Iron Man 3 Reviews

Third movies in superhero franchises always seem to be a precarious proposition; X-Men 3, Spider-Man 3, Superman 3, all graveyards of rushed productions, artistic compromises, and general complacency. Usually the third movie is when the hero has what he or she (but mostly he) has built up stripped down. It's the same case with Iron Man 3, which short of a noisy finale has a surprisingly small amount of actual Iron Man, much like the scant amount of Batman in last year's The Dark Knight Rises. That's fine with me because the appeal of this franchise has been Tony Stark the character, not the mechanical heroics. Iron Man 3 is co-written and directed by super Hollywood scribe Shane Black, the man who gave us Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and the 2005 gem that resuscitated Robert Downey Jr.'s career, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It was this fact alone, especially after how disappointing Iron Man 2 was, that got me jazzed about a third outing. Black's characteristic sense of humor, genre blending, and mass appeal thrills helps to make Iron Man 3 an enjoyable if flawed movie-going experience and a suitable kickoff to the summer movie season.

Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) is having trouble sleeping, haunted by the near world-ending events in New York City from his time with the Avengers. Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), head of Stark Industries and Tony's main squeeze, wants her man to take a mental health break. He's spending as much time as possible in his lab, concocting a whole army of different Iron Man suits. His latest invention allows him to control a suit prototype with his body, compelling pieces of his amour to his person with a wave of his arms. He'll need the help because the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), a fearful terrorist leader, is staging a series of bombings around the United States, leaving behind videos taunting his foes. After an attack that hits close to home, Stark challenges the Mandarin and the bad guy brings the fight to the man of iron, decimating his home and forcing Stark to flee. In Tennessee, Stark unravels the mystery behind the Mandarin, which involves a brilliant scientist (Rebecca Hall), a nefarious biotechnology businessman (Guy Pearce), and even the president of the United States himself.

The best part of the first film was watching a brilliant guy become Iron Man; sure the superhero stuff was fun but it wasn't what made the movie special. Downey Jr. as a charismatic, egotistical, self-involved but ultimately redeemable middle-aged playboy is what made the movie special. With Iron Man 3, he has to rely on his wits for large portions, which are still considerable. It's a clever way to make a billionaire playboy with out-of-this-world technology empathetic. He's never going to be an everyman but that doesn't mean we can't empathize. With that said, I still find his whole PTSD ordeal after events from The Avengers to be shaky. He's already had near death experiences before so unless we get a bigger explanation (proof of alien existence and superiority? Knowing a return is inevitable?) I find it hard to fathom that a guy as outwardly unflappable as Tony Stark would be hobbled by his super team-up activities. Also, now that we exist in a post-Avengers universe, wouldn't the ongoing attacks by the Mandarin warrant some sort of S.H.I.E.L.D. response or monitoring?

Likewise, I really appreciated how Black developed his action sequences, routinely giving Stark limitations. The concept of a suit that can assemble by itself and fly hundreds of miles is silly, sure, but it also opens up fun possibilities and questions of identity. At one point, Stark has one arm and one leg of his suit, allowing him to fight back but having to get creative with his moves. A fight while he's handcuffed also provides enjoyable thrills. During the home attack, Stark's suit is a prototype and will not allow him to fly, so he has to get inventive, literally shooting a grand piano at a helicopter. The best action scene is when Iron Man has to save a dozen people from plummeting to their deaths after being sucked out of Air Force One in midair. I wish the solution hadn't been so quick but it's a thrilling sequence with terrific aerial photography.

Until the finale, which is all-robot action, you could accuse the film of being too shrift in its action sequences, rarely lasting longer than a few brief minutes. They're still quite entertaining, and well directed, with Black nicely drawing out organic complications and making good use of geography. We know that Black can write a glorious action sequence, but unless you were one of the lucky souls who saw Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, it's a surprise that the man can direct one so well. There's a nice sense of style on display but it never becomes overpowering, and thankfully it's presented in a manner that you can, shocker, tell what is happening onscreen. Black definitely has a good eye for visuals and scene compositions but he also knows how to deliver great crowd-pleasing moments that we want in our summer movies. The climax is pretty busy with lots of keen Iron Man suits that you just know are there to be purchasable toys first and foremost. The sustained action is pretty involving, and Black is an expert at establishing mini-goals and developing naturally. Even as it starts to devolve into a hectic video game-like frenzy, there are enough changing goals and reversals to keep you satisfied for the long haul.

