Iron Man 3 Discussion Thread

[JonWes]

Saw it for the third (and probably final in the theater) time today! Still enjoyed it. Wasn't as fun not seeing it with a reactive crowd like on the Thursday it opened, but it still holds up well. This was my first time in 3D (and D-box... first time seeing anything with D-box) and I can't say I thought it added a ton.

 

[CelticPredator]

Eh. I don't know. It wouldn't have been a fight. It would've been a power play until Tony blew him up or something. Probably similar to the Whiplash fight.

Kingsly is old. He couldn't really put up a fight, rings or no rings. But Guy Pearce, still has it. And I liked that there was an actual fist fight with a non suited villain in an Iron Man movie.

 

[Deckard]

He could have absolutely put up a fight with the rings regardless of age. It wouldn't have been a boxing match sure. Not to mention with Tony's suits as bad as they were at the time. Extremis soldiers were a fine change of pace, it's when regular humans start doing the impossible that I cringe. Like Tony out of the suit should never survive an impossible fall, be able to do any sort of flips or w/e RDJ himself cannot do etc.

 

[Niltusk]

Yea I'll admit for all the things I didn't like Killian breathing fire wasn't a big deal, aliens now exist in this universe.

Still though you have to admit, if on top of everything else Ghandi could also use the ten rings, he'd be even more amazing, probably the best current comic villain, instead of a really funny ringer.

I didn't mind the "decoy", but I'll agree, it would have been nice to see more of Kingsley in the movie. What little he did in the movie in both roles, I enjoyed.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

Kingsley is only a couple of years older than Bridges

Rourke is 60 and was a match for Iron Man in Monaco

 

[CelticPredator]

Bridges was in a mech suit.

Whiplash was in a mech suit.

I didn't want to see Ben Kinglsy in a mech suit.

 

[DiFabio]

I didn't mind the "decoy", but I'll agree, it would have been nice to see more of Kingsley in the movie. What little he did in the movie in both roles, I enjoyed.

Supposedly they cut out one or two Mandarin broadcasts.


There was going to be one when Maya visits Pepper and Stark when their Malibu home was on high alert. That's when we would have gotten the Mandarin broadcast that directly calls out Stark.


"Mr. Stark, would you like an empty life or a meaningful death."



Shame they cut it out. I hope they release them on blu ray. The original cut of the film was a whopping three and a half hours long.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

Bridges was in a mech suit.

Whiplash was in a mech suit.

I didn't want to see Ben Kinglsy in a mech suit.

And Mandarin could've had Magic Rings or Extremis or something to beef him above the average 69 year old, he would've been perfectly threatening given some kind of power despite his age

 

[Niltusk]

Thats the biggest "missed" opportunity imo. I wonder how they would have handled Mandarins rings? As some sort of power source in a glove, or as true magical items he had gotten?

I don't think we've really seen magic except for the Asgardians, so I'm wondering how this would have been handled. Also, with them having scarface in the movie, it was a great door into the mystical side of Marvel considering her connections to Dr. Strange and the Man Thing.

 

[DiFabio]

And Mandarin could've had Magic Rings or Extremis or something to beef him above the average 69 year old, he would've been perfectly threatening given some kind of power despite his age

That's what Killian was there for.

 

[JAWS]

So I just got done watching IM2 and I think I know what the biggest problems of the IM series is for me (story wise).

IM1 - Tony is a Narcissistic man who discovers the error of his ways. Grows as a human, Fights an evil Genius in a IM suit rip off and becomes a better man by the end of the film.

IM2 - Tony is back to being Narcissistic, even worse then the first (I know he is dying), has to grow as a human being again, Fights an evil Genius in an IM rip off suit and a super rich guy who wants what Tony has, and becomes a better man by the end of the film.

IM3 - Tony is a Narcissistic man who now has PTSD, Now has to be a hero without the suit, Fights a super rich guy who wants what Tony has, Tony uses suits that are rip off drones from evil Genius in the second film.



Side movie - Avengers - Tony is still Narcissistic but it a good, fun way that makes him tolerable. Is a better man and grows to be a real hero.



