IRON MAN 3

Its gotten so tough to figure out where Robert Downey ends and Tony Stark begins, I'll bet there are days that he can't figure it out, either. And, that's great news for fans of great adventure movies; because he is THE rock star of movie superheros. After the bloated self-importance of 'Iron Man 2', this third tale puts Mr. Stark exactly where we want him: in the most serious trouble; and, with nothing but his intellect, ego and eloquence to bail him out. Borrowing from the classic 'Extremis' comic-book arc, IM3 has Stark running from the nightmares he experienced in 'The Avengers', and discovering that old Buckaroo Banzai was right: "...no matter where you go, there you are." This angst and and resulting burnout stresses the relationship between Stark and gal-pal Pepper Potts; and, in ways that will prove vital to the film's denouement. Gwyneth Paltrow continues to deftly blend Pott's quicksilver emotions towards her naughty-boy, Supersqueeze: exasperation, elation, devotion and the clear desire to take a maternal wooden spoon to his backside. She is more than his match. Guy Pierce, in yet another 2013 movie performance, proves to be a villain of charm, hubris and intellect who provides a very dark reflection for Stark to contemplate. In addition, the genesis of this new tale ties up elements going back to the first Iron Man movie; and, proves that our actions always catch up with us. Sound a little deep for a superhero flick? Not to worry. The cast and director massage it all in such a way, that it keeps your brain engaged, while providing the visual and auditory assaults we all demand of such movies. There is some well-managed humor from (former Iron Man director) John Favreau as bodyguard/factotum Happy Hogan; and, a kid 'sidekick' for Stark who manages to act like a kid, without becoming an obnoxious jerk (yeah, Short-Round...I'm talkin' to you). Don Cheadle returns as "Rhodie"/War Machine/ Iron Patriot; and, there is a lot of fun watching this intense actor/character being mercilessly teased by his buddy. The story is suitably sinister, and Pierce's minions are as hiss-able as anyone could ask. A rollicking score, crystal cinematography and tight editing wrap this excellent cine-present up in a tidy bow. Oh, about those extras... Start with 'Agent Carter', a short movie ("Marvel One-Shot") about Captain America's secret-agent sweetheart. It takes place a year after the end of 'Cap', and puts our Miss Carter at odds with evil spies and FBI male chauvinists, too (gasp!). An absolute little gem. In addition, there is a generous selection of the usual 'making-of' clips and outtakes. However, what I really got a kick out of were some clips of Downey vamping through scenes, at a mile-a-minute, until he gets the version that 'clicks' for him (and, ended up in the theatrical release). Top to bottom, this is 3 hours of soaring, solid action entertainment. That's it...I'm off the bloody soapbox! PJA