The movies villains are somewhat nebulous and employ an Evil Plot that is too convoluted by half. The Mandarin is an intriguing figure but undergoes some changes that will surely leave fans of the comic steaming mad. I accept that movies are an adaptation from the source material, and have no real personal affinity for Iron Man or his rogues' gallery, so I wasn't bothered by the notable change. It fits the tone of the movie as well as becomes another plot point in a convoluted Evil Plot. I will agree with detractors on this point: after the invasion in The Avengers, alien technology, the source of the Mandarin's powers in the comic, is credible. I don't really understand the political commentary at play with the Mandarin either. More so, and I'm trying to be delicate with spoilers, Iron Man 3 is really a movie about Tony Stark versus... lava people. Sure they have superhuman brains that provide regeneration and superior human ability. It just seems that all these super humans decide to do is... heat things up. They glow red, melt through walls, and are essentially lava creatures. Apparently Tony Stark needs to take some cues from that old U.S. Marines ad where the guy fights a giant lava monster ("Have you been attacked by a lava monster recently? No? You're welcome - signed, the Marines"). The villains, while weak, are still probably the best in the series. It's been a fairly weak franchise for antagonists.

Coming from Black, you'd expect an increase in the implementation of comedy, though Iron Man 3 probably walks just up to the line. It almost gets too jokey but pulls back enough. Adam Pally's (TV's criminally underseen Happy Endings) small bit as an obsessed fan of Stark is probably the testing point. Tony Stark has issues sure, especially if Disney will ever let the movies explore his history with alcoholism, but the man is never going to challenge Bruce Wayne for the brooding loner throne. Stark is a quipper, a loudmouth who uses humor as a weapon and a shield, and brought to vivid life by Downey Jr., the man will always be a comedian. That's not to say that the drama lacks proper seriousness. However, Black pushes a lot more comedy into the film than we've seen in the earlier installments. Most of it is welcome and even when the movie goes into mass appeal mode, especially in Act Two when a plucky kid aids Stark, Black covers the familiar without losing his edge. You'll likely recognize the buddy cop patter from Black's other movies but it still works. There are several setups that look like we're getting Big Hero Moments, and then Black decides to undercut them for a good laugh. Iron Man 3's consistent sense of humor makes the movie feel even faster paced.

Downey Jr. (The Avengers) is still the MVP of the modern Marvel-verse in my eyes, and even two years removed from 50, he's still got enough energy to power a small army. He's still pulling the same schtick so to speak, which may wear thin for others after four starring appearances as Tony Stark, but I still find him naturally appealing. Paltrow (Contagion) gets a chance to do more than the standard damsel in distress that the women function in these movies. I regret that after being given a tantalizing new direction the movie reverts her back to standard damsel sidekick so speedily. Ho hum. Kingsley (Hugo) just seemed wrong for the part from the start, never mind the nebulous ethnicity issues. His vocal fluctuations and strange emphasis proved too distracting for me. However, he proves to be a better match after the Mandarin's twist. Pearce (Lawless) is a pretty solid, smarmy bad guy and man has he got an impressive physique going on. It's just nice to see great character actors from Hall (The Town) to Miguel Ferrer (Traffic) to Dale Dickey (Winter's Bone) in a high-profile mega blockbuster. Even little Ty Simpkins (Insidious) is pretty good as the kid who helps out Stark. My tolerance for child acting has gone downhill as I have gotten older, but the kid is genuinely good without falling into the common trappings of being cloying or overly precocious.

