Man is the new superman

Rating: 9/10 (26 April 2013)

There's a not-so-disturbing trend in superhero mythology now...one where the superhero is unmasked and stripped of his superpowers, forced to confront his nemesis, is nearly defeated, but triumphs over evil in the end. We saw this happen in "The Dark Knight Rises" and now in "Iron Man 3". Perhaps the next Thor movie will see Thor battle evil minus the hammer...
But this is about Iron Man - the third one in the series, and what an awesome third one it is. Tony Stark the man is more in evidence here, either unarmed, or armed in bits and pieces of his prehensile iron man suit. The villain is the suitably menacing Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) who turns out to be a front for someone far more sinister. Did I say "unarmed"? That's far from the truth since Tony Stark comes armed with an endless supply of quips, ingenuity, brains, mechanical skills...and when all else fails, he gets by "with a little help from his friends". Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark as though he was born to it - the physicality as well as the intellectual force is very evident. So is the brash humor...now the Stark hallmark.
All the other players in the movie - Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall - are competent and inhabit their roles completely. Ben Kingsley is incredibly good in a role that takes a sudden unexpected turn. But at the end of the day, they are all mere supporting characters for Robert Downey Jr., and the movie never lets us forget it.
The action sequences are incredible and keep you enthralled...the 3D effects have you actually cowering in your seat. The attack on the Stark mansion, and the final showdown are the best I have seen in a very long time - fantastic without being over the top, and perfect for 3D.
Watch it - you won't be disappointed.