Iron Man 3 Official rate & review IRON MAN 3 thread!

[Milkman95]

Film was very disappointing as an Iron Man film, or in general, as a superhero film - if you want to try polishing a terd and talk about how Black explored other social and political issues, good for you, it doesn't save how bad this film was. Marvel, do us a favor, don't bring Black back for anything, let him make his buddy cop films......

 

[Adamantium Man]

Marvel, do us a favor and don't listen to Milkman95.

 

[Milkman95]

No, do listen, leave Shane "The Hack" Black out of the Marvel Universe please, he made a big enough mess to clean up, hopefully the damage can be repaired.

 

[JangoNate]

Film was very disappointing as an Iron Man film, or in general, as a superhero film - if you want to try polishing a terd and talk about how Black explored other social and political issues, good for you, it doesn't save how bad this film was. Marvel, do us a favor, don't bring Black back for anything, let him make his buddy cop films......

Sorry you didn't like it, but that's not the only qualification for a movie to be a turd. I felt the movie was refreshing, a fun ride, and action packed. I have a sneaking feeling that when I see it again this week and add to the ridiculous amount of money its making from every one else seeing it more than once, that I'll like it even more.

The discussion surrounding the themes of the movie is not polishing turd, but dissecting the depth of a sweet gem of a film. The only thing that's crap about this movie is their 3.75" line. That's my opinion, but it also happens to be the majority opinion around the world.

 

[Tony Stark]

No, do listen, leave Shane "The Hack" Black out of the Marvel Universe please, he made a big enough mess to clean up, hopefully the damage can be repaired.

Damage to be repaired? What will undoubtedly be the 2nd highest grossing superhero film ever?

You may not have liked the movie, and that's cool, but please don't pretend that this somehow damaged Marvel.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Damage to be repaired? What will undoubtedly be the 2nd highest grossing superhero film ever?

You may not have liked the movie, and that's cool, but please don't pretend that this somehow damaged Marvel.

Spider-Man 3 was damaged and that movie's box office take was huge. Any damage that was done in Iron Man 3 wouldn't be felt immediately in its box office take but it could be argued it would be felt down the line as far as the quality of the story telling is concerned. Because ultimately that is what should be most important. A movie's box office take does not equal quality.

 

[ctsketch]

Film was very disappointing as an Iron Man film, or in general, as a superhero film - if you want to try polishing a terd and talk about how Black explored other social and political issues, good for you, it doesn't save how bad this film was. Marvel, do us a favor, don't bring Black back for anything, let him make his buddy cop films......

 

[BoredGuy]

I liked the film quite a lot
Good humor, touching moments, amazing VFX, lots of action.
A few too many people got into the Armors for my taste, but it didn't bother me that much.

I could see how the twist pissed some people off, and this does leave Joss Whedon a bit of a pickle in terms of Avengers 2. But to say it ruined the MCU or anything like that is quite overblown. It was an emotional arc for Tony, and one that should make him a stronger hero, and one closer to his MU counterpart, for Avengers 2.

I'd put this on Thor's level, below Iron Man and Avengers, but above Cap, IM2, and Hulk.

 

[Travesty]

"'The Hack' Black". That may be the funniest thing I've seen on the IM boards, so far.

 

[Tony Stark]

Spider-Man 3 was damaged and that movie's box office take was huge. Any damage that was done in Iron Man 3 wouldn't be felt immediately in its box office take but it could be argued it would be felt down the line as far as the quality of the story telling is concerned. Because ultimately that is what should be most important. A movie's box office take does not equal quality.

I'm not saying that box office means everything. However in the example of Spider-man 3, I agree that it had a huge box office response (would be a billion WW in 2013 dollars) but it also had one of the lowest multipliers for a Superhero genre film, and came out to very tepid fan ratings. I'd argue that if Spider-man 3 had the same kind of response Spider-man 2 had, it would probably have at least 1.5 times it's current box office value, and probably would have outperformed The Dark Knight.

Spider-man 3, while it has a "fresh" rating on RT at 63%, it has a rotten Audience rating at 54%. compared to Iron Man's 78% critic rating and 84% Audience rating.

I remember the reaction after Spider-man 3 and it was nothing like what we're seeing with IM3.

 

[Sharkboy]

Spider-Man 3 was damaged and that movie's box office take was huge. Any damage that was done in Iron Man 3 wouldn't be felt immediately in its box office take but it could be argued it would be felt down the line as far as the quality of the story telling is concerned. Because ultimately that is what should be most important. A movie's box office take does not equal quality.

Lets not start equating Iron Man 3's critical reaction to Spider-man 3's just yet. As of right now it's still doing just as well critically as the other solo MCU films (other than IM1) any perceived "damage" to the IM or Avengers brand is just exaggeration by a vocal minority...so far.