Iron Man 3 is a definite improvement over the overstuffed, undernourished 2010 sequel. It ends on a moment that feels like something close to closure, but you know, as the credits helpfully indicate, that Tony Stark will appear again, at least in 2015's Avengers 2. The bigger question is can this franchise exist without the participation of Downey Jr.? I'm sure we'll all find out eventually considering the character is too profitable to simply retire once Downey Jr. decides he's had enough. We've had five Batmans after all, not counting Adam West. However, never has a character seemed so intrinsically linked with an actor before. Downey Jr. just is Tony Stark, and while some capable young male lead out there in Hollywood will put up a valiant effort, it will never be the same. Iron Man 3 is further proof that the appeal of the franchise is not the explosions and action set pieces, which it does a fine job with; it's the man inside the suit and the formidable actor that gives this franchise its juice. Spending more time with Stark is a bonus, and Black's zippy sense of comedy and acute knowledge of the architecture of popcorn thrills allows the movie to fly by with ease. While the first film reigns supreme, Iron Man 3 is a fitting and pleasurable enough blockbuster that reminds you why we still love this guy.

Nate's Grade: B

Shane Black pieces together a well rounded picture with Iron Man 3.Easily surpassing 2 hours, the story does sound and may feel a bit lengthy. Sure, Iron Man 3 isn't a sprint through the park, but the storytelling picks its spots for humor and action, which tends to keep things moving. It also finds a way to not overwhelm the picture with Tony Stark, even though the film revolves around him.There isn't much to fault when it comes to the action and the CG. The effects are tightly rendered and gracious to the eyes, while the action is nicely done.Robert Downey Jr. handles a role he's handled before without any problem. Ben Kingsley is miscast, but when the truth is revealed he puts up quite the amusing performance.Iron Man 3 may be cloudy in certain places, but it easily makes up for it everywhere else.

On the plus side, director Shane Black essentially does with "Iron Man 3" what Sam Mendes did for the Bond franchise with "Skyfall". He put it back on track (at least creatively anyway). It's not like "Iron Man 2" was a bad superhero movie (especially next to "Captain America: The First Avenger") but coming off of the initial blockbuster that was "Iron Man", director John Favreau had much to live up to. Thus, for a lot of people "Iron Man 2" was a minor disappointment, of which Black has been sent in to correct. Now, does Black accomplish something profound here? Something Favreau wasn't able to do with the previous Iron Man's? Well, the answer is no, not really. Though the material is funnier, much of the visuals are explosion-centric and there is a startling amount of Gwyenth Paltrow abs, the direction isn't as different as many are claiming (which is a good thing). In the end, "Iron Man 3" is more of Robert Downey Jr.'s charismatic sensibility, and that's basically all that matters when talking about this franchise.
Synopsis: When Tony Stark/Iron Man begins suffering from panic attacks on the wake of terrorist attacks by the Bin Laden-esque evil doer, The Mandarin, he begins to reevaluate what being Iron Man actually means to his livelihood and sanity. So, while that storyline sounds dark (or Nolan-esque) "Iron Man 3" sadly contains a more prominent and quite generic storyline, having to do with an alternate villain. A villain who has been cleverly left out of the trailers, but after an experiment gone wrong, plans to take over the world (don't they always?).When these two storylines combine, the plot itself isn't as strong as I expected. In fact, at times it becomes a bit overcomplicated. But again, the Iron Man franchise has always been more about the performances and the snappy dialogue than the plot.
Supporting Cast: Ty Simpkins (or mini-Robert Downey Jr. as I like to call him) the little boy who plays Harley Keener, steals the show for the relatively small amount of time he is on screen. Actually it is the chemistry between him and Downey Jr. during their scenes together, which are unequivocally the funniest moments of the film. As for Paltrow, who returns in her role as Pepper Potts, she is pretty blah. But not enough to be a distraction, so...moving on.
Side Note: Undeniably, the most questionable aspect of "Iron Man 3" has to be the (dare I say) innovative way Black chooses to play out the role of The Mandarin (played by Ben Kingsley) whose character takes a comically unexpected, but spoiler-ridden turn half way through the movie. That said, when the villain in a superhero movie is delivering an abundance of funny lines, one could make the argument that at times the dialogue and scenarios have become a bit too Joss Whedon for their own good. And before you say it, I realize that Whedon wasn't a part of the writing team of "Iron Man 3". But maybe my issue with this overly comedic tone used for The Mandarin character goes back to the fundamental flaw with trying to compare the future of Disney's Marvel world with the future of DC comic films. On the wings of Christopher Nolan, DC has gone down the path of heavy drama, creating characters who are more flawed, more disturbed and more realistic. Now, Marvel seems to be going the other way with it, keeping an old fashioned sense of comic book levity, with film after film constructed on comedic foundations; i.e. "Iron Man" or "The Avengers". Meaning, even though there is superhero action throughout, in Marvel films there are not only many comic relief characters, but also protagonists and antagonist who are quirky and quick with a funny one liner. So with that logic, the fact that "Iron Man 3" must be labeled as a superhero action/comedy, should not be held against it by fans of The Dark Knight franchise (like myself). In other words, from this point forward, if you are going to see a Marvel film, be expected to laugh. On the other hand, everything I've just stated may end up being toilet fodder with the upcoming release of Marvel's "The Wolverine".
Final Thought: Don't bother waiting around to see what clip is shown after the credits of this film. Trust me. The movie is long enough and the post credits clip is definitely not worth holding in a bladder full of urine for.

Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland

Follow me on Twitter @moviesmarkus

Elevated by Downey Jr., a well paced plot, and dazzling action pieces, 'Iron Man 3' proves to be an excellent installment in the franchise. Though the end is questionable as the film loses some gas, the well timed comic relief of the script and the potent villains create a visceral movie experience that will ensure you leave the theater content with the pure escapism this blockbuster provides.

Just what I wanted! Great storytelling, great action sequences, and the great Ben Kingsley. Oh, RDJ doing the RDJ thing flawlessly again.

Prepare for a heavy metal!

Great Movie! It's bigger and louder compared to the last two. It tells a larger plot and deals with trickier villains for Tony Stark to play around. We can still root for their world's innovations and characters. The parts that are suppose to be deep are however sometimes contrived and obvious. But the film is thankful to have something to cover up some of its flaws, example is scattering the entire film with humor, and of course, explosions. It's all naturally fun mostly thanks to the cast. Robert Downey Jr. is still brilliant as Tony Stark and he explores more of the character. His backup are also as charming. For the villains, Ben Kingsley and Guy Pearce take a little camp and they seem to enjoy it, but Pearce brings it to the table in the end. Iron Man 3 tricks the audience for a deeper theme. That certain theme was solved way too easily in the end and the film rather focused on staying to the natural tone of the Avengers universe and that's fine. Besides, we're already done of seeing superheroes fall and being defeated throughout the film until the climax. The whole point is that great heroes become better heroes thanks to their weaknesses. The most noticeable thing you would spot here is when Iron Man's armor is keep crashing and falling apart and Tony's anxiety caused by what he did in The Avengers. It's comical but it's an interesting speculation. Many would still say the original is the best because it is indeed better in plot and character development, but for those who are seeking for better action will definitely love this as well. It is just way too fun. Iron Man 3 may not be the most compelling in subject but it's already a compelling experience you'll get in an action blockbuster. Go see it!

Marvel's "Iron Man 3" pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Great first 30 minutes. Gets quite predictable after that.

