Iron Man 3 (Black, 2013)

It's become sort of a tradition to start the summer blockbuster season with a Marvel movie. Ever since the original Iron Man debuted in 2008, each year has seen a Marvel superhero production during the first weekend in May. And if that was not enough, fans were usually exposed to one additional film during either the summer or subsequent fall, ensuring that the world's mightiest heroes would never be forgotten. All of this anticipation led to The Avengers in 2012, one of cinema's most successful productions that masterfully brought together half-a-dozen superheroes on one screen.

With aliens threatening the entire human race, a group of six larger-than-life heroes must stand together to protect Earth. All of this led to a once-in-a-lifetime experience that brought gods, aliens, time travelers, and super humans into the fight. But with all this excitement, no one ever bothers to ask one important question.

What happens next?

Director Shane Black attempts to answer this problem in Iron Man 3, the dark and oftentimes exciting sequel to both Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. Black has crafted a story that focuses more on the human side to Tony Stark rather than on the iron suit that molds him. The film is bold, daring, and even surprising at times; this makes Iron Man 3 a refreshing and relevant follow-up to last year's blockbuster.

Robert Downey, Jr. returns once again to his most prolific role, tackling a story that challenges everything viewers know about the Tony Stark character. After the life-changing events of The Avengers, Tony Stark/Iron Man finds himself paranoid and bored. Nothing excites him anymore, not even his loving girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Stark thinks he has found the answer to his prayers when a terrorist named The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) proves to be an explosive global threat. However, the military wants Iron Man to take some down time, instead relying on the Iron Patriot (Don Cheadle) to catch the villain. But when The Mandarin makes the first strike, Tony Stark must deal with his own personal demons in the attempt to protect everything and everyone he has ever loved.

Iron Man 3 deals with some pretty serious topics, like terrorism, anxiety, and the ethics of technological advancement. But at the heart of this intense plot remains a fun, action-packed story that amuses even as it disturbs. Screenwriters Drew Pearce and Shane Black still maintain the appeal of Iron Man while adding a deeper layer to the character.

Most fans will be impressed by the masterful direction of the characters. Gwenyth Paltrow and Don Cheadle still give satisfying performances despite their decreased screen time. Ben Kingsley is haunting as the villain, and Guy Pearce is featured in a role that challenges Pepper Potts' loyalty. But, in the end, this is Tony Stark's movie. He has come a long way since his time in captivity, and the film addresses this change in more ways than one. Robert Downey, Jr. proves his resilience and emotional range as an actor more in this character piece than in any other appearance as the character.

Iron Man 3 proves that Tony Stark can be fascinating even without the Iron Man suit, but fans who prefer the costumes to the heroes who wear them will still find something to love about this picture. The visual effects are solid, the action scenes are stunning, and the film keeps moving even with the added focus on drama. Viewers will still find themselves laughing hysterically at times, and the climactic showdown is one of Marvel's best. And most exciting of all, Iron Man 3 will surprise viewers throughout. This is the first major blockbuster in a long time in which there are scenes and plot twists that fans will not see coming.

All in all, Iron Man 3 is a visually enthralling, fast-paced thrill ride that puts Tony Stark and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a darker shade. It remains a vast improvement over it's predecessor Iron Man 2, and proves a worthy follow-up to The Avengers. Marvel movies are first and foremost fun to watch, and while Iron Man 3 does contain more serious fare, it never loses sight of that escapist goal.

Here's looking towards the future, when we get to see Tony Stark in action once again.

Four and a half out of five stars.