Very cool

Warning: here be spoilers. Iron Man 3 sets out to return Iron Man to his roots of dark, believable action established in the first movie, while retaining the big-spectacle adventure of Avengers. To that end we see Tony Stark face off against a peculiar new representation of the Mandarin, a snarling, ethnically nebulous terrorist ringleader portrayed by Ben Kingsly. After an exasperated Stark promises to end the Mandarin's reign of terror, the mastermind seemingly orders the destruction of Stark's house, setting him on a quest to locate the Mandarin through an entertaining combination of detective work and MacGuyver-esque trickery. Stark is opposed by an army of mysterious flunkies who have been granted superpowers by Extremis, a genetic modification originally meant to help the disabled (as opposed to military nanites as in the comic). Viewers have made much of this film's twist- that the Mandarin is in fact a puppet of the real villain, AIM director Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), who has hired a degenerate English actor to portray a power-mad despot as part of a political misdirection. This was a polarizing twist- for those who are new to the franchise it is a clever, Shyamalan-esque turn, and for serious comic nerds, it's an unexpected twist that is not out of line with the spirit of the franchise. For many, however, the reveal that the Mandarin was not in fact his usual Ming-the-Merciless-esque self, or even real, was a huge disappointment. For me the twist worked- I was disappointed at how generic and ridiculously grimdark the Mandarin initially appeared, but the reveal that he was a fiction- and not a very bad guy in reality- was something I did not expect. One can also read the twist as something of a satire of Ben Kingsly's career, which has been heavily built on playing ethnic and foreign characters, just as his filmic alter-ego does. Another point of contention is that Iron Man spends so much of the film outside his armor. I would assert that this is important- by pitting the largely average Tony Stark against the super-powered AIM operatives who obstruct him we see him acting as a hero without the crutch of dominating technology. It makes for a refreshing reminder that under the armor there is still a hero we can root for. Although it's not as BIG of a movie as Avengers, Iron Man 3 succeeds at being a thriller, and action film, and just a bit funny all at once. It rekindles the new, fresh feel of the first movie in a way that the second missed, and develops all of its characters in entertaining, satisfying directions. Of particular note is Ty Simpkins as Harley, a bratty sidekick who attaches himself limpet-like to the unwilling Tony. I am always leery of kids in movies of this kind, but he's spot on. It's also hard to fault Shane Black, who blends 90s directorial sensibilities with modern FX and camerawork to create a movie that feels different from its predecessors and from the rest of the MCU. Among other things, Black dials back on the CG of Avengers with numerous effective practical effects (I could swear I spotted a cable when Iron Man rescues the crew of Air Force 1, though) and excellent set design and lighting throughout. Were I to complain about any part of the film, it would be the character of Tony's friend James Rhodes, AKA War Machine (Don Cheadle once again). Back when he was Terrance Howard, Rhody didn't even GET to be War machine, and he was only limited in the second film. Here once again the producers seem concerned that audiences will be confused by the presence of two Iron men, as War Machine spends most of his time out-of-scene, and participates in the climax out of his armor. I love Cheadle's take on the character, and would have loved to see him get a better part as what we DO see is well in line with the character as he appears in other media. PROS: -Unique direction makes for a film that feels genuinely different from the other coming attractions -Good acting from a pretty diverse cast of characters -Recaptures the feel of the first Iron Man CONS: -Editing is sloppy in some places -Soundtrack is not particularly memorable FINAL THOUGHTS: Iron Man 3 is a worthwhile entry in MCU canon, and its departures from the comics are justifiable as part of building the film.

