IRON MAN 3

Paramount Pictures

Rated PG-13

Running time: 130 Minutes



Click below to watch the Iron Man 3 movie trailer.



In Paramount Pictures, in association with Walt Disney Pictures, Iron Man 3 - Tony Stark/Robert Downey, Jr. goes up against the terrorist the Mandarin/Ben Kingsley and the scientific conglomerate Advanced Idea Mechanics - A.I.M.

Written and Directed by Shane Black, this sequel is more like a dramatic thriller version of Iron Man than the others, although once the kid Ty Simpkins showed up, the movie started to get a little cute and cartoony. Letting Black direct allowed Iron Man Director/Star/Executive Producer Jon Favreau to concentrate on acting and have more screen time. I have been a fan of Black since Lethal Weapon, especially since I shot an interview with his writer brother Terry Black.

After a New Years Eve party in 1999 with botanist Rebecca Hall, billionaire, playboy, genius Stark/Downey, Jr. meets A.I.M. scientist Aldrich Killian/Guy Pearce in a hotel who enthusiastically wants to work and form a partnership with Stark/Downey, Jr. who promptly blows off the innocent Killian/Pearce.

Years later, as a restless Stark/Downey, Jr. constructs dozens of Iron Man suits - including the ability to mentally control them, a series of bombings by the terrorist the Mandarin/Ben Kingsley leaves Stark Industries former Stark/Downey, Jr. bodyguard, now security chief Happy Hogan/Jon Favreau seriously injured during one such encounter with the Mandarin's/Kingsley's henchman James Badge Dale. Stark/Downey, Jr. declares on the news revenge on the Mandarin/Kingsley.

I liked the fact that there was a much deeper relationship with Pepper Potts/Gweneth Paltrow and Stark/Downey, Jr. despite the love triangle with Stark's/Downey Jr.'s obsession with the Iron Man suits. I also liked the appearance of Rescue. Mark Ruffalo's uncredited appearance was cute.

I had mixed feelings about the Mandarin/Kingsley. I thought Kingsley's acting was good, I just had mixed feelings about what they did with the character of the Mandarin, who in the comics is Iron Man's oldest enemy. Although I did not really mind the Mandarin not really being Chinese, I did not like what they did to the character. Also there are basically three villains in the movie. I personally feel that there should only be one villain in a movie, although I might accept a henchman in a movie if he was not as strong as the villain. I do, however, like that all the concepts in the movie are from the comics, especially from the "Extremis" story arc by Warren Ellis. I will admit that there was a lot of the story that was not made clear to me, until I had read the plot on Wikipedia. 

There are references to the movie The Avengers - but nothing blatant and not really relevant to the plot of the Iron Man 3 movie, so you do not have to have seen The Avengers in order to enjoy the movie. Although Stark's/Downey, Jr.'s near death experience in The Avengers was affecting him in Iron Man 3.

I have always felt the name War Machine for Stark's/Downey, Jr.'s best friend James Rhodes/Don Cheadle was too dark and militaristic for me and I much preferred the red, white and blue Iron Patriot name that was given to Rhodes/Cheadle as the government's "American hero." It is a shame that William Sadler did not have much of a presence, let alone much of a part, as the President of the United States of America as Sadler normally does have a presence. Miguel Ferrer is appropriate as the Vice President and had more characterization with having a daughter. While I liked the fact that A.I.M - Advanced Idea Mechanics - was in the movie, A.I.M. is really an organization of scientists which I missed as an evil organization instead of the organization being a company run by Aldrich Killian/Guy Pearce. I also never got the sense that he was physically disabled. I only really learned of that from reading the Wikipedia article.

For Stan Lee fans - so you can concentrate on watching the movie, instead of looking for him - Lee will appear in a scene where he is a beauty contestant judge.

At the end of the movie, after the end credits, there is a scene with Stark/Downey, Jr. that actually ties in with the opening scenes of the movie.

The film scored the second highest opening weekend of all time as of May, 2013 - behind The Avengers.

Rated PG-13 for violence. Running time: 130 Minutes.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

 Pancho's Movie Review