I AM IRON MAN... AGAIN!

Rating: Null/10 (8 April 2019)

Here we have a film that is divisive, to say the least. When this film was first released, I was on the negative side. I was young and wanted action, action, and more action. But over time this film has grown for me, and on the positive side. This is a character piece and a strong one of that. It's a film that takes risks and a film where Downey is at his best as this iconic character within the MCU and comic book fandom.
POSITIVES
Something to admire about this plot is that it takes the character in a different and welcomed direction. Tony Stark is as important of a character as Iron Man and to have him and his powerful mind being the draw and the lead was very entertaining. This goes into the writing of this character and their story. The path the film takes is very interesting and faces the repercussions of the Battle of New York. This helps to maintain this shared universe and not have them be offbeat stories. Robert Downey Jr. is incredible in this role and he takes this character and performance to new heights. Yes, there is the sarcastic humour that the character is known for, but there is some real and powerful emotion that the actor develops in his face alone. Downey still maintains that incredible and natural chemistry with his co-stars and that elevates their performances as well. For what Ben Kingsley does in the role of The Mandarin, he is very entertaining. Shane Black takes over the director's chair and he does a very good job. The film has its different tone, but still has that "realistic" quality that Favreau set up in the first two films. Some very good visual effects that come with the Iron Man sequences. What they do with the multiple Iron Man suits in this film was so fun and helped ground the film in the comic book realm. Anyone that knows the character knows about the multiple armours that the character creates. The sound design that I've praised before is still present in this film. Along with new sounds that are strong. This is the first film, in the Iron Man franchise, that has a great and memorable score from Brian Tyler. And overall the film is fun. It has its humour and engaging action sequences, but also, a lot of heart.
NEGATIVES!
The main negatives I have with this film involve the villains. Even though this film was released in 2013, no spoilers. What the film does with the character of The Mandarin I am mixed on. It upsets comic book fans but makes sense in the narrative of the film. My main negative is the story of Aldrich Killian and Guy Pearce's performance. I mean, 1. it's Syndrome from Disney/Pixar's The Incredibles. 2. it's boring. Pearce gives a portrayal of a cynical villain that has been done before and all the "humour" that the character/actor tries to deliver falls flat. Not once is this villain threatening or memorable.
CONCLUSION!
So, Iron Man 3 gets a bad rep and it doesn't deserve it. I am kind of a hypocrite since I have ridiculed this film in the past, but I've grown and so has my appreciation for this film. If you are looking for an MCU film that is not-stop action, I can't see you enjoying this Iron Man instalment, but if you are looking for a superhero film that takes risks with its material and character, then I suggest you check out Iron Man 3.