Darkmatters Review: Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 (12a)

Dir. Shane Black

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“Hi, I'm Tony Stark. I build neat stuff, got a great girl, occasionally save the world. So why can't I sleep?”

Yes the wisecracking, heavy metal suited superhero Iron Man is back – fresh from helping his fellow ‘Avengers’ thwart an all out alien invasion. Life should be good for brilliant industrialist Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) but he’s wracked with anxiety attacks as a result of his near death world saving exploits…

To make matters worse, a massive new threat has emerged in the form of an uber terrorist called The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) who apparently has no limit in his bloodthirsty campaign to ‘teach America a lesson…’

Iron Man 3 has a lot to live up to after the billion dollar success of The Avengers, this is the first of Marvel Studio’s Phase Two of hero films that will lead up to the second super team collaboration (the others will be Captain America: Winter Soldier and Thor: The Dark World).

So can the slick armoured Iron Man still deliver on his own terms?

In a word ‘yes’!!

"down but not out?"

New director to the series Shane ‘Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang’ Black takes over with much gusto and delivers a film that succeeds as an amazingly entertaining spectacle – with all the explosions, death defying acrobatics and jaw dropping action you could wish for. Black is a dab hand at comedy too and Downey has the lead role nailed in getting the right mix of funnies / trauma / heroics…

Everything works really well, as well as the truly menacing villains – The Mandarin is backed up by mad scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), there are some nice new allies too, none better than a young kid named Harley (Ty Simpkins), who gets his geeky dreams fulfilled by being able to help Iron Man in his hour of need.

"you will know fear..."

The cast includes returning roles for Stark’s love interest Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James Rhodes / War Machine (Don Cheadle) but it is Kingsley however who steals the show – obviously relishing his role almost as much as Downey does his.

Iron Man 3 brings the trilogy to a satisfying conclusion – it’s best not to know too much about the plot as there are some great swerves that will keep you glued to the screen for the 2 hr+ running time.

"pick a suit!?"

The blockbuster season for 2013 has just blasted off in fine style!


Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

öööö1/2 - Iron Man delivers the goods big time!

4.5 – Quality thrills, spills and grins all round!!

Awesomeness öööö – action overload balanced with heart

Laughs ööö – some laugh out loud funnies

Horror öö  – a little grim in places

Babes ööö – Potts looks good

Spiritual Enlightenment ööö - I am Iron Man...

"Pepper Pots getting hot..."