Iron Man is back! Robert Downey Jr. and company take on a new villain and Tony Stark’s post-“Avengers” mental state. J.P. has his take on the third chapter.
IRON MAN 3
Marvel
Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content)
Running time: 129 min.
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley
Director: Shane Black
Studio Synopsis:
From Marvel Studios comes “Iron Man 3”—the continuation of the epic, big-screen adventures of the world’s favorite billionaire-inventor-superhero, Tony Stark aka Iron Man.
Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a
harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?
Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book superhero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of “Tales of Suspense” (#39) in 1963, and had his solo comic book debut with “The Invincible Iron Man” (#1) in May
of 1968, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” returns Robert Downey Jr. (“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” “Tropic Thunder”) as Tony Stark, the iconic superhero, along with Gwyneth Paltrow (“Shakespeare in Love,” “Proof”) as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle (“Flight,” “Hotel Rwanda”) as James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Guy Pearce (“The Hurt Locker,” “Memento”) as Aldrich Killian, Rebecca Hall (“The Prestige,” “The Town”) as Maya Hansen, Stephanie Szostak (“R.I.P.D.,” “The Devil Wears Prada”) as Ellen Brandt, James Badge Dale (“The Lone Ranger,” “Flight”) as Eric Savin, Jon Favreau (“Identity Thief,” “People Like Us”) as Happy Hogan, and Ben Kingsley (“Schindler’s List,” “Gandhi”) as The Mandarin. Rounding out the cast are Ty Simpkins (“Insidious”) as Harley, William Sadler (“Shawshank Redemption,” “The Green Mile”) as President Ellis, and Paul Bettany (“Priest,” “Margin Call”) as Jarvis.
Shane Black directs Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” and the screenplay is by Drew Pearce & Shane Black. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing and executive producers on the project include Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz. The creative production team on the film includes two-time Oscar®-winning director of photography John Toll, ASC (“Braveheart,” “Legends of the Fall”), production designer Bill Brzeski (“The Hangover,” “Due Date”), editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Captain America: The First Avenger”) and Peter S.
Elliot (“Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer”), and costume designer Louise Frogley (“Quantum of Solace,” “Contagion”).
J.P.’s Take:
Time to suit up for battle once again, as Iron Man faces his greatest adversary yet in “Iron Man 3.” This frenetically-paced triplet in the series picks up after the traumatic events Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) experienced while fighting alongside fellow S.H.I.E.L.D (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) agents in “The Avengers.” We find Stark a nervous wreck this time around, as insomnia sets in and his mind unsettled. Meanwhile, he tinkers away in his ultra high tech lab and working to advance the MK robotic armor, while trying to stave off nightmares involving his past. And it is his past that’s come back to haunt him, where a fresh storyline sets the tone for this new installment.
I consider “Iron Man” 1 + 2 to be refreshing, kinetic, even charismatic origin stories of heroism. Both films are nicely balanced summer blockbusters with an even ratio of comical to no-nonsense moods. But, as of late, blurbs about how part 3 is raising the bar for comic book films have been circulating. HMMM … is part 3 really a bar raising heroic story? To be honest, that’s a question I’ve asked myself after viewing the final chapter about the armor plated superhero. I’ve come to the realization that movies made about comic book heroes are subjected to the perspectives of both the hardcore fan base and the novice viewer. My personal evaluation is this: “Iron Man 3” serves as a summation of events that transpired prior to Tony Stark’s heroic metamorphosis; tied in with events leading up the billionaire playboy’s life as we know it in present day.
This film is also a lead into the next chapter of “The Avengers” sequel. Stark narrates the opening of the film ~ reflecting on his past and revealing demons he feels he’s responsible for creating. The narration is the sound bite to a scene of Stark’s sleek cliff side mansion being destroyed by attack choppers. The audience is transfixed by this particular moment because we’ve come to know this place as his sanctuary. Immediately things become clear that Iron Man is under fire by a truly evil force, which poses a huge threat to everyone close to him. To add to the mystery, a metaphorical Bin Laden-like villain, the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), appears on the nation’s airwaves spouting anti-American verbiage, followed by crudely spliced video images of carnage. Again, something that hits close to home in wake of the war in Iraq, etc. Even more mysterious, a blast from Tony’s past named Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) shows up one day and is some how connected to all of this.
We’re used to seeing the genius industrialist/engineer in control of his destiny. Writer and director Shane Black (“Lethal Weapon,” “The Last Boy Scout,” “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang”), alongside co-writer Drew Pearce (upcoming “Pacific Rim,” “Sherlock Holmes 3”), has created a scenario in which Stark is no longer the center of attention and finds himself in a panic. Given his new found vulnerabilities, Iron Man must transcend his flaws, mistakes, and even fears, as well as go beyond the call of duty to save humanity. On a grandiose scale, the filmmakers always seem to figure out ways to top themselves visually, and I think they’ve found a way. Stark’s famous red/gold armor is bio-integrated in order to remotely call in an army of suits for battle. A couple of suits break into segments then propel themselves like miniature rockets when called by Tony.
The main cast of Don Cheadle (Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes / Iron Patriot), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan), Gwyneth Paltrow (Virginia “Pepper” Potts), and Paul Bettany (voice of JARVIS, Stark’s Artificial intelligence system) all complement Downey well, as they did in the previous films. There are other additions in casting that moves this movie along.
As for a bar raising hero movie, I’d give that title to “Captain America.” However, I did find “Iron Man 3” a nice wrap up in this chapter of the series. It is a bit bottom heavy with chaotic action sequences, leaving the audience a little exhausted by the end. But, I look at it this way. It’s certainly one of best examples of a hero with character flaws, who overcomes the odds. By the way, stick around after the end credit. There is a funny bit with Stark and Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo).