OTF's Blue Publication May 2013
What can we expect from Tony Stark aka Iron Man in the third installment of the franchise? Well when we first see Stark he is a raging ego maniac who morphs into a quasi responsible person over the course of IM2 and Avengers. At this point we see a more vulnerable Tony Stark than we've seen before. He's dealing with relationship issues with Pepper, anxiety after the mission in New York, and a terror threat that literally hit him where he lives. He doesn't know how to deal with things and even though he's a super hero, he had to deal with these issues just like the rest of us.
I was impressed in how this movie wove together an impressive tapestry of story and action. There are parts of the plot that hit you right away, and just when you think you have it figured out, another string is woven that puts things in a completely different perspective. I liked how the plot zigzagged around and kept you guessing. There are also some surprises that pop up and you don't know if what is revealed is going to be permanent or if it is just a bridge to something else.
I wouldn't be Iron Man or a really good movie for that matter, it the hero didn't face some kind of adversity along the way, and I feel safe in saying that Tony faces LOADS. It seems that he is repeatedly wacked with a 2X4, and you find yourself wondering if he is going to get back up again, but in true Iron Man fashion, he comes back and blows away those who would stand against him, and this time he has help taking out the bad buys.
The ending was a complete surprise for me, which is always good since you don't want it to be too easy to figure out and spoil the experience. While I honestly don't think this film was on the level of The Avengers (nor was it meant to be) I definitely think IM3 is a must see flick. It is very suspenseful, packs a good punch several times over, there is just enough humor, and it is great. There isn't much that you can find fault with. Not even the scene after the credits.
The acting was great all around, the story was awesome, the soundtrack really lent to the picture. You know tony is going to win the day, but you have a great time watching him get through all the peaks and valleys along the way. If you haven't seen it, you are doing yourself a disservice. This movie is 130 minutes of escapism at its finest. I'm going to give Irom Man 3, 4 out of a possible 5 Outposts.