Do you remember the moment in the first Iron Man film when RDJ installed the electromagnet in his chest and then pulled a t-shirt over it and you could see it glowing underneath? That moment? Ya…well that was the moment I thought how cool it would be to have that look. I don’t need the suit, just the cool ice-blue glowing thing.
Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest (really? Did you honestly think I could resist that bad pun?)
At a Glance: Robert Downey, Jr is back as slick-talking, sarcastic Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. In this third round he and Pepper Potts are a couple and are experiencing the growing pains expected in any relationship…involving a wealthy, obsessed, genius superhero. After a long, self-obsessed life, Tony Stark has left some destruction in his wake and in Iron Man 3 he discovers that no matter how fast you can fly, or how indestructible your armor, you can only stay ahead of your past for so long before it catches up with you…and exacts its revenge.
Pros: RDJ was born to play this role. He gets better at it with each iteration; smart cast; clever direction; a more mature film. Shane Black was the perfect choice to helm this film and it shows from start to finish.
Cons: Ben Kingsley is a bit annoying at first (but stick with it); post-credits scene was fun for me but judging from audience reaction it was a bust; credits go on for looong time. (I’m reaching here folks. I liked it).
My Thoughts: Shane Black revived Robert Downey Jr for me. With the brilliant detective film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Black created a role that RDJ was able to crawl into and inhabit. It was the screen presence in that film that caused me to be very excited when Marvel announced that RDJ would be their Iron Man. Comic book films are fun, and I judge them by what they are. My expectations are often filtered through the “its a comic book movie” lens. But every once in awhile one connects with me on a slightly higher level and thanks in large part to Robert Downey Jr, the Iron Man franchise has made a connection. All three of the films have their inherent faults, but this third film, with an emphasis on existential angst and a theme of the boy growing up to be a man, is my favorite of the lot. Like the most recent James Bond film, there is a maturity to Iron Man 3 that I did not expect, but welcomed.
My Rating: 
