Iron Man!

[such_heights]

I went to see Iron Man 3 this evening and mostly really enjoyed it!

To get the negatives out of the way first - it's a typical Iron Man with the decorative scantily clad women with no lines and the US imperialism and other expected issues. Overall I was pleasantly surprised with what they did with The Mandarin, though. And I was unpleasantly surprised by the amount of ableism, there's a whole plot thread about physical disability that was pretty offputting.

But leaving those aside -- and if anyone reading this wants more details on particular points before they decide whether to see it, do let me know -- this film had a lot going for it. A much better outing than IM2, and I laughed a lot and really love the characterisation of and relationships between Pepper, Tony and Rhodey.

This is absolutely my favourite flavour of Tony - messed up, capable of making some really terrible decisions, still a jerk, but someone who wants to be a good person, both in the sense of being a hero and in being good to the people he cares about. He messes up, recognises it, apologises, and tries again. It's lovely. And oh gosh Tony/Pepper otppppppp eeee I love them. I also really enjoyed the way they handled the aftermath of The Avengers and its effect on Tony - I personally thought it was a good portrayal of PTSD, anxiety etc. Oh, Tony. <3 Also him + a surprisingly winsome kid was hilarious.

PEPPER MY LOVE. She's so competent and wonderful and I just love every single thing she chooses to be. And that white suit, wow. ALSO RHODEY I LOVE HIM AND HAVE MISSED HIM. I really liked the stuff about his role with the government now and how he's a much better public facing superhero than Tony is, really. Please can he be in the next Avengers?!

And the post-credits scene was BEAUTIFUL. *happy seal-clapping*

I think watching this again around Christmas time will be appropriate!

Comments

[gorgeousnerd]

Thanks for this! The info in your second paragraph was exactly what I wanted to know before I saw the movie.

[gwyn]

I have been living in terror of them killing off Pepper. I take it that she doesn't? If so, I will be ecstatic.

[such_heights]

There's a fakeout towards the end where Tony thinks she's dead, but no, Pepper's totally fine. \o/

[xans]

I saw it with my husband and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. Many of the same reasons you did.

I couldn't help having a momentary feeling of old when the flashback music was something I remember coming out (I'm used to flashback music being 60's/70's/80's not, y'know, stuff from my mid-teens). Also loved the wee cameo of Yinsen.

We didn't stay for the post-credits. I thought there would be something but my husband insisted we go. Oh well, I shall just have to check it out when it comes out on blu-ray/dvd.

[gwyn]

Thank you SO MUCH. THis is why I appreciate spoilers -- I don't think I could have handled even a fakeout and would have gone ballistic thinking they'd fridged her. This way I can enjoy the whole movie.

[lokifan]

Yeah, same to all of this! I was disappointed by the ableism, particularly since I read the Bruce/Tony conversation about their 'powers' in Avengers as having an interesting disability context. But they didn't have yellowface fail with the Mandarin, thank God, and YAY TONY AND PEPPER AD RHODEY AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. They give me such joy. Pepper <3 <3 <3 CEO in the white suit and BAMF in the sports bra and girlfriend in the physics t-shirt, I love all flavours of Pepper!

And yeah - I really liked this Tony and the different ways he's changed - able to admit his vulnerability to Pepper instead of doing the IM2 tailspin, working with Gary the fan instead of mocking vulnerability as he did with Killian in 1999.

[pocketmouse]

Hi Bruce hiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!