Kicking off phase 2 of the MCU, Iron Man 3 ruffled a lot of feathers back in 2013 with some of its creative choices, and while I've grown to really respect this film, it's definitely not the worst of the trilogy. Let's get popping. After the battle of New York, Tony Stark is left trying to wrap his head around his place in the universe where Gods and aliens exist and his past demons come calling back in the name of the Mandarin - the leader of the Ten Rings. Iron Man's whole MCU arc revolves around legacy and that's consistent here. While the first film explored what Tony wanted his legacy to be and the second looked at living up to and accepting his father's legacy, Iron Man 3 is Tony facing his demons and his legacy outside of the Iron Man suit. It's frustrating at times that this film has the least amount of Iron Man, but Tony needs to establish himself outside of the hero persona, and it leads to some solid character growth. Does it all work here? Unfortunately no, especially with how Shane Black handles the Mandarin. That's not to say Shane Black made a bad movie, but the villains here just don't work. The big Mandarin twist feels like a middle finger to comic fans, and nothing against Guy Pearce, but Killian is a meh villain who makes some dumb decisions. The action is solid here and the film does bost some solid visuals. The Christmas vibe is a Shane Black staple and it works here. Robert Downey Jr. is once again clocking in and delivering what I think is the most vulnerable Tony Stark performance. The man is struggling after the events of The Avengers and I thought he showed that well. It's a shame Ben Kingsly is only Trevor Slattery because the Mandarin scenes he is in are extremely effective, and while I loved Trevor in Wonderman, it shouldn't come at the cost of Iron Man 3. Iron Man 3 is not a bad movie, but while I've grown to respect it, it's just not my favourite MCU movie. Better than Iron Man 2 but not as good as the first, there's plenty to appreciate here if you can forgive some of its frustrations.

The Another Great Movie After Iron Man

Una digna tercera parte, llena de acción, con los magníficos efectos especiales que han mantenido en toda la saga, pero con una pequeña bajada de nivel por el hecho de que el enemigo es ¨demasiado poderoso¨, haciéndose bastante inútiles las armaduras, aparte de, LA CAGADA de la película, que es sin duda lo que han hecho con El Mandarín. La cosa es que DUELE, duele mucho, pero si uno lo piensa, se da cuenta de que, teniendo en cuenta el como han llevado el personaje desde el principio, estaba claro que no podían sacar a un enemigo como el Mandarín de los comics... pero una cosa es eso, y otra hacer lo que han hecho con el enemigo nº1 de Iron Man desde siempre. Otra cosa que no me gustó demasiado es la parte del final de la película, donde explica que ¨curaron a Pepper y ya de paso me saqué la metralla del corazón¨, hala, así de fácil. Esto... ¿WTF? ¿Y si hubiera podido sacarse la metralla desde el principio... no lo hubiera hecho hace años? No se, son cosas que me parece que dejan que desear, pero quitándolo, el resto de la película vale la pena y mucho.

In my personal opinion, this is one of the much more under rated Marvel movies. perhaps cursed by coming in the middle of an absolute stack of Marvel films being released, and just before they ramped up their game even more, but still a brilliant end to the original Iron Man trilogy.

I want to say I enjoy the MCU, Iron Man is one of my favorite movies. While divisive, there's things in Iron Man 2 that I enjoyed. This movie, is a disappointment. For starters, Jon Favreau was replaced with Shane Black. Nothing against Shane Black but these two directors have different styles. After teases in the first two movies, we finally get Iron Man's biggest nemesis, The Mandarin. Only to give us one of the stupidest twists in film. We also see one of the most acclimated stories in Iron Man Extremis get battered to shreds. Robert Downey Jr continues to shine as Iron Man but him being the only shining moment in a movie does not save it.

Iron Man 3 is a satisfying conclusion to the Iron Man trilogy, offering a blend of action, humor, and character development. Robert Downey Jr. once again delivers a stellar performance as Tony Stark, the billionaire playboy turned superhero. The film delves into Tony's post-Avengers trauma, exploring his fear of vulnerability and dependence on technology. This emotional depth adds a layer of complexity to the character, making him more relatable and compelling. The villain, the Mandarin, initially appears menacing, but the film takes a surprising twist that challenges expectations and keeps the audience engaged. The action sequences are visually impressive and well-executed, with Tony's arsenal of Iron Man suits and gadgets on full display. The film's humor, while often over-the-top, complements the action and keeps the tone lighthearted. Overall, Iron Man 3 is a thrilling and entertaining conclusion to the trilogy. It successfully balances action, humor, and character development, providing a satisfying conclusion to Tony Stark's journey.

8.9/10 Yeah. This is my favorite Iron Man movie. Honestly. I really love this one. I think we all know this is more a sequel to The Avengers than Iron Man 2. That’s what makes it so special to me, though. They don’t just ignore that Tony almost sacrificed himself to save Earth. They deal with that. Tony’s broken. His first thought after having that first panic attack is “Am I going into cardiac arrest?” He looks for something tangible, as Tony would. To see him figure out his PTSD is one of the best arcs he has. I’d also say Pepper is at her best in this one. Rhodey is great too. Aldrich Killian is the best Iron Man villain. Yeah, I said it. He’s the epitome of the antithesis villain (the idea that a superhero villain should be their equal and opposite) in this trilogy: a rich guy trying to use Tony’s suits against him who wishes to stay in the shadows. It was also cool to see the terrorists from the first movie come back here. Say what you want about the Mandarin twist. I think it’s pretty funny, but I can see why people wouldn’t like it. It’s weird writing. The score is a departure from the first two films, but I like this one more. Despite being less unique than the first two, I find it more memorable. Obviously, the pacing and action are great. That’s expected. Man, the ending to this is great. The final action set piece is so exciting. Tony calling on J.A.R.V.I.S. to enact the House Party Protocol was the Portals (from Endgame) before Portals. This will probably forever stay in my top five MCU films.

While the deeper dive into Tony Stark and his past is welcomed, the execution came up a little short compared to Iron Man’s MCU entries. Iron Man 3 might be my least favorite of the Iron Man franchise, but it's still a great movie. Iron Man 3 focuses much more on Tony Stark and his trauma following The Avengers rather than on Iron Man and the suit. A large portion of the film and even some action scenes explore who Stark is without the high-tech suit or fancy technology in general. Stark grapples with the fallout of past decisions and has to decide who he is at his core without the money or Iron Man. As expected, the entire cast dazzles in their performances, from Robert Downey Jr. To Don Cheadle to Gwyneth Paltrow, but the true standout is Ben Kingsley's Mandarin. Iron Man 3 is all about Stark's growth and development, and while that's a great idea, its poor villain and lack of actual Iron Man leave the film feeling a little hollow. I still appreciated the movie and its Christmas cheer, but the MCU has far better Iron Man movies and moments to enjoy.