Iron Man 3 SPOILER Thread

[madmarva]

Honestly, I don't know what's more offensive, the Yellow-Peril stereotype or making a joke out of the name Mandarian? Probably, the former, but why even tread on that ground when it wasn't a necessity? Why court the criticism either way?

[PNGwynne]

Absolute BS IMO. Marvel has, in the Mandarin & Dr, Doom, the two most powerful, charismatic terrestrial villians in their mythos, and have crapped them up on film. I'm with Hedrap, they can stick it.

[Cosmicman]

I won't be rushing to the theaters to see this one. **** Disney!

[VintageMike]

The Mandarin stuff didn't bother me, it was nice swerve. The thing that took down a notch for me was nothing really new here. One the big high points of most of the previous Marvel films was they'd give you a little something new (Black Widow in IM2, Hawkeye in Thor for example). Surprised to see so many folks here bury Marvel after giving us so many great films. This film was good, but not great. It also had the impossible task of being the first movie following the Avengers.

[emeraldknight47]

Hmmmmm. Just heard from MIB41 (Tom) and he's echoing the sentiments of many folks here who have not cared for IM3, which is a shame because we are both huge IM fans and fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Perhaps, to play on an old phrase that used to surface regularly on the front of various Marvel Comics: "The Marvel IMPLOSION Starts Here." If THOR and CAPTAIN AMERICA turn out to be as weak as IM3 appears to be, the MCU could be on the downhill side of popularity...

[palitoy]

I enjoyed the film but where Stark has anxiety after the Avengers, I'm just sort of finding it hard to top.
The Mandarin thing was an interesting twist although the main villain is he a comic villain? I'm not hugely into Iron Man mythology past some silver age stories and cartoons.

I took my son and his best friend, who both deemed it "awesome".

[madmarva]

I think Avengers was just so sharply scripted and on point that most super hero films are going to be a bit lacking in comparison, but the entertainment news sites are estimating a weekend total of $165 million or more for IM3. So, it's having a great US opening combined with nearly a half billion grossed overseas in the last week.

We'll have to see if fans go for repeat showings like with Avengers.

[megowgsh]

http://kotaku.com/why-many-in-china-...sion-486840429

Marvel can burn for all I care.

What they did with The Mandarin is pathetic.

This...Movie...Sucked!

[MIB41]

*Sigh*... Where to even begin... I don't know what is more offensive - Either completely p*ssing on the Mandarin villain or trying to plug the endless plot holes that makes me wonder if they didn't pull this script from the first draft written in a drunken stupor. Essentially what the film does is deconstruct Iron Man and suggest that Tony Stark can achieve these same heroic feats WITHOUT the armor. And that everyone else can wear the armor, including remote control robots. But the film's most egregious infraction turns out to be a complete meltdown on the treatment that use to make this series work so well. That treatment being the technological wizardry that is Tony Stark. In past films, Stark's understanding and quick development of sophisticated and complex technology had some degree of explanation to it. Stark was portrayed as the leading developer of technological concepts that were easily weaponized and converted according to how he needed them to function. Stark was seen as a student well ahead of his peers, demonstrated not only through his own accomplishments, but through the rich family history unveiled through the back stories involving his father. It was practically part of his genetic code to achieve greatness in this field. But it was through these explanations and watching him rationalize one concept to the next, that we bought into not only the technology of the Iron Man universe, but the Marvel universe as a whole. Tony Stark (and his father) at Stark Enterprises were the glue that held this world of the fantastic together.

In Iron Man 3 this implodes as it tries to craft too many miracles that become all too convenient when needed. In short, I quit believing in what I was seeing, because there was insufficient explanation to back it up. Rather than write thirty paragraphs of complaints, I'll just try and list a handful of issues I had in general with the story that encompass the previously mentioned issues and plenty more.

1) Tony Stark invites the Mandarin to attack him whenever he so chooses and gives him his home address on national television. But then is completely ill-equipped to handle the approach of three helicopters that apparently carry enough firepower to destroy both his home and his fortress within....RIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.

2) After we see his fortress obliterated, Jarvis somehow is still operational in the Iron Man suit Stark is wearing, but gradually becomes dysfunctional from the damage taken from the attack. Yet, somehow, miraculously comes back later completely revitalized. Since Jarvis is part of the central hub that was destroyed, how is it this program is repaired?

3) We're not done with Jarvis - Before Rhody is captured, Stark hacks into his suit, giving him access. Why is it that Jarvis doesn't take control of the outfit and fly the president out of harms way when the suit is being used as a transport vessel to move the President for these terrorists? And how is it that these terrorists suddenly have the technological understanding to even operate this device? Apparently an Iron Man suit is easier to hack into than your basic '95 Windows program.

4) There is never sufficient explanation given as to why a drug designed to rejuvenate cellular damage can make that subject so "hot" they can effortlessly chop off Iron man's arm in one scene, yet have no means of immediate penetration when they are trying to reach Rhody inside his Patriot armor.

