Thoughts on Iron Man 3 or Why Won't He Put The Suit On?

So let’s talk Iron Man 3, shall we? I think I was like every other card carrying nerd out there and felt disappointment with Iron Man 2. I mean it was ok, but it was so much slower then the fantastic first film and pretty much wasted Mickey Rourke. I mean how do you waste Mickey Rourke? That man was born to chew scenery. So I went into Iron Man 3 hoping for the best and expecting the worst.  

It definitely gave me a bit of both. 

I want to just get the plot out of the way. Iron Man must face off against The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) and their army of super soldiers powered by a process called Extremis, making them super strong, super fast, heal quickly, and become super hot. Oh and they explode from time to time. By the end of the movie Tony Stark has to deal with saving the country, saving the girl, and dealing with the emotional aftermath of The Avengers, where what he saw has given him a case of PTSD. There. That’s the story and it works for what it needs to do which is provide a framework for big explosive action set pieces. 

These pieces do not disappoint. From an attack on Stark’s house, to an air rescue scene (done with 13 sky divers the old fashioned way), to the big finale of super soldiers vs multiple Iron Men, the movie moves along quickly and satisfyingly. It has the feel of an old school 80’s action movie, not surprisingly since it’s written and directed by Shane Black, author of such classics as Lethal Weapon and The Last Boy Scout. 

Robert Downey Jr has in my mind, always been an inspired choice for Tony Stark and has brought with him this swaggering, hilarious, charismatic energy to the role. Even in the dullest moments, he always gives us something to watch even in just his mannerisms and movements. These aren’t the kind of movies that provide chances for meaty dramatic roles, but Downey makes the most of them. 

Unfortunately, the film turns into a colossal mess in the final third. I love the big twist of the Mandarin reveal at the end, and it allows Ben Kingsley to almost steal the movie right out from under Downey’s nose. However, the plot makes zero sense. Tony displays insane secret agent skills from apparently nowhere. The villains master plan seems straight out of a Bond movie and just as intelligent. Stakes are raised but never dealt with. It’s sloppy writing, pure and simple. 

The final set piece has Downey out of the armor more than he is in it. I have a pet peeve about superhero movies where they feel the need to have the character pull the mask off in the middle of a fight. Its just always seems so forced. In this case for a movie called Iron Man, I was hoping for a bit more of Iron Man doing the fighting, not Tony Stark. 

Overall, though, Iron Man 3 is much more enjoyable than the last one. It’s a nice start to a new cycle of Marvel films and a fun way to spend a couple of hours. 

A Night With The Book Of Mormon

Haven’t been able to get on here to blog for a while. Work and life and all their various pleasures and pains conspired to keep me from writing. But last night I finally got a chance to see the Tony winning Book of Mormon and felt compelled to write about it.


If you haven’t seen it yet, then I must insist you stop reading right now. Part of my enjoyment of the show is in not knowing the complete details of the show and enjoying each hilarious surprise. So don’t allow me to spoil the pleasure for you if you intend to see it.

The Book of Mormon is one of those experiences that truly lives up to the hype surrounding it. It’s hilarious, slightly twisted, and charming. It’s the story of young Mormon missionaries sent to Uganda to convert the locals. Expecting The Lion King, they instead find a village full with crime, Aids, and a populace terrified of the local warlord General Butt Fucking Naked and his plans to circumcise all the women in the village. The boys have to overcome all of these obstacles to convert the locals so that they may do something incredible and blowing “God’s freaking mind.”

Storywise, the show is full of the usual clichés and tropes. What brings the show to life is the magic that creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone brought to South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut. It’s clear that they have an unbridled love for musicals and that this is no parody but a traditional musical filtered through their own deliciously demented world view.

I mean who else would dare to tackle not only female genital mutilation, but the basic absurdities at the core of all religions. Not always the lightest of topics, but they manage balance it perfectly with their goofy poop humor. You will never laugh as hard as when you hear the phrase “magical fuck frog”.

Although not the original cast, the current ensemble is quite strong and funny, and I have to say I really enjoyed the chorus of Mormon’s who play a number of roles. They had a goofy infectiousness to their performances that made me smile.

Since telling people that I got tickets for Book of Mormon, I have heard so many times from people that they want to go. Now that I’ve seen it, I want to go again.