'IRON MAN 3'

'IRON MAN 3' (PG-13) (3 1/2 STARS)

Written by Drew Pearce and Shane Black
Directed by Shane Black
Actors: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce, Jon Favreau, Rebecca Hall, James Dale Badge, Don Cheadle, Ty Simpkins.

This is how you do an action movie, a superhero movie, a love story and a buddy film all wrapped up in one glorious package! I was amazed that "Iron Man 3" was this great, it shouldn't be right? Not many second sequels wind up better than their second movie and equal to their original. I like the "Avengers" a lot but for my money this has more bang for your buck. This has deeper qualities and more fun at it's core. It has surprises that I did not see coming and one of the best villians in superhero movie history just a little short of Heath Ledger as The Joker. I also love the relationship between and love story of Pepper Potts and Tony Stark. This love story blows away the "Spiderman" love story and Paltrow is exceptional and the chemsitry with Downey Jr. is exciting and fresh.

I was expecting maybe a moderately entertaining movie but I didn't expect the energy, carefully created story and the surprises that floored me. This includes some funny and sharp dialogue, a special new friend for Tony, a villian that turns out to be something else and that is a villian that I loved! The surprise twist, for me, I didn't see coming but when it came you couldn't wipe the smile off my face even if you tried. The acting is all top notch and I am not even including Downey and Paltrow. The under rated Guy Pearce is explosive and plain nasty mean as one of the villians, so good he could have equaled Heath Ledger playing The Joker. You get nice additions and great performances by some great elite actors like Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle and Rebecca Hall also, each playing characters as great as any supporting characters in any superhero movie.

Now let's get to the story which certainly blows away the second "Iron Man" and "The Avengers". It is a smartly written, creative and clear story that is thankfully less convoluted than it should be. The movie just throws a lot at you but director Shane Black makes it work, makes it fresh and keeps it pumping. He is an under rated craftsman and writer revitalizing the buddy cop film with "Lethal Weapon" and gave me one of the best times I have had at a movie with "The Long Kiss Goodnight". His directing is a breath of fresh air from the second movie and I hope he directs the next "Avengers". He also is the co writer of a very solid and smart story and screenplay. Again, writing for a superhero movie shouldn't be this great.

I also like the villians here much more than I did in "The Avengers". I won't give the surprise away but the two actors playing the villians are brilliant. Ben Kingsley is magnificent as "The Mandarin", a terrorist from the Middle East and his performance is Snavely Award nomination worthy at least. I won't explain the plot because it is delightfully complicated but yet easy to follow. There is some cluttered and non sensical stuff in the final third but I didn't mind, I didn't want it to end. What makes the "Iron Man" movies that more special is the love story in the middle that moved me and made me laugh. This is a love story that outshines any of the "Batman" movies or "Spiderman" movies and equals the greatest superhero love story of all time "Superman 2". , Paltrow and Downey Jr are magnetic together, so much so that I feel that they are a real life couple. That is big time chemistry and Paltrow looks beautiful and energized.

"Iron Man 3" is what a great popcorn movie, superhero movie, love story and summer blockbuster should be. What makes these movies so special is the rapid fire wit, energy and acting prowess of Robert Downey Jr. His performance is the best of any superheroes in any of the superhero movies. He is a special actor that can make a movie like this greater than it is. Shane Black has directed a movie I would see again and again. Great acting, action, dialogue, effects, excitement, visuals and cinematography. The movie never goes out of control, it is a huge amount of fun and not only the best action movie of the year so far but one of the best movies of the year period and the summer movie to beat!