5) How is it that a traditional electrical outlet in a storage shed can carry enough voltage to charge the latest and greatest Iron Man suit? That's a slightly abnormal rating for an outlet, don't you think?

6) If the "actor" who is playing the "Mandarin" is suppose to be a popular stage name back in his homeland, why is it no one recognizes him when he is threatening the world? Duh...

7) And if the President of the United States is held hostage and the Iron patriot is out of commission, WHERE IS SHIELD? WHERE IS NICK FURY? WHERE IS CAPT. AMERICA?

8) And when the story ends we are given the last impossible miracle when Stark, overcome with his devotion for Pepper, SUDDENLY figures out how to get the remaining shrapnel out of his chest and remove the power arc. Gee is this a swan song or what?

Eh... I could just go on and on. If I tried to list every loop hole it would take pages. The script was just that bad folks. And the sad part? RDJ was great as always. No one delivered a bad performance in this film. And I can't say I blame the director either. All the blame lies in the script. It's just a sub par script that tries to accomplish too much without any rationale to make you accept what you're seeing. Most certainly my least favorite of the three. And definitely the end of Robert Downey Jr. in the role. That's why Joss Whedon said what he did after he saw it. Joss just lost his leading star. On a scale of 5 this is a 2.5 for me. The chances for a successful Avengers 2 just died tonight.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I liked it. I anticipated the Mandarin twist because of things folks said here. I don't think anyone expected Mandarin to be Chinese once they cast Kingsly, so I can't see the plot twist as being to appease the Chinese government or whatever. I think the creators thought it was a clever plot twist. It kind of works, but it also reduces Iron Man's #1 comic foe to a joke. It didn't really bother me, but my son was kind of bummed about it. If they pulled that with the Joker in a Batman flick, I'd be pretty ticked, so I can understand the frustration by diehard Iron Man fans.

Overall, it was an enjoyable film, but it wasn't leaps and bounds over 2 like the hype machine was teasing it would be. And I agree with Brian, after the Avengers, it was kind of like going through the paces. But me and the boy had a good time together, so it's all good for me.

Chris

[bleit1701]

Overall I did like the movie. Better than the second one.

The biggest WTH for me was how 'they' thought it was a good idea to give us a great evil Mandarin character and then take it away. It didn't ruin it for me but it seemed unnecessarily risky and a waste. It won't matter to people who don't know Mandarin and really tick off the fans that do.

Either go there or don't. They took Ironman's greatest villain and made him nonexistent. It felt like the villain of the story was essentially the Meltor or something.

The beginning was slow.

I thought RDJ carried the middle of the movie even without his armor. And was ok with that and the kid. He had this Double "O" Stark thing going on. I like that he was stressed over what happened in the Avengers and that it was some what addressed.

AIM is introduced.

Lot's of good one liners but "It's a giant bunny, OK. Just relax about it!", sticks out for me.

I did cringe some over Peppers powers.

Mark Ruffalo looked 10 years older in the end teaser. Over half the audience stayed for it. People applauded when 'Tony Stark will return' came up.

My favorite thing of all was the 70's action vibe the end credits had. I couldn't place it to one show but it had this Baretta/Cannon/Mod Squad/Mannix TV thing going on with clips from the first two movies.

[Fuzzysnail]

*Sigh*... Where to even begin... I don't know what is more offensive - Either completely p*ssing on the Mandarin villain or trying to plug the endless plot holes that makes me wonder if they didn't pull this script from the first draft written in a drunken stupor. Essentially what the film does is deconstruct Iron Man and suggest that Tony Stark can achieve these same heroic feats WITHOUT the armor. And that everyone else can wear the armor, including remote control robots. But the film's most egregious infraction turns out to be a complete meltdown on the treatment that use to make this series work so well. That treatment being the technological wizardry that is Tony Stark. In past films, Stark's understanding and quick development of sophisticated and complex technology had some degree of explanation to it. Stark was portrayed as the leading developer of technological concepts that were easily weaponized and converted according to how he needed them to function. Stark was seen as a student well ahead of his peers, demonstrated not only through his own accomplishments, but through the rich family history unveiled through the back stories involving his father. It was practically part of his genetic code to achieve greatness in this field. But it was through these explanations and watching him rationalize one concept to the next, that we bought into not only the technology of the Iron Man universe, but the Marvel universe as a whole. Tony Stark (and his father) at Stark Enterprises were the glue that held this world of the fantastic together.

In Iron Man 3 this implodes as it tries to craft too many miracles that become all too convenient when needed. In short, I quit believing in what I was seeing, because there was insufficient explanation to back it up. Rather than write thirty paragraphs of complaints, I'll just try and list a handful of issues I had in general with the story that encompass the previously mentioned issues and plenty more.

