Movie Opinion: Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 has divided audiences some what. Many fans of Iron Man in the comics feel let down whilst main stream fans of the Iron Man films, for the most part, have really embraced the third installment.

This is not a review of Iron Man 3. If you have not seen the movie and don't want it to be spoiled, stop reading now. I mean it. Once you know one of the biggest plot points of the film, you can't un-know it. Knowing it will spoil the whole film for you because you will see certain characters in a different light.

You have been warned!

Ben Kingsley as
The Mandarin

Before Iron Man 3 arrived n theaters it promised a formidable foe in the Mandarin, supposedly Tony Stark's number one enemy in the comics. Ben Kingsley's take on the character seemed very imposing and a real interesting interpretation. It's worth looking at the trailer just to remind you on how awesome the Mandarin was.

For about the first two thirds of the movie everything is leading up to a big confrontation with the seemingly elusive, self styled terrorist leader. When it finally happens, the Mandarin is on a bathroom break and you begin to suspect everything is perhaps not what it seems.

Then a very English, Trevor, who barely has the stature to be intimidating and no longer speaks in his 'terrorist' voice, emerges.

The hard core comic fan at this point becomes incensed that the kick ass Mandarin is just an actor. This is not what the movie trailer promised.

However if you take the view that you were duped, just like everyone in the film, then it's almost an interactive experience. After months of trailers building up to this one confrontation between Tony and the Mandarin, when it finally happens, you get to discover, along with Tony, that it's all a ruse.

I can understand comic die hards being upset at seeing what they thought was going to be an awesome interpretation of their character being diminished to caricature and comedy. I must admit I was a little disappointed by it too - only because the ruse of the Mandarin was so well done. It does make you wonder what the movie might have been like if it wasn't a deception?

Despite that I thought the twist in Ben Kingsley's Mandarin's character was a stroke of genius and fit right into the humor of the Iron Man film series.

It's rare that a superhero movie can be surprising. Iron Man 3 was in a way that caught you off guard, taking things that you see at face value instead of perhaps looking into them a little more for the truth.

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