Iron Man 3

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Iron Man 3
Released 5/3/13, now in theaters

The 2013 Summer movie season kicks off with the next installment of the Iron Man series.  The directorial reigns have been handed over to Shane Black. Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, and Don Cheadle return with newcomers, Guy Pearce, Jon Favreau,  and Ben Kingsley.  Iron Man 3 starts phase two of the Avengers saga. Is everyone ready?  LET'S GO!!!!

Tony Stark is a very troubled man.  After the events of the Avengers, he's had a rough go of pretty much living his life.  He doesn't sleep, he constantly tinkers with his various armors, and he has begun suffering panic attacks.  To add to the stress, his past has begun to catch up to him as formerly disabled scientist, Aldrich Killian (Pearce), and his personal think tank, AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics), have approached his current girlfriend and Stark Industries CEO, Pepper (Paltrow), attempting to solidify a partnership between the two companies for Extremis.  Extremis is a regenerative treatment that allows the brain to heal and/or regenerate damaged tissue at an accelerated rate.  With a few side effects, of course.  Killian approached Tony at a New Year's Eve party in Switzerland in 1999 attempting to push the treatment.  Stark, arrogant as always, humiliated him that evening. 

In addition to Killian's reappearance, a new international terrorist calling himself The Mandarin (Kingsley) has entered the scene with a string of bombings that have left authorities baffled due to the lack of forensic evidence.  When Tony's friend, Happy Hogan (Favreau), is severely injured by a similar bomb attack, Tony angrily and publicly challenges The Mandarin through the media going as far as to provide his beach house address.  Not one to back down, the terrorist answers in a very loud and explosive way setting the stage for the climactic smackdown. As Tony will come to realize, the mystery of The Mandarin is part of his past coming back to bite him in the present as well.


So, first let me say I have been anticipating this movie for weeks.  And, for the most part, it didn't disappoint.  Robert Downey, Jr. is his normal "snarky" self as Tony Stark.  I read one review of Iron Man 3 that basically intimated that Downey's act has grown old.  I disagree.  It's one of the elements that has given this series life.  And Downey does it with such ease that you have to believe this is actually part of the actor's make up.  He's an interesting guy.

But, enough Downey-stroking.  I did say that, for the most part, the movie didn't disappoint.  I won't give away the punchline, but, I was disappointed in the Mandarin in a small way.  This is supposed to be one of our hero's greatest enemies if not his greatest enemy.  I don't want to say he got the Schumaker Bane treatment because the punchline is genuinely funny, but it was a bit of a disrespectful way to handle a top villain.  If you are a fan of the Iron Man comic book (and I never have been), don't expect that Mandarin.  The character is still entertaining, however.

I think Guy Pearce is made to be a villain.  He has an elegant type of quality in his manner that sets his victims at ease, but you are aware there's something sinister bubbling beneath.  If you don't believe me, I would suggest watching Pearce play the villain's role in films such as Lawless and The Count of Monte Cristo. 

The action sequences (and isn't this why you are seeing this film) are top of the line.  I don't know how even a non-superhero/comic book lover could be jaded enough not to be thrilled by the beach house destruction, airplane rescue, or the "house party" sequence that closes the movie. 

The special effects on the Extremis carriers and the various armored suits are .  The carriers are a little unsettling with their glowing eyes and vein-popping anatomy.   All of Stark's armored suits are powerful and striking from the Iron Patriot suit (formerly known as War Machine) to the Mark 42.

SPOILER ALERT!  If you have seen the movies leading up to Iron Man 3, and I have to tell you to stay through the end credits, well, then you just haven't been paying attention all these years.

So now that there are three Iron Man movies to judge, where does Iron Man 3 rank.  Iron Man was a classic and still remains king.  I think Iron Man 2 has gotten a bit of a raw deal through the years, although I do understand some of the criticism.  So, I would say Iron Man 3 is solidly behind the first and ahead of part 2.  So, with that said... 

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***1/2 stars


Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee. Buy this on DVD when released!
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.