1) Tony Stark invites the Mandarin to attack him whenever he so chooses and gives him his home address on national television. But then is completely ill-equipped to handle the approach of three helicopters that apparently carry enough firepower to destroy both his home and his fortress within....RIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.

2) After we see his fortress obliterated, Jarvis somehow is still operational in the Iron Man suit Stark is wearing, but gradually becomes dysfunctional from the damage taken from the attack. Yet, somehow, miraculously comes back later completely revitalized. Since Jarvis is part of the central hub that was destroyed, how is it this program is repaired?

3) We're not done with Jarvis - Before Rhody is captured, Stark hacks into his suit, giving him access. Why is it that Jarvis doesn't take control of the outfit and fly the president out of harms way when the suit is being used as a transport vessel to move the President for these terrorists? And how is it that these terrorists suddenly have the technological understanding to even operate this device? Apparently an Iron Man suit is easier to hack into than your basic '95 Windows program.

4) There is never sufficient explanation given as to why a drug designed to rejuvenate cellular damage can make that subject so "hot" they can effortlessly chop off Iron man's arm in one scene, yet have no means of immediate penetration when they are trying to reach Rhody inside his Patriot armor.

5) How is it that a traditional electrical outlet in a storage shed can carry enough voltage to charge the latest and greatest Iron Man suit? That's a slightly abnormal rating for an outlet, don't you think?

6) If the "actor" who is playing the "Mandarin" is suppose to be a popular stage name back in his homeland, why is it no one recognizes him when he is threatening the world? Duh...

7) And if the President of the United States is held hostage and the Iron patriot is out of commission, WHERE IS SHIELD? WHERE IS NICK FURY? WHERE IS CAPT. AMERICA?

8) And when the story ends we are given the last impossible miracle when Stark, overcome with his devotion for Pepper, SUDDENLY figures out how to get the remaining shrapnel out of his chest and remove the power arc. Gee is this a swan song or what?

Eh... I could just go on and on. If I tried to list every loop hole it would take pages. The script was just that bad folks. And the sad part? RDJ was great as always. No one delivered a bad performance in this film. And I can't say I blame the director either. All the blame lies in the script. It's just a sub par script that tries to accomplish too much without any rationale to make you accept what you're seeing. Most certainly my least favorite of the three. And definitely the end of Robert Downey Jr. in the role. That's why Joss Whedon said what he did after he saw it. Joss just lost his leading star. On a scale of 5 this is a 2.5 for me. The chances for a successful Avengers 2 just died tonight.

I agree completely. I left unfulfilled, and I couldn't explain why and I think you hit the nail on the head.

My 16 year old son asked me after.."If the president was in iron patriots armor, why couldn't he just free him self??"
The movie felt disconnected, it was all over the place....Why was Stark buying stuff at home depot to make cheesey weapons. then when he got a guards gun he threw the gadgets he made away and started usung the gun? why not just buy a gun to begin with? where are all his "superfriends?"
Ironman gets his butt kicked waay too much, and I had ironman suit overload...MARK42? WOW. I think Tony was getting ready for the next alien invasion.

[Bruce Banner]

Marvel has, in the Mandarin & Dr, Doom, the two most powerful, charismatic terrestrial villians in their mythos, and have crapped them up on film.

Absolutely. Doctor Doom was handled terribly in the two Tim Story FF films, and now the Mandarin has been similarly debased.

I also never liked how Magneto was portrayed in the Singer X-Men films, but I guess I'm in the minority there.

[MIB41]

Ironman gets his butt kicked waay too much, and I had ironman suit overload...MARK42? WOW. I think Tony was getting ready for the next alien invasion.

That was my OTHER problem here. Why is it his suit is now a snap together? Every time he gets hit, he loses pieces of his suit (even his helmet). HUH? I mean these suits have weathered all out assaults by Iron Monger, Whiplash, countless pulsar blasts from Thanos' space creatures, and even a nuclear blast in space. Yet suddenly these suits can't hold together to handle the blunt force impact of a human being? That happens with the Iron Man robots too. They pick up henchmen and the henchmen just ripped their heads off effortlessly. That was my problem here. It just left the parameters of the world established in these other films and became a mindless cartoon. It was just a very sloppy story essentially told to give Robert Downey Jr. closure for the character. Prepare for a reboot (or recast). Iron Man 2.0. Tony Stark may be back, but it will likely be someone else in the role.

[emeraldknight47]

Absolutely. Doctor Doom was handled terribly in the two Tim Story FF films, and now the Mandarin has been similarly debased.

I also never liked how Magneto was portrayed in the Singer X-Men films, but I guess I'm in the minority there.

You're not in the minority regarding the handling of Magneto as far as I'm concerned. I love Ian McKellan, but I've always viewed him as being just a wee bit long in tooth to be Magneto. I've never liked how they actually portrayed Magneto's powers, either, as he is actually still one of the most powerful mutants around and he has to ride around in a helicopter (X1 and X2) instead of employing one of his magnetic force bubbles, which would have been really cool to see...