I know a lot of people were let down by this one. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed this installment a hell of a lot more than the first two, and mind you, back when the first Iron Man came out I thought it was the king of superhero movies. I didn't find 3 inconsistent at all. I dug that it was relatively serious and a lot was at stake, yet at times it was genuinely funny and also rather moving. I have to say I drew quite a few parallels with the first Lethal Weapon films (which I'm very fond of) that Shane Black was obviously also involved with.
The thing I most like about really smart Marvel superheroes - Reed Richards, Hank Pym, Tony Stark, Doc (cough) Ock - isn't really their powers. It's how freaking smart and resourceful they can be. And that's what makes Iron Man 3 such a brilliant entry in the Marvel movie canon. It's not so much an Iron Man movie as it is a Tony Stark movie, a Tony Stark pushed to the very edge of despair (with thankfully no time to breathe and think about a bottle) and bouncing back thanks to his considerable genius. Shane Black and director and co-written a movie that is funny, emotional and action-packed, with some very enjoyable twists for more than one member of Iron Man's rogues' gallery (coming to it spoiler-free, I was VERY entertained). It repackages the naturalistic Favreau banter of Iron Man, the crazy Tartakovsky action of Iron Man 2, and Whedon's "turn left" writing strategy from Marvel's Avengers, into the best possible amalgam of Tony's DNA. But they're not really going to make a fourth one, are they?
I had the same reaction as the Mark Ruffalo therapist.
So how come those evil-doers couldn't have found TS's non-stealth location without the dramatic Tony announcement/challenge? Couldn't the traitorous Veep have provided that information? Why did they borrow that cringe-inducing kid from the Hallmark Channel? (Why not use some CGI "magic" to re-create George "Foghorn" Winslow?) A stupefying absence of imagination---except for Ben Kingsley's witty turn.
This movie just didn't work. It starts with a snore. The bad guy's motivations are...what motivations? I didn't buy Tony's PTSD from The Avengers at all. The constant unfunny jokes were mistimed and out of place. "Hey, an innocent bystander just got shot point-blank in the face; let's start making jokes!" There's a massive difference between comic relief and just rambling. Even the set piece action moments weren't very good, with Michael Bay-style cut-cut-cut-cut-cut-cut direction. Shane Black is no Jon Favreau. I was bored.
Someone needs to tell Shane Black that there are more events during the year that don't rhyme with '-istmas.' On the whole, the entire second half is far more entertaining than 2 and the big team-up movie that preceded this. I'm more DC than Marvel, so this might just be the last superhero flick I watch for a long time.
Better than the second one, not better than the first.
I would enjoy it more without all that explosions and cgi, but well it's Iron Man and the story kinda needed that.
Not a bad story, that kid was not bad as I expected. Mandarin character was surprising, Ben Kingsley did a very comic performance. Downey Jr as always unique with his charisma. Didn't like Guy Pearce that much.
I saw the movie, I really liked it, I did some research and I found out that the mandarin is to iron man what the joker is to batman, so after I found out this, is a little disappointing, the character of the mandarin could have been better than it was.
Despite that the movie turn out great, some jokes were not so funny, Downey Jr. is awesome, Guy Pearce was great, the credits scene was an idea of Robert Downey Jr. and it turned out to be awesome. I´m more a comic book movie lover than a comic book reader.
4/5
I fully and completely enjoyed every moment of this. Still believe 1 is my favourite, but 3 definitely outranks 2. Action scenes were awesome cool and elegant, while the humour was spot on. If I must mention one thing I missed, I guess it would be a certain level of "epicness." But hey, all I need is a metal armour and Downey Jr and I'm a happy lass!
OK - firstly, the tone's off base. Shane Black has made this his usual action comedy instead of the deeper, richer superhero film that the trailers promised. For one, the plot is very predictable, patchy, lurching, and inconsequential, there's no real sense of ominous tension or real danger to any of the characters as the movie changes gears far too much. The villain, weapon, enemy machinations and motivations are dull and taken right out of some antagonist's playbook. I honestly believe no one is going to remember Killian in this movie in a month's time In turn, Stark's seemingly crippling neuroses aren't seriously padded out at all, in fact they played off as just being 'mentally out of shape', as if a pep talk from a child and a trip to Home Depot is enough to undo chronic PTSD.
Between all this, the symbolism of the deeper themes just aren't fleshed out enough. There are some good laughs, and indeed a Lethal Weapon buddy feel at times, but it's misplaced and undoes any sense of threat further. The comedic twist is OK on its own merits, but in full hindsight is just another emotional cheat. Plus, what's up with the suits being torn up so easily in the finale?
On the plus side, Downey Jr. commands the screen, there are some great one liners, some great action scenes, and some great gadgets - modular suits, home made weapons, brain mapping, remote controls - enough to make you wish for greater financial largess. But I'm resigned to the fact they dropped the ball on this one...again.
Silly and over the top, as is to be expected, but still quite entertaining if you've been a fan of Marvel productions so far. I actually think this one is better than the second.
Nowhere near as good as the first Iron Man, but definitely better than 2... I feel like a lot of mood was built up in the first act that didn't really get a payoff, but there was some fun stuff along the way... I guess 6/10?
