richest men and an international playboy, but he is, of course, Iron Man. Unlike other superheroes, Stark does not have a secret identity; he can assume one alter ego or another as he pleases. But Stark’s glib persona masks some serious problems. He has been subpoenaed by a congressional committee headed by the publicity-seeking Sen. Stern (Garry Shandling)

In the age of the Cineplex and big-budget films, it is sometimes difficult to find a “small” movie that is character- and story-driven rather than simply a vehicle for special effects. Fortunately, there is such a film in “City Island,” starring Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies. Garcia and Margulies star as Vince and Joyce Rizzo, a long-married couple with two children living in an area of the Bronx known as City Island. The locale is very interesting, as City Island is an old fishing village turned suburb in Long Island Sound, where waterfront homes have distant views of the New York City skyline.

Spending almost seven hours alone in a small, single-person kayak in the middle of the ocean, watching out for boats and paddling toward an island that never seems to get closer isn’t for everyone. Which is probably why the experience has raised Sean Clancy more than $12,230 for charity. Huntington Beach local Clancy challenged himself to kayak to Catalina Island and challenged his friends, family and co-workers to pony up for his charity of choice, Dream Street, in return.

National flags are painted on the walls of the New Hope Gymnastics building, not surprising after one learns that it was first built as a training center for the 1984 U.S. Olympic women’s volleyball team. Above the familiar interlocked Olympic rings on one of the walls, there’s also a phrase: “We have a dream.” Twenty-five years later, gymnasts who come to New Hope still have a dream. They frequent the Fountain Valley facility, located in the Los Caballeros Sports Village, with ambitions of their own. The boys’ team at New Hope recently showed how much it could achieve, winning the prestigious Iron Man trophy after the Southern California State Junior Olympic Men’s Gymnastic Championships meet March 15 in Riverside.