Doug's Featured Movie Review:
Iron Man 3 - Directed by Shane Black

Reviewed by guest movie critic, Joe Taft
Joe is a Junior studying Film Production at
Central Washington University (CWU) for Screenwriting
 

If it’s summer, it’s blockbuster season. Some could say if it’s May, there’s a Marvel movie. Following the past trend of Marvel inspired superhero film releases, such as Iron Man, Thor, and last year’s The Avengers; “Iron Man” once again takes to the big screen. I was honored last year to see The Avengers and write a review. A year later, I find myself yet again at a theater to see the next adventure of Tony Stark.

Familiar faces Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), and Don Cheadle (James Rhodes aka “Rhodey”/War Machine) all return to reprise their roles. New to the Iron Man family is Rebecca Hall (The Town), Guy Pearce (Lawless), and Ben Kingsley (Hugo). Jon Favreau (Iron Man 1 & 2) reprises his role as Happy Hogan, but didn’t return in the director’s chair. Instead, Shane Black steps in to direct. Black is most known for writing Lethal Weapon. “Iron Man 3” reunites Shane Black and RDJ because they worked together on Black’s directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, in 2005. RDJ plays the role of Tony Stark with such effortless charm; it’s easy to see how much fun he actually is having. The comedy and memorable one-liners can be found again in Iron Man 3 as they were in the previous installments. But things have changed this time around since we last saw Stark in The Avengers.

Black’s delivers with the spectacle and action an Iron Man film should have, especially the last fight sequence between villains and many (emphasis on many) Iron Man armored suits. But since this is the first film of Marvel’s Phase 2, “Iron Man 3” attempts to really focus on Stark’s “post-Avengers” experience. We pick up after the events of New York and the alien invasion. Stark isn’t coping well. He’s suffering from PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) and begins to worry strongly about his relationship with Pepper Potts (Paltrow) and how to ensure her safety from his enemies. At the same time, The Mandarin (Kingsley) comes into the picture. This film strongly gives a glimpse of how past events in Stark’s life come back to haunt him. Aldrich Killian (Pearce) is a bitter business man who knew Stark and is determined on ruining his life. Maya Hansen (Hall) also knew Stark in a different time and is the founder of ‘Extremis,’ which is essentially a super soldier serum. Killian builds an army of ‘Extremis’ soldiers that can regenerate and seem invincible. They prove a great challenge to Iron Man. At the same time, there is a terrorist who’s threatening the United States. The Mandarin is an Osama Bin Laden-esque villain who attacks globally and threatens the President. Kingsley’s performance is genius the Oscar-winning actor continues to show what he’s capable of. Rhodey (Cheadle) is upgraded from War Machine to Iron Patriot. He now has an armor decorated in red, white and blue. Rhodey is trying to find the Mandarin to end his attacks while Stark is busy fighting off henchmen of both the Mandarin and Killian. There is a huge twist that I guarantee nobody will see coming. This definitely makes the events build up to a climatic ending.

As good as this film is; it still has flaws. After being spoiled to the epic and well-written Avengers film, “Iron Man 3”, although it captures the essence of Stark, it just doesn’t quite pack the punch that some would expect it to. This, being the first installment of Phase 2, doesn’t deliver the hype that Iron Man did back in 2008. I didn’t walk away with anything to talk about from this film, it was just showy but I didn’t feel any real character investment or depth. I really enjoyed the first two films and I did like this one, but as I said I think we’re all still hung over from The Avengers and this didn’t do it for me. I didn’t think it was as creative as it could’ve been and the huge reveal that Iron man 3 has just seemed absurd to me and reminds me of the disappointment I had from Spider-Man 3. Don’t be alarmed though, Stark doesn’t go become emo and wear guy-liner as Tobey Maguire did. Some may see the film, watch the twist and not care; others will see it and, be upset and wonder, “What were they thinking?” There is an additional scene after the credits; there’s a good laugh there so stay and see it.

There are a lot of mixed feelings from “Iron Man 3”, RDJ is so charismatic, and that alone is what makes people see these films. No matter what the story is, good or bad, at least RDJ brings his A-game and makes these films the best they can be. The story is debatable but the action and visuals are stunning and the cast really brings these characters to life. If I had to, I’d give this film 3 out of 5 stars. Overall, Black did a fair job and now fans wait for the god of thunder to strike again this November with Thor 2: The Dark World.