Quick Impression: Iron Man 3

I went to the midnight screening of Iron Man 3 last night and going in was hoping that the first movie of Marvels 2nd phase post Avengers would continue the high standards that the Marvel universe has set of late. It was a tough job for Iron Man to follow up the grand scale of Avengers and I'm happy to say that I think that they handled well.

What I liked most about it was the fact that the film focused on the man inside the suit with Tony Stark talking center stage and the suit itself becoming a separate character itself. Starks latest prototype the Mk 42 is the suit Stark spends the most time with is referred to as 'he' throughout. I also like how due to the fact it is a prototype and regularly breaks down it mirrors Stark who himself is struggling after the final events of the Avengers movie. He can't even talk about NY after what happened to him and this venerability was refreshing.

Mk 42 Suit just chillin'

Stark still has the brilliant one liners and lovable cockiness about him but at the same time he is fighting his own personal demons throughout the movie. This develops during his relationship with a small town kid being a highlight for me. The thing that I love about Iron Man has always been Downey JR himself, yes the action is good but it is the Stark character and what Downey JR brings to it that draws me back to the series even after the disappointment of the second film. So the fact that I got more of Stark and less of Iron Man was a welcome surprise.

Now I did feel that one result of the focus the film took was that the Villains kind of took a back seat throughout the film. When you think that Avengers had Loki and then Aliens attacking NY last time out it is again refreshing that the villains here were more 'human' as they come in the form of Ben Kingsley's terrorist The Mandarin and his henchmen. I have to say for several reasons that Kingsley was absolutely superb with some really unexpected scenes.

 

The Mandarin

The whole supporting cast did their part with Gwyneth Paltrow, Rebecca Hall, Don Cheadle, Jon Favreau and Guy Pearce all putting in good performances. But in the end it all came back to Robert Downey Jr. and as he has said that he will be hanging up the suit every chance I get to see him play Tony Stark I'm going to take it.

So in summary Iron Man 3 is a fun and entertaining blockbuster which scaled back the spectacle to focus on characters and the people while still satisfying the action fan with some impressive set pieces.

 My new favourite film...no but, never the less, a very strong start to Marvels 2nd phase.

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Owen whilst recovering from only 4 hours sleep...worth it though!