Iron Man 3 Movie Review

Iron Man 3 had a lot of buzz when it was first announced and when it was released, it lived beyond expectation. The film delivers as a solid, fun and engaging sequel.

Iron Man 3 had a lot of work to do to live up to its predecessors. Also it had to overcome the “Third Film Curse” in which the third installment is usually the least of the three just like Spider-man 3 and Blade 3. But Iron Man 3 had to overcome two films since it was a sequel to Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. And it surpassed all expectations and delivered a great film.

The film brings us closer to Tony Stark, the man and not Iron Man. In the first film we were shown how Tony changed from being an egotistic, billionaire, playboy into a billionaire, playboy with a suit of armor. We witnessed his rebirth in the first film. Then in Iron Man 2, it was sort of the starting point for The Avengers. It wasn’t about Tony but the world he lives in in which a lot of things are changing it. But for Iron Man 3, we go back to Tony.

This is a smart move for the film makers. It is a new take on the character. We already saw Iron Man and his armor fighting bad guys. Now, we get to see Tony Stark fighting bad guys. We only get a full armor battle at the end part of the film. Director Shane Black did a great job on this installment. He made it into a character driven film when everybody was expecting a CGI driven one. He focused the film on vulnerability and deception and it worked.

Like past Shane Black films, the humor is just perfect for each character. Iron Man films have had a great blend between action and comedy and this time around, the humor delivers. We get to see hints of Black’s buddy factor like in the Lethal Weapon films. We get to see more on the dynamic partnership of Tony and Rhodey as they team up without their armors.

The villains in this film are also deep. Sir Ben Kingsley delivers a memorable and fun adaptation of the Mandarin. Though die hard Iron Man fans may not like his portrayal, the version that Black and company made is well suited to the Marvel cinematic universe. Guy Pierce delivers a chilling portray of Aldrich Killian. He first starts as a suave and romantic type gentleman but later evolves into a ruthless and intellectual nemesis to Tony Stark. Gwyneth Paltrow showcases her action side in this film as she wears the armor previously shown in the trailers. We get to see a new side to Pepper Potts and watch out nea the end of the film as she shows us an even darker side to herself.

When we talk of Iron Man or any Marvel films, special effects is always a must see. For this film, the effects are great. In the first two films, we are indulged in armor wars. For this third film, we get a lot of Iron Man armors as previewed in the trailers. Now imagine a whole lot engaged in intense action. That is what Iron Man 3 delivers. The film may have focused on Tony Stark, the man, in most part of the film, but Black and company never forgot what fans wanted to see. So as part of the climactic end, be prepared to see a massive metal rumble.

Action sequences for the film have also leveled up. We get a lot of physical action and intense sequences. Shane Black delivers new action and manages to combine it with 90 action and wit. The aerial sequence, in which Air Force One blows up and the passengers are in free fall is one of the intense sequences in the film. They pulled it off and we get a scene that will have you at the edge of your seats.

The plot for Iron Man 3 is a mix of different stories and they were able to mold it into one. It starts subtly and then develops slowly into a full blown Marvel comic book arc. That is what makes this film work. It gradually increases its intensity so the audiences will not be shocked by the turn of events.

Shane Black hasn't lost his touch. He is a story teller and he is able to reach out to audiences and capture their full attention. Iron Man 3 is an emotional, heart-pounding, funny and dark journey of Tony Stark. It delivers in all aspects and more. It dishes out the right amount of action, effects and humor that will leave audiences wanting to watch the film all over again. As for Marvel, they have prepared a good start for their Phase 2 films. Iron Man 3 has risen the bar for future comic book films.

Iron Man 3, it is more than the armor but the man inside it. I give it 9 out of 10.