 

[cherokeesam]

I'm not saying that box office means everything. However in the example of Spider-man 3, I agree that it had a huge box office response (would be a billion WW in 2013 dollars) but it also had one of the lowest multipliers for a Superhero genre film, and came out to very tepid fan ratings. I'd argue that if Spider-man 3 had the same kind of response Spider-man 2 had, it would probably have at least 1.5 times it's current box office value, and probably would have outperformed The Dark Knight.

Spider-man 3, while it has a "fresh" rating on RT at 63%, it has a rotten Audience rating at 54%. compared to Iron Man's 78% critic rating and 84% Audience rating.

I remember the reaction after Spider-man 3 and it was nothing like what we're seeing with IM3.

Exactly.
Audiences and critics hated Spidey 3, even when the box office didn't. Same way with X3 The Last Stand. With IM3, you've got consensus love from the box office, the critics, *and* audience response.

IM3 is an overwhelming success on all levels. The vocal minority of haters are still sucking on sour grapes.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

Marvel, do us a favor and don't listen to Milkman95.

 

[Milkman95]

Whoa, sour grapes? For what? Was I supposed to get a percentage from the film and didn't know it?

I'm sorry, I just didn't like the film - I go out and support every comic book based film and give it a chance - for this, I was underwhelmed. Yes, they took a different direction, which they needed to, but from just a story standpoint, it just didn't work for me, no big deal, it's not the end of the world, LOL....

 

[ctsketch]

Whoa, sour grapes? For what? Was I supposed to get a percentage from the film and didn't know it?

I'm sorry, I just didn't like the film - I go out and support every comic book based film and give it a chance - for this, I was underwhelmed. Yes, they took a different direction, which they needed to, but from just a story standpoint, it just didn't work for me, no big deal, it's not the end of the world, LOL....

you have your right to your opinion, but when you start trying to convince others that they shouldn't like it...

 

[Tony Stark]

Yeah, the Shane "the Hack" Black comment was over the top.

 

[Travesty]

Yeah, the Shane "the Hack" Black comment was over the top.

Heh, I just picture a wrestling intro with that name.

-And in the other corner, at 6'1'' and weighing in at 185lb, Shane "The Hackk" Blackkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!

 

[Joeyjojo72]

Guys, keep in mind that a lot of the negativity comes from the same place as the craziness we saw in the runup to TA last year. In their mind, this movie (IM3) is just another distraction from the main event a month from now, just like TA's success somehow robbed the spotlight of a certain other movie that debuted late last summer. Plus the "they raped my childhood" Mandarin groupies. Once you eliminate these two factions, you're left with a relatively tiny group of people who just didnt care for the movie, the twist, et cetera. I personally havent met anyone from the latter group but Im sure they exist.

 

[craigdbfan]

Agreed, I also picked up a faint metatextual critique from the film (maybe just me) where Shane clearly seems to poke some fun at the more recent resurgence of "scene chewing" dramatic bad guys over his more traditional idea of villainy, the anonymous bad buy behind the scenes. (i got a very 80's vibe from Aldrich, his slick blond hair, the snazzy suits...he even had a terminator moment! all that was missing was a briefcase of coke) I particularly loved his reasoning. when the guy with the hammer fell out of the sky, subtlety kind of went out the window." . Putting that in with the whole "everyone needs and wants a boogeyman to rationalize and direct their hatred and fear", really made me appreciate Killian as a whole. It's taking tony's old job of war profiteering to a deeper and darker level, in a way it's almost a mirror to Tony himself.

I never thought I'd be able to talk about an MCU movie this much in depth, I gotta give it to Feige, he certainly was bold in this one, I'll never accuse him for purely being a panderer to the con crowd again.

Right on man.

I agree.

Spoiler

Shane Black gave a very sophisticated take on the way the media, our politicians and culture shape American expectations in the so-called War on Terror. Killian and AIM very brilliantly created a villain whose appearance and behavior could easily have come from a consensus of marketing focus groups, whose sole purpose was to give the American people and their government the perfect embodiment of their fears and target for their aggression. A think tank identified all of the right buttons and the puppet was constructed to push them in a twisted variation of Wag The Dog.

This is precisely what our media-industrial complex has done since 9/11, at times quite cynically. Every time there is a terrorist attack, the search is on for a shadowy "other" who fits certain preconceived notions of what terror looks like, as if the concept has a recognizable face. This despite the fact that time and again suspects end up looking nothing like the stereotype we've been led to expect to see committing these acts.

For example, the earliest news report of a description of the Boston Marathon bomber broadcast the image of a dark-skinned man described as having a thick, foreign accent. The real bombers were as far from that image as one could imagine. The dark-skinned, presumably Muslim man simply fit the profile the media has created and nurtured over the years, despite the fact that many domestic terror attacks are carried out by people who differ greatly from that stereotype. And thus it was with the real Mandarin as opposed to the facade he created to satisfy the media's craving for a familiar villain they could package and present to a terrified public.

A few other movies in the genre have made attempts at social commentary of this sort, but none have succeeded on the level of Black's film.

They did an incredible job. No punches were held back. Repercussions be damned.