With all the different continuity connected franchises, we’ve seen Tony Stark quite a few times now. In fact, the appearances of the character are steadily inching towards the James Bond or Godzilla territory in terms of movie screen time. Iron Man 3 marks Robert Downey Jr.’s fifth outing as the titular superhero, and a lot is riding on his shoulders once again. In the wake of Joss Whedon’s mega hit, The Avengers, this is the first of the Marvel properties to be released after their team-up. It’s also a dreaded third entry in a franchise, something that’s all too often proved to be inferior to the movies preceding it. Is Iron Man the hero to finally break a trend that dates all the way back to the Superman movies, or has the armored avenger overstayed his welcome? Picking up not too long after the events of The Avengers, Tony Stark is suffering from a sort of post traumatic stress. He’s battled gods and aliens, yet the world is expected to just go back to normal. Rather than confront these bizarre new changes, he’s chosen to hide away in his lab, building armor after armor. While he’s occupied with his distractions, a mysterious new threat has surfaced, calling himself the Mandarin. A super terrorist hell bent on attacking America, he makes theatrical threats and uses bombs that leave no trace whatsoever. It gets personal when Tony’s friend Happy Hogan (played by former director Jon Favreau) is caught up in such an explosion, forcing Iron Man to challenge the terrorist at his home. The rest of the movie centers on Tony’s battles against the Mandarin as he tries to find him and put a stop to his evil schemes. For a third installment in a franchise, a lot of credit should be given to new director and co-writer Shane Black for keeping the story interesting and fresh. The humor is sharp and plentiful, the action is great, and he takes it back to the basics of what made the first Iron Man so good, namely its protagonist. The bulk of the story centers around Tony, who’s alone, battered, and without his armors. He’s forced to solve an insurmountable new problem using only his wits and his uncanny resourcefulness. It’s a testament to the strengths of the character where he can still be found so engaging after so many appearances. It’s not a rehash of the previous movies, and there are a lot of twists and turns (some more dramatic than others). One of the major and welcome additions to the Iron Man series is the more memorable villains. Ben Kingsly as the Mandarin is a scene stealer and an unexpected take on the classic character. Guy Pearce is also memorable as the slimy Aldrich Killian, the head of A.I.M. who weaponized the Extremis enhancile. Speaking of which, it’s refreshing to see Iron Man up against super humans rather than armored knock-offs as in the previous films. It makes for different kinds of fight scenes that are interesting and new for these characters. The movie is Tony-centric, dropping almost all references to S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers (apart from the occasional remark), wisely keeping the focus on Tony Stark himself. To emphasis this, he’s often shown out of the armor – or in only a few pieces of it – during action sequences. A lot of fun is had with this, in one instance pitting Tony against thugs with only the aid of one gauntlet and boot. The same can be said for Rhodey (Don Cheadle), who’s given a new paint job for his War Machine armor. They call it the Iron Patriot, but it hardly gets any use from its pilot. Instead, Rhodey gets to shine out of the armor, showing his abilities in actions scenes without it. It’s in these actions scenes where even Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) is given more to do, upgrading from her usual sideline position to a more central role. Speaking of which, the action scenes are spectacular in this, highlighting just about everything that can be done with the armor. One of the most memorable is when Iron Man has to rescue a group of people falling from Air Force One. A lot of the scene was done using practical effects and real skydivers. It’s quick, intense, and a gripping sequence. The finale is also incredible, matching some of The Avengers in terms of scope and superhero action. Given all that takes place in the movie, and at a fast moving pace, certain aspects are weaker than the rest. Rebecca Hall as Maya Hansen is probably the most underwhelming of the new characters, given a short arc that is resolved rather suddenly. She never feels like she played the role that the character was meant to, despite her apparent importance. This pace is also almost too fast for its own good, and the ending seems to gloss over various events that seem somewhat too important for a brief epilogue. These are relatively minor complaints, and are hardly noticeable while watching the movie. In the end, Iron Man 3 is a fantastic and fun action adventure, topping its predecessor and reaching for the heights set by The Avengers. In many ways it succeeds, serving as an excellent starting point for the next batch of Marvel movies. It doesn’t quite match the first film, but makes for a more than satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

Just think Marvel films would have been just as good without the language since they knew kids would be watching. Otherwise, lot of good action and character development not to mention the cgi special effects.