"Iron Man 3" does what most third entries in movie franchise don't do, turns in a great movie. This holds up very nicely next to the previous 2 installments, and I'd say it's probably better than "Iron Man 2" and about the same as the first movie. Here, Tony Stark(Robert Downey Jr.) is haunted by the events of the Avengers and finds himself obsessing over creating and perfecting new suits. He is constantly trying to figure out new way to protect Pepper(Gwyneth Paltrow), and make the suits better and better. Then he placed in the cross hairs of a terrorist called the Mandarin(Ben Kingsley). Going any further than that would be a disservice to anyone who hasn't seen the movie, because there are quite a few surprises and twists, that I didn't see coming at all. Very unconventional super hero movie, which is great because it's a true breathe of fresh air. It's not your typical good guy vs. bad guy movie in a lot of ways. All the performances are great, and it really leaves you with a sense of "how are they gonna do another one?!" Marvel is battling a thousand when it comes to their movies and they continue that streak here. This is the first must see movie of the Summer and a great way to kick off the summer movie season. Also, stay after the credits, it's pretty awesome.

It may have its flaws, some things should been different and others should never happen but in general it was a good movie with enjoyable and entertaining action and decent performances

Filled with numerous jokes, a solid plot, and a great cast, "Iron Man 3" is one of the best Marvel films to date, even though it has a very annoying twist. There a few side plots that felt tacked on, but as a whole, this film delivers much more entertainment than the previous "Iron Man" feature. Coming full circle, after an attack by the Mandarin, Tony Stark is left in the ruins, to rebuild himself with nothing, just like the first film. I really loved this about the movie, and the fact that he had a kid to guide him through, was a nice touch, letting the better side of Tony out. There are dark moments, light moments, and a couple moments that will throw you out of the film at times, but I was able to accent them and move on and enjoy this film for everything it was. It's a very small film if you think of it as a follow-up to "The Avengers," but as a film in itself it's a very strong addition into this trilogy of films. It's a little funnier than it needs to be, but it has great action pieces, solid performances, a very likeable plot-line, and a few devastating moments, that are very effective. "Iron Man 3" is not really what the trailers make it out to be, but oddly, I really loved it for that reason. It is in no way a perfect film, and I do have a few minor complaints, but overall, I love it for what it is!

Iron Man 3 is the weakest link in a series that started off so potently with Iron Man back in 2008. The series has never been able to match up to the original and the diminishing returns of the 2 sequels prove that not all comic book sequels are made equal. Iron Man 3 falls into the same trap as Spider-Man 3: trying to do too much at once. The plot is a hot mess (literally) and has way more plot holes than usual for this series. I was shaking my head quite a few times, something I had not done in the first two. Part of the problem is that after seeing all these superheroes team up in The Avengers, it is hard to be excited by an individual superhero movie in this universe. That's not an excuse, though. The original Iron Man is still the best movie Marvel has made to date and it's an individual piece. Everything isn't for naught, however. There are still several fantastic action set pieces that have flawless special effects. There's just not nearly as much "Iron Man" action as the first two, which was a disappointment. There's also several funny and witty moments delivered by the wonder Robert Downey Jr., who is the best part of the film as always. Ben Kingsley and Guy Pierce are fun in their roles, but they are not revelatory. Shane Black and the screenwriters tried to make this series a little more human and "small", but they didn't go fully into it and the movie just doesn't gel as well as it should. Iron Man 3 is not a bad movie and certainly has its moments that remind us why people fell in love with the series, but it's also disappointing that the quality has fallen so far.

The most comic-like Iron Man movie yet. It's entertaining, funny and it looks great. Every hero's journey needs a Dark Knight Rises style adventure where it focuses more on the man than the suit. The first Iron Man blew me away, the second was a disappointment. The third one packs quite the punch in a fun thrill-ride to kick off both the 2nd Age Marvel films and the Summer movie season. It was a self-contained story that avoided being to big to seem weird due to a lack of all of The Avengers team. Iron Man 3 was more entertaining and more engaging than 75% of the Marvel films before it. Overall- Tony Stark's character is fleshed out even more in this awesome addition to the Marvel Franchise.

The third Iron Man movie is better than the second because at the very least it attempts to take risks, while simultaneously maintaining the series trademark humor and over-the-top action. "Iron Man 3" is even more self-referential and bombastic than its predecessors, and while it suffers from series fatigue at this point, and its more clever ideas (like the handling of the villains) aren't as well-executed as they could have been, it is still apparent that the Marvel franchise isn't likely to peter out anytime soon.