 

[Dark Raven]

Just saw the film tonight. I thought what Shane Black did to the Mandarin was absolutely appalling. As soon as he was revealed to be a 3rd rate actor, the movie became irredeemable for me. A complete waste of Ben Kingsley's talents as well.

He could've been the best villain of the MCU or at least certainly on par with Loki, especially with Kingsley playing him. Instead it was worse than what Fox did to Dr Doom in the Fantastic Four movies. At least Doom still remained Doom even though he was watered down into a Norman Osborne copycat. Mandarin's character was completely raped. It was like Black gave us a slap in the face. Not only did he not want to use it as he was originally conceived, but he gave a huge middle finger to the character.

I was expecting some Ten Rings connection and at least a connection to the first movie, as if the Mandarin had been a shadowy figure behind things all along. Instead he was a nobody and a completely useless character.

I would've preferred that he wasn't even in the movie. It could've worked just as well without him - in fact better. There was no need for the Mandarin with the Aldrich Killian story and Extremis. What was the point of even having him?

Very disappointed. It even made Iron Man 2 look halfway decent. For all that movie's faults, at least it didn't completely destroy a character.

This also felt like the least MCU-related movie of the franchise.

 

[Joeyjojo72]

Dark Raven, how would you rate the MCU movies thus far? Did you love IM1 and/or TA? Just curious.

 

[Dark Raven]

Dark Raven, how would you rate the MCU movies thus far? Did you love IM1 and/or TA? Just curious.

Yes I did. I'd say TA, IM1, CA:TFA, TIH, T (can you abbreviate Thor to just one letter?), IM2. Actually I'd say Thor and TIH are about on par with each other for me (I'm not a huge Thor fan but it still is a decent movie and certainly better than IM2).

As for IM3, IF they had completely removed the Mandarin from the plot, I might actually rate the film higher. I feel he is completely unnecessary to the story and they could've done just as well (and even made it not as long) without that element.

I also feel that AIM as an organisation has not lived up to its potential. It's almost as if Killian was AIM and there weren't really anyone else (except for maybe Rebecca Hall).

But apart from the Mandarin, I felt the end battle was a bit too frenetic in the way that IM2 was. Too many pieces of armour flying around too. Plus it had this typical 3rd movie curse of having the main character spend most of the time outside of his costume/ hero identity (like in Spider-Man 3 or TDKR).

I wasn't asking for the Mandarin to be the comic accurate Chinese villain with the rings. I think most people had already accepted that. However, the trailers built him up to be this shadowy mastermind and formidable villain. I just wanted that. A true nemesis for Stark who would be revealed to be behind everything and tie all the movies together, perhaps even redeeming IM2. I was looking forward to an electrifying performance from Ben Kingsley.

But he was just wasted, as I said. And even the way it was revealed made the movie descend into a spoof for those parts with this Trevor Slattery character. I was hoping there would be another twist and that he was only pretending to be an actor or submissive type, in the way that Art Malik originally appeared to be with Tia Carerre in True Lies, but then switched character when Arnie was out of the picture and slapped her in the face.

I don't think it was too much to ask for IM to get his Loki - his arch nemesis. All of the villains in IM so far have seemed a bit second rate.

 

[Ultra Nolanite]

Just saw the film tonight. I thought what Shane Black did to the Mandarin was absolutely appalling. As soon as he was revealed to be a 3rd rate actor, the movie became irredeemable for me. A complete waste of Ben Kingsley's talents as well.

He could've been the best villain of the MCU or at least certainly on par with Loki, especially with Kingsley playing him. Instead it was worse than what Fox did to Dr Doom in the Fantastic Four movies. At least Doom still remained Doom even though he was watered down into a Norman Osborne copycat. Mandarin's character was completely raped. It was like Black gave us a slap in the face. Not only did he not want to use it as he was originally conceived, but he gave a huge middle finger to the character.

I was expecting some Ten Rings connection and at least a connection to the first movie, as if the Mandarin had been a shadowy figure behind things all along. Instead he was a nobody and a completely useless character.

I would've preferred that he wasn't even in the movie. It could've worked just as well without him - in fact better. There was no need for the Mandarin with the Aldrich Killian story and Extremis. What was the point of even having him?

Very disappointed. It even made Iron Man 2 look halfway decent. For all that movie's faults, at least it didn't completely destroy a character.

This also felt like the least MCU-related movie of the franchise.

Don't you know anything ?!?! It was a deeply engaging and genius social commentary aiming the mirror at the way the world views terrorists. Apparently if it has a beard Muricans wanna kill and destroy it. Little do they know that even people who wear 3000 dollar suits can be villains.

 

[Quasimod0]

Just took my mom to see it. She loved it, thought it was the best marvel movie

 

[Xeno]

Just saw the film tonight. I thought what Shane Black did to the Mandarin was absolutely appalling.

I thought Black's take on the Mandarin was absolutely brilliant. Tastes differ.