Prior to being released, Iron Man 3 had a lot to live up to. Not only was it the third installment in the wildly successful Iron Man series, it was also the first movie in the Marvel universe to be released after the record-shattering and ultimate team-up flick, The Avengers. With the charismatic Robert Downey Jr. once again in the title role, and with the addition of veteran screenwriter Shane Black at the helm, Iron Man 3 officially kicks off the second phase of Marvel's Cinematic Universe, and brings us Tony Stark in his most vulnerable state yet. Iron Man 3 is a completely different animal than the previous two films in the series. Rather than overusing the spectacle of the Iron Man armors like the previous film, Iron Man 3 tells us the story of the man beneath the armor. In fact, this is very much a story about Tony and his beliefs, and shows the playboy philanthropist donning the armor only a handful of times throughout the movie. There are elements in the film not typically found in superhero flicks, along with underlying themes that really add to the story including the war or terror, propagandization, and revenge. It gives us Tony Stark at the most vulnerable point in his time as Iron Man, and tells a great story of a man trying to reconcile his past. This movie is very much a Shane Black film that's filled with witty dialogue and choppy quips, and has a definite "buddy cop" feel to it. Black, the writer behind Lethal Weapon and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, is a master of smart and pop culture injected lines, of which there is no actor better suited to deliver than RDJ. The direction Black has taken the character tells a darker tale than has been told before, but the outcome is one that works very well. As it turns out, the movie I saw ended up being very different from the one I expected to see...in a good way. The story contains some twists that I did not see coming, and that the marketing team did a good job of hiding in the trailers. There's some spectacular action sequences, particularly the aerial rescue and the final thirty minutes, and a lot more humor than the trailers will have you believe. There's also some memorable performances from the supporting cast, including Gwyneth Paltrow, who is given a more action-oriented role, Don Cheadle, who has some fun back-and-forth exchanges with RDJ, Ben Kingsley as the memorable Mandarin (and who steals the show by the way), and Guy Pearce as the mysterious and manipulative Aldrich Killian. I was also pleasantly surprised by the casting of youngster Ty Simpkins, who, somehow, manages to out-banter Tony Stark. It may not be as high-flying or action-packed as the previous films, but it's a very worthy successor to The Avengers, and a terrific addition to the Marvel universe.

EDIT: If you are marking this review as unhelpful, please comment below as I would love to hear why you think so. In order to give potential customers the most informed opinion, discourse is good - so please tell me why you don't agree (be forewarned, I may rebut). It is my intention to provide the most thorough review of the film possible without spoilers. Please refrain from posting them in the comment section of this review. Premise: One year after the harrowing events of "The Avengers", Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) is a changed man - he's seen things and now they're taking a toll on his psyche and his relationship with Pepper (Paltrow). When a mysterious terrorist known only as the Mandarin (Kingsley) initiates a series of terrorist attacks against the United States, tragedy hits home for Stark - stirring him to action. As Stark investigates this new foe, he learns about the technological program known as "Extremis" which brings him against a new line of cyber-enhanced foes that might be more than a match for Iron Man... Thoughts: Iron Man III is Marvel's unveiling of "Phase II" - the lead up to Avengers II - and it presents a subtly different take on Tony Stark/Iron Man. Taking over directorial duties for Jon Favreau is Shane Black (the acclaimed inventor of the Buddy Cop genre with his screenplay for Lethal Weapon), who brings a sharp flair for humorous quirk and sharp wit, which complements Robert Downey Jr.'s performance and enhances it. This film retains the charm of its predecessors while diving head into an exceptionally exciting genre: the technological thriller. On this third go around, the cast gels - Cheadle, Paltrow, Favreau and Downey all hit the ground running. The new additions (Pearce, Kingsley, and Hall) all act as very strong foils to each of the main cast and help develop the acclaimed "Extremis" story line from the comics. That said, certain stylistic elements were questionable: such as the Mandarin's voice - which has heavily reminiscent of Heath Ledger's Joker - gets a tad old quickly but with purpose. However, this is overshadowed by better choices: such as Tony's friendship with a young boy named Harley, which illustrates a side of him we have not scene before. The film is full of unexpected surprises and touching emotional moments which make this film a must see. And like all Marvel films, be sure to stick around for after the credits for a nice little post-credit scene involving a character we have seen before in a surprising situation. ;) "I'm not that kind of doctor..." Should you buy this film? Absolutely. Iron Man III is the first "Must See" summer blockbuster of 2013 and it more than redeems Marvel for their last solo Iron Man film, which felt more like a commercial and less like a movie. Exceptionally crafted, brilliantly directed and realistically dealing with the "why not just call the Avengers" problem in a satisfying manner, this film will be a great collection for any fan of comics, Downey Jr. or Shane Black. For best viewing - get the Bluray: you'll get a DVD copy and a Digital copy so you can watch on the go - well worth the extra definition on the television. IRON MAN III stars: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale, Jon Favreau, Ben Kingsley

Great dvd love it