I went to the movies to see the science fiction/action blockbuster "Iron Man" recently.

While our economy appears to be on a downward swing and prices of just about everything is going up - it was nice to find an escape from the 90-plus-degree Burbank heat that was entertaining, convenient and still somewhat of a bargain.

I say somewhat because I paid $9.50 for an afternoon matinee at an AMC theatre in Burbank. Still, the regular adult price for peak hour screenings is $11.50.

Also, I bought a small popcorn, the cost $4.50. Yikes! The popcorn was OK - not as yummy as my memory says theater popcorn used to be years ago.

Nevertheless, at that price I was not about to toss it unless it was cardboard tasting awful.

A couple of days earlier, I had shelled out nearly $4 a gallon to fill-up at a gas station nearby at Victory Boulevard and Alameda Avenue. Each purchase triggered a jolt to my system; however, I must say the expensive popcorn was easier to swallow because it was part of a movie experience that is still a treat.

First, the set-up. A spacious screening room with comfy high-back seats and a top-notch sound system. Sitting there in that dark, air-conditioned place, I found it easy to relax, forget my must-do-list, and other concerns.

A showing of movie trailers got me pumped and ready to embrace an imaginary world of adventure and endless possibilities. By the way, my favorite trailers: "The Hulk," "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and "You Don't Mess with the Zohan."

Main event. Every time a popular comic book super hero is re-created on the big screen, I wonder if it is going to work. "Iron Man" has received star-studded kudos from reviewers and is making a major killing at the box office.

It is all well deserved. The film is a slick piece of cinema candy. Robert Downey Jr. portrays the brilliant billionaire inventor/weapons developer Tony Stark, who becomes "Iron Man."

The movie shows the transformation of Stark into "Iron Man," and how this changes the man and his goals.

Also, there's a hint of a romance between the hero and Pepper Potts , the smart, loyal and always fashionably dressed personal assistant to Stark, played by Gwyneth Paltrow.

The movie does a nice job of laying the foundation for future films. According to the Hollywood trade papers, the next installment of "Iron Man " is already in the works.

The pay-off. I walked out into the bright lights of the lobby with a buzz - a feel-good state of mind - brought on by a film that delivered a satisfying experience. Sure, a trip to Maui would probably create the same effect and winning a truckload of money in the lottery would totally blow my mind.

Still, in the scope of things, the few dollars spent catching a movie on the big screen is a bargain. If the film turns out to be a dud, I can shrug it off as a minor loss. When the flick is a fun ride like "Iron Man," I leave the theater euphoric and thinking about the next movie I want to see.