The Marvel Universe films have reached the level where they can get away with anything, even starting a film with Eiffel 65's "Blue". Tony Stark himself takes us through the story of his biggest challenge, providing some background for the coming conflicts. Clearly scarred by the events of The Avengers, Iron Man is trying to find his way, but not managing all that well. How the film takes this premise and still turns it into a fun adventure with lots of humor and quite some character depth is quite amazing and mostly thanks to Shane Black's script and direction. It also helps that Robert Downey Jr. really owns the character Tony Stark by now, making it one of the most iconic performances of popcorn cinema, right up there with Depp's Captain Sparrow or Hopkins' Lecter. The film even gets away with a lot of time Stark spends outside any armor. Thanks to the excellent writing and acting the story is still engaging and fun at any time. Even henchmen who appear on screen for five seconds seem to be real characters and that's what makes this so rewarding. Guy Pearce and Rebecca Hall are great additions to the franchise but it is Sir Ben Kingsley who ends up stealing the show. Of course the film does not forget to kick some serious ass in the final act, delivering the second greatest Marvel showdown after The Avengers. Of course the movie can't entirely compete with 2012's magnum opus, but it is high up there. Another great addition to Marvel's superhero franchise, a fun ride that leaves you wanting more, more, more.

Judging from IM2, I was expecting another bigger, flashier, instalment in Downey's little escapades of gadgetry. Instead I was pleasantly surprised to find a smaller adventure housed within a complex, flawed lead character accompanied by a cast of rather entertaining individuals.

IM3 goes back to the roots of Tony Stark, a mechanic. Just a man full of ego but still inherently flawed. As a result the action is notably less excessive but the trade-off is worth it as it allows for more character development and relationships. However more than often it feels like comic relief undermines a lot of the drama that it's trying to hold up.

The pacing/plot gets a little clunky around the edges as the twists and turns are thrown in as well, but hey, at least there's suspense and we get to meet Trevor. :]

Finally, I think it was incredibly smart of whoever's in charge to make this movie all about Tony as a character. The plot, although dense is very clearly driven by it's protagonist (evidence in its first-person narration but also the themes of personal redemption and self-discovery). You can't really go wrong building an entire movie around Downey's Stark, he just OOOZES with style, wit and entertainment value.

So all in all, not the flashy-over-the-top craziness I expected but instead I feel like I was given a much healthier, more balanced dose of mystery, humor, character & action.

The kick-start to Phase 2 of Marvel's Cinematic Universe is plain entertaining. The film provides laughter, action, intense visuals and many surprises. Iron Man 3 takes a step down on the flamboyant flair and goes toward an eerie and dark route, which actually helps make Shane Black's feature somewhat an improvement from the predecessor. To top it all off is the brilliance, once again, from the star himself, Robert Downey, Jr. 4.5/5

Not as good as the original, but a vast improvement over the second installment, Iron Man 3 is well made and eager to make you laugh at almost every turn.
The film frequently resorts to comedy - and Robert Downey Jr. has some of the best lines in the entire movie - to mostly cover up the dark thematic material that revolves around a ruthless psychotic terrorist known as the Mandarin. The Mandarin is played brilliantly by Ben Kingsley. His army of minions give Tony Stark a real run for his money since they all seem to be made out of fire.
Plot holes aside (ie: how exactly do you kill these minions?), the story is engaging and entertaining. The action scenes are nicely edited together with more than enough explosions that would impress even Michael Bay. The performances, particularly by Guy Pearce and Gwyneth Paltrow, are well done, even if some actors (Rebecca Hall and Don Cheadle) are incredibly underused.
I can't imagine a 4th film in this series, since I can't see any reasonable excuse to continue the Iron Man saga. Hopefully, director Shane Black and Marvel will quit while they're ahead, as this is a sequel that's definitely worthy of concluding the series.