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Comments 1 - 15 of 47
Ralf
I know a lot of people were let down by this one. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed this installment a hell of a lot more than the first two, and mind you, back when the first Iron Man came out I thought it was the king of superhero movies. I didn't find 3 inconsistent at all. I dug that it was relatively serious and a lot was at stake, yet at times it was genuinely funny and also rather moving. I have to say I drew quite a few parallels with the first Lethal Weapon films (which I'm very fond of) that Shane Black was obviously also involved with.thesplatt
I liked the bit with the metal suit.Siskoid
The thing I most like about really smart Marvel superheroes - Reed Richards, Hank Pym, Tony Stark, Doc (cough) Ock - isn't really their powers. It's how freaking smart and resourceful they can be. And that's what makes Iron Man 3 such a brilliant entry in the Marvel movie canon. It's not so much an Iron Man movie as it is a Tony Stark movie, a Tony Stark pushed to the very edge of despair (with thankfully no time to breathe and think about a bottle) and bouncing back thanks to his considerable genius. Shane Black and director and co-written a movie that is funny, emotional and action-packed, with some very enjoyable twists for more than one member of Iron Man's rogues' gallery (coming to it spoiler-free, I was VERY entertained). It repackages the naturalistic Favreau banter of Iron Man, the crazy Tartakovsky action of Iron Man 2, and Whedon's "turn left" writing strategy from Marvel's Avengers, into the best possible amalgam of Tony's DNA. But they're not really going to make a fourth one, are they?Sandor Krasna
I had the same reaction as the Mark Ruffalo therapist.So how come those evil-doers couldn't have found TS's non-stealth location without the dramatic Tony announcement/challenge? Couldn't the traitorous Veep have provided that information? Why did they borrow that cringe-inducing kid from the Hallmark Channel? (Why not use some CGI "magic" to re-create George "Foghorn" Winslow?) A stupefying absence of imagination---except for Ben Kingsley's witty turn.
KuroSawWhat
This movie just didn't work. It starts with a snore. The bad guy's motivations are...what motivations? I didn't buy Tony's PTSD from The Avengers at all. The constant unfunny jokes were mistimed and out of place. "Hey, an innocent bystander just got shot point-blank in the face; let's start making jokes!" There's a massive difference between comic relief and just rambling. Even the set piece action moments weren't very good, with Michael Bay-style cut-cut-cut-cut-cut-cut direction. Shane Black is no Jon Favreau. I was bored.Camille Deadpan
It was a bit too much for me. Also, I don't like the fact that everything and I mean everything is about Tony. He's just a Mr. "Me, Me, Me."Cuadie
Story was so lame, but still had a couple of good laughs. Wouldn't recommend it though. 6/10fonz
Someone needs to tell Shane Black that there are more events during the year that don't rhyme with '-istmas.' On the whole, the entire second half is far more entertaining than 2 and the big team-up movie that preceded this. I'm more DC than Marvel, so this might just be the last superhero flick I watch for a long time.Rigters
Better than the second one, not better than the first.I would enjoy it more without all that explosions and cgi, but well it's Iron Man and the story kinda needed that.
Not a bad story, that kid was not bad as I expected. Mandarin character was surprising, Ben Kingsley did a very comic performance. Downey Jr as always unique with his charisma. Didn't like Guy Pearce that much.
Joker of Gotham
I saw the movie, I really liked it, I did some research and I found out that the mandarin is to iron man what the joker is to batman, so after I found out this, is a little disappointing, the character of the mandarin could have been better than it was.Despite that the movie turn out great, some jokes were not so funny, Downey Jr. is awesome, Guy Pearce was great, the credits scene was an idea of Robert Downey Jr. and it turned out to be awesome. I´m more a comic book movie lover than a comic book reader.
4/5
thaleya
I fully and completely enjoyed every moment of this. Still believe 1 is my favourite, but 3 definitely outranks 2. Action scenes were awesome cool and elegant, while the humour was spot on. If I must mention one thing I missed, I guess it would be a certain level of "epicness." But hey, all I need is a metal armour and Downey Jr and I'm a happy lass!Scratch47
OK - firstly, the tone's off base. Shane Black has made this his usual action comedy instead of the deeper, richer superhero film that the trailers promised. For one, the plot is very predictable, patchy, lurching, and inconsequential, there's no real sense of ominous tension or real danger to any of the characters as the movie changes gears far too much. The villain, weapon, enemy machinations and motivations are dull and taken right out of some antagonist's playbook. I honestly believe no one is going to remember Killian in this movie in a month's time In turn, Stark's seemingly crippling neuroses aren't seriously padded out at all, in fact they played off as just being 'mentally out of shape', as if a pep talk from a child and a trip to Home Depot is enough to undo chronic PTSD.Between all this, the symbolism of the deeper themes just aren't fleshed out enough. There are some good laughs, and indeed a Lethal Weapon buddy feel at times, but it's misplaced and undoes any sense of threat further. The comedic twist is OK on its own merits, but in full hindsight is just another emotional cheat. Plus, what's up with the suits being torn up so easily in the finale?
On the plus side, Downey Jr. commands the screen, there are some great one liners, some great action scenes, and some great gadgets - modular suits, home made weapons, brain mapping, remote controls - enough to make you wish for greater financial largess. But I'm resigned to the fact they dropped the ball on this one...again.
RoastMutton10
Better than the first two, but it should be the last solo Iron Man film I think, there ain't much else that can be done with it for a while.smpb
Silly and over the top, as is to be expected, but still quite entertaining if you've been a fan of Marvel productions so far. I actually think this one is better than the second.Kinchski
Nowhere near as good as the first Iron Man, but definitely better than 2... I feel like a lot of mood was built up in the first act that didn't really get a payoff, but there was some fun stuff along the way... I guess 6/10?Showing items 1 – 15 of 47