IMHO - The Avengers feels like the only "true" sequel to the Tony Stark character. This was how I saw his character progressing after the first film. It seems in all the IM sequels they are always taking two steps back with the character. In the case of IM3 it took two steps back from Avengers when, IMO again, Tony proves he was more then just a suit.

I don't mind that the Tony stays Narcissistic, that is a part of his character but he just always seems a bit behind of where he should be after the film before.

Add the fact that they never seem to get too original with their villains. Bad guys in IM suits or Super evil Rich man after what Tony has.

Other then the Avengers, The two IM sequels never seemed to grow in character or scope. I am not saying they were the same films. They just seemed to go over things that were already covered in another film.

I have posted my feelings about what I feel about IM3 an I find it to be by far the worst of the bunch. But as a whole I hope they get a better writer for the Next Iron man film who can take what has already been established and go off in a different direction

It's probably why Avengers seemed so fresh for the IM character because that is exactly what they did IMO.

This is not in any way an attack on those who love the IM films. Just stating my feeling after watching part 2 tonight.

 

[DiFabio]

I see a fully evolved Stark from film 1 to film 2, even if he is still narcissistic at times.


By the end of Avengers and Iron Man III, he's way more selfless than he ever was before. There's a character arc and growth there. It's very noticeable in Iron Man 3, he's almost humbled after the events of Avengers. This is evident in the opening in 1999. He's partying, he's rude and obnoxious, he tells a handicapped man to go up on the roof and wait for him, then purposely leaves him up there. He's not a very good guy.

Fast forward to the current day Stark and he's much different. He spends all of his time building suits, he isn't in public looking for attention, he's defending the peace. etc. etc.




As far as story goes, I think Captain America's words in Avengers had an impact on him. All that stuff about the suit and being a hero.

 

[ZaCHw117]

Stopped reading there.

I think IM3 is, It's grown on me sooo much.

1. Avengers
2. IM1
3. IM3

Yeah. That scene was amazing. If you were trying to make a negative point, it's moot, because that scene ****ing ruled. Especially due to Chedle's line delivery.

Yeah, I never understood the criticism of him being able to breath fire. Especially the way they explain how Extremis works, makes it easier to believe.

Cheadle was good in this, shame he didn't get any Action.

I wonder why Killian never used his Fire Breath again, he could've melted Tony or Pepper from afar in the final battle

Did you miss the last hour of the movie?

My guess is he doesn't use it because he doesn't wanna lose his **** and blow himself up.

Yea I'll admit for all the things I didn't like Killian breathing fire wasn't a big deal, aliens now exist in this universe.

Still though you have to admit, if on top of everything else Ghandi could also use the ten rings, he'd be even more amazing, probably the best current comic villain, instead of a really funny ringer.

Yupp, couldn't agree more. I love the twist, but I really wanted to see the Mandarin they were going for as well. Hopefully something happens with Trevor in the coming Marvel flicks.

Bridges was in a mech suit.

Whiplash was in a mech suit.

I didn't want to see Ben Kinglsy in a mech suit.

I think it would be cool to had seen him use the rings against Tony. They could have done it in a cool way.

Supposedly they cut out one or two Mandarin broadcasts.


There was going to be one when Maya visits Pepper and Stark when their Malibu home was on high alert. That's when we would have gotten the Mandarin broadcast that directly calls out Stark.


"Mr. Stark, would you like an empty life or a meaningful death."



Shame they cut it out. I hope they release them on blu ray. The original cut of the film was a whopping three and a half hours long.

Oh man, those broadcasts were put together so well, they were my favorite parts of the movie. I can't wait to watch the others, too bad they didn't at least keep them in the film.

Thats the biggest "missed" opportunity imo. I wonder how they would have handled Mandarins rings? As some sort of power source in a glove, or as true magical items he had gotten?

I don't think we've really seen magic except for the Asgardians, so I'm wondering how this would have been handled. Also, with them having scarface in the movie, it was a great door into the mystical side of Marvel considering her connections to Dr. Strange and the Man Thing.

The rings could have been from Asgard, that would have been a cool nod to Thor and the connection most people wanted in the movie to the Avengers.

