Crim at the movies: Iron Man 3

(Ladies and gentlemen, Crimson has returned for more movie goodness and ranting about movies that seem to be awful. This review will be far from it, I actually went to the movies to see this with my girlfriend. If you still don’t know from the title what this review is about, it’s time to leave and be escorted by the butler. I would have loved to end this review with the first scene with Mandarin, telling the president that “He’ll never see me coming.” But since this is a new movie, i cannot end it like so.)

It’s time to review Iron Man numero threeo. It is set just after the Avenger’s and their victory in New York, Tony Stark (Robert Downy Jr) has returned to a relaxing life of being a multi billionaire and living in his mansion. As a series of panic attacks and threats from the one we know as the Mandarin, these attacks reveals Tony’s darker side. The movie’s main plot is based on the comic-book’s Extremis storyline. We see Stark against a small squad of Terminator like super-soldiers who can regenerate body parts and are physically stronger than their human brethren. Those guys are jerks.



Iron man, of course, is in the much acclaimed Iron Man franchise led by the comic book superpower Marvel. The release of the first Iron Man back in 2008 sent everybody into a box office frenzy, which then led to two more sequels. In this last chapter of the story, Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark reveals his darker side in this movie, while delivering some very funny lines for a nicely executed comedic effect. Transformation after transformation in his suits, we begin to understand that this movie was not supposed to be like one and two, but in a whole new level of atmosphere on its own. As said by ‘Rhodey’ (War Machine for those who don’t know) in the movie for why the Avengers are not dealing with the Mandarin situation, it’s just that “This isn’t superhero business. It’s American business.” This is one of the reasons that the movie was such a thrill to watch, it’s that nobody is having a whinge about Tony’s super powered friends not being in this sequel.

The acting is great in this movie. We see Tony, who when stripped away from his suits and fighting against our Extremis buddies and Mandarin. He’s on the run, backed into corner and pausing between quips to suffer breathless anxiety attacks. Downey Jr has his wisecracking jokes, some gags here and there. Even some Downton Abbey references are done by Downey Jr. This is by far, Downey Jr’s best Solo outing in his career so far.

Robert Downy Jr is personally one of my favourite actors. He’s funny, charismatic, quite good looking for his age and looks like Mr. House from Fallout New Vegas. Don’t believe me? This will settle my point.


And don’t get me started on how well Ben Kingsley played his difficult role of The Mandarin. He is what I like to call a ‘Super-Terrorist’, because simply branding him a terrorist is an understatement. He decides that America needs to be educated in some ‘lessons’. In the comics, he is a martial artist with super powers who wears magic rings. While a close-up shot shows that his figures have those sinister rings, there is a surprise for the character that will not be spoiled. Kingsley’s performance is beautiful in this, and people will be talking about it for ages to come.


Some performances however come close to hit the hype, but are just off. The short screentime of Tony’s ex who just happens to be a genius botanist and Miguel Ferrer as the US Vice-President. These are not bothersome however, when we see a blockbuster that mixes up MacGyver style DIY weapons, political conspiracies and outstanding special effects.

Also, the fantastically well made ‘barrel of monkeys’ scene. You’ll understand when the scene comes on.....

Since my last Superhero movie was The Dark Knight Rises, you might expect that this movie is basically a Marvel version of that. It is honestly far from it. Even in the most serious scenes, it ends with some big laughs to level out some of the depressing moments. In the Dark Knight Rises, it’s just non stop drama with the best Bane in existence. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing but considering the tone of the movie, it’s what’s Marvel is good at. Making fantastic films about their characters that have Drama, Laughs, Action and many other elements. This movie can make you excited one moment, then laughing the next. The Avengers did that and they have scored themselves a very impressive set of reviews in the process and in my Top 10 list as well. Im sure the high majority of Marvel movies have scored well on reviews, but we’ll see how Thor: The Dark World turns out first.



That being said. Downy Jr is the shining star in this movie. His entire career since his downfall during the mid 90’s to about 2004 is one of the best comeback stories in acting history. It’s interesting just how successful he has been when, more than ten years ago, many predicted that he would not survive after a five year period of mayhem of drug processions and having run in’s with the Law. This movie is the perfect ending in the series.

If this just happens to be Downy Jr’s last solo outing, then he made one hellva exit.



This movie has scored Four out of Five Lionhearts.