Don't believe the hype

Rating: 4/10 (19 April 2013)

I'm not really sure what to say about this movie. Effects? Great. Cast? Great (although Don Cheadle looks bored throughout). Director / co-author? Clueless.
The Mandarin's character is completely wasted. Rather than use the hugely talented Ben Kingsley to portray a truly memorable villain, here he's been used exclusively for. . . well I'm not going to spoil it.
Are you a Marvel fan expecting Mandarin's rings and the powers that go with them? Keep expecting as they've been substituted with silly thermal regeneration powers. Remember how Iron Man withstood a 50,000 degree lightning bolt from Thor? Here 3,000 degree heat from villains cuts though Stark armour like butter. Remember that great scene when Hulk grins after Captain America tells him to go "smash"? Nothing even remotely like that in this movie. Oh and stick around for the disappointing post credit scene. It sums up the movie perfectly.
Unlike Joss Whedon, Shane Black simply fails to bring the Marvel universe to life. I'm sure others will disagree but for me, it's not a patch on The Avengers.