 

[DiFabio]

Yeah, the more Mandarin broadcasts the better. I loved the speeches, I loved the videos, I loved the eerie, chilling music.

Sure they were "pretend", but the messages behind them and the imagery, like the AK-47 shooting, setting the "President" on fire, kids flocking to the "teacher" was pretty powerful. I know the Mandarin broadcast speech to Tony Stark before the helicopters attack is damn good **** judging by the trailers alone. They should have kept that in there since it's basically the Mandarin calling Stark out (Tony would definitely go against the "Mandarin's" views and ideologies against America).

Killian was a pretty smart dude. I think the revelation and the idea of "profiting on the war on terror" with the president and terrorists in his pockets is actually pretty brilliant. So is giving the public an image and symbol to hate, like Osama bin Laden or something.





And as much as I would have liked for that to continue (Kingsley Mandarin continuing to be the menacing Mandarin), I feel like we got the best of both worlds. Had it continued and Mandarin was simply the terrorist, then we would have never gotten Trevor which is just as good as the broadcasts in my opinion.

 

[ZaCHw117]

Yup, they were the coolest part. If there is some indeed on the BR, I will be excite.

 

[cokebabies]

This has probably been asked and answered a dozen times, but I couldn't wade through thousands of posts...

If The Mandarin was just a puppet, why all the reverent fuss from the staff when he arrives at the house?

 

[Johnny Utah]

It was a red herring to throw the audience off Killian.

 

[cokebabies]

It was a red herring to throw the audience off Killian.

Yes, but you can't just do something in a movie to throw off an audience, if it makes no sense in the movie's world.

 

[ali032373]

Saw this last night. Agree that they did a very good job building up the Mandarin. I was disappointed to learn he had no powers.

Overall this movies lacked something. Not enough time in the suit, too much on Tony the man. It felt flat to me.

 

[JAWS]

My replies in bold

I see a fully evolved Stark from film 1 to film 2, even if he is still narcissistic at times.


I feel I saw that fully evolved Tony Stark by the end of part 1 (Ok not fully evolved since he declared "I am Iron Man" at the end) but still he seemed to be beyond were he was in the beginning of part 2.
Like I said it seems that each film forgets the lesson that he learned from the film before. (except in Avengers)


Really if you just watched part one and then went on to The Avengers, you would not have missed a thing except that he now kisses Pepper.


By the end of Avengers and Iron Man III, he's way more selfless than he ever was before. There's a character arc and growth there. It's very noticeable in Iron Man 3, he's almost humbled after the events of Avengers. This is evident in the opening in 1999. He's partying, he's rude and obnoxious, he tells a handicapped man to go up on the roof and wait for him, then purposely leaves him up there. He's not a very good guy.


I would agree that they went out of their way to make TS look like the biggest D in the world (I did not get that feeling that he was that bad at the begging of part 1) But again you could have showed Tony in the middle of part one to show how much of a better person he was since 1999. He is also not to humble as he seems to hate that Iron Patriot is taking some of the lime light from him. Other the his PTSD I am not sure he would be any different then he was by the end of part one.

Again I am not saying there is no growth but just feel that they did it best and showed what we needed to see and know by the end of part one and The Avengers

It's almost like they had to make up things to give Tony character flaws in part 2 (dying) and part 3 (PTSD) rather then show Tony as a fully developed character. I guess one could say that we got to see that in The Avengers.

But I see your points.


Fast forward to the current day Stark and he's much different. He spends all of his time building suits, he isn't in public looking for attention, he's defending the peace. etc. etc.

Again I lack of public attention seeking goes to his PTSD. Like I said he seems jealous of Rhodey.



As far as story goes, I think Captain America's words in Avengers had an impact on him. All that stuff about the suit and being a hero.

This may be true but according to many here in this thread those words did not mean much as he had to prove he was more the just a suit in part 3. I don't agree with this theory. It just seems to be the big one that many of the defenders of part 3 have brought up.

I guess I just feel that you could watch IM1 and then watch Avengers and you would not feel like we missed a thing. And I am guessing when we get to Avengers 2 or IM4 we won't feel like we missed anything all that important in part 3.