Iron Man 3 Movie Review: Third Time Is the Charm! #IronMan3Event

***Disclosure: I received an all expense paid trip to Hollywood from Disney/Marvel to attend the Iron Man 3 premiere. As always, all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

Recently, I was in fabulous Hollywood, California to attend the red carpet premiere of Iron Man 3, the third installment in the Iron Man series. (Check out my experience on the red carpet HERE.) This much anticipated film has been creating quite the buzz, and has even scored record-breaking ticket sales abroad.

It seems that everyone is dying to see what is in store for Tony Stark, (Robert Downey, Jr.) and his leading lady, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Iron Man 3 is different than the first 2 chapters in this blockbuster series for a lot of reasons. It's darker in some ways, (Which makes  it perfect for kids 13+) and it deals with real world issues and concerns in a way that is both tasteful and raw, but also haunting at times.

In Iron Man 3, Tony takes on a force of pure evil known as The Mandarin. It is the Mandarin's mission to wreak havoc and instill fear into the lives of the world's citizens. Particularly Americans. His methods are sinister and callous, and of course, he singles out Tony Stark after Tony boldly proclaims "You're not a man. You're nothing more than a maniac. I'm not afraid of you. No politics here: just good old fashioned revenge!" Of course, things aren't always as they seem, and Tony is bound to get to the bottom of the mystery of The Mandarin.

Of course, our hero is joined by Pepper Potts, now his love interest and CEO of Stark Industries. The patient, kind Pepper we know is now powerful and brave, and even kicks some butt in Iron Man 3. Oh, and she's also Tony's live-in love interest.

We also meet Jasper once again, as well as some new characters that give this story some amazing twists and turns. It's not at all predictable, and sometimes what you assume to be real throws you for a loop and makes your head spin. Marvel has done an amazing job of keeping fans on the edge of their seats during Iron Man 3.

Here are some of the things I loved most about Iron Man 3. Don't worry, there aren't any spoilers here. Nothing crucial to the plot will be given away in this movie review.

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The Softer Side of Tony Stark....

We've seen Tony Stark take on evil in the first 2 installments of Iron Man. We've cheered with him, our hearts have been stuck in our throats as we watched him battle, and we've been charmed by the humorous side of Tony Stark that just makes him so darn endearing. Iron Man 3 is no exception. The Tony Stark we all fell in love with and have rooted for is still very present.

However, Iron Man 3 does show a different side of our favorite super-hero. It shows Tony Stark in a whole new light. In a more human way. Here, we see a man who is haunted by the things he has seen and experienced, and in some cases, by the choices he has made. He, like any other man, second-guesses things in his past as well as his present, and he is searching for answers as well as inner peace.

Tony lives with an internal struggle that has turned him into an insomniac, and has made him question everything....He also has PTSD, which makes him have moments of weakness and vulnerability that seem so very real. Tony Stark has seen and experienced a lot, and in Iron Man 3, it's all finally catching up with him.

Plus, rather than just taking on the enemy, our hero  is struggling to find out how to protect the one thing that means the most to him. This, my friends, is a far cry from the playboy and womanizer  we've seen in previous Iron Man movies. Our hero has matured....Grown...And has discovered the one thing that only a good woman can bring out in him: Unconditional love.

This is touched on a bit in the following trailer:

This is not your typical super-hero movie, guys. It is deep, it has pure emotion, and there is an underlying theme of love, hope and sacrifice that anyone would be able to relate to. So take the wives along. I promise, she will thank you!

Iron Man Makes A Little Friend....

Another wonderful thing about Iron Man 3 is that Tony Stark makes an unlikely friend when he least expects it, in the form of a young boy named Harley. (Played by rising star, Ty Simpkins.) This again was something I never would have expected to see in the Iron Man series, but it was definitely a welcomed addition.

The chemistry between Tony and Harley is amazing. Their relationship in the film is both playful and heartwarming. There were a few times I laughed out loud and one occasion that almost made me cry. (I am a known, sap, though!) Again, Iron Man 3 shows a lot more vulnerability on Tony Stark's part, and his relationship with Harley further displays this. Who knew that Iron Man could be almost fatherly?! Robert Downey, Jr. is a Dad in real life, so I'm sure he already knew how to make young Ty comfortable on the set. This pairing of actors is nothing less than genius, in my humble opinion.

Is This the End of Iron Man?

Iron Man 3 definitely has something for everyone. It has the romance that as a woman,  I love seeing in films. And as my husband puts it, "enough stuff blows up" to please the die-hard action fans out there. This movie is even wonderful for teens and older kids, since it has a very fast-paced and engaging storyline. And special effects....Did I mention the amazing special effects?! I especially loved the "Barrel of monkeys" sequence. You'll have to check out the film to see what that's all about, though!

While Iron Man 3 is visually stunning,  has epic fight scenes and spine-tingling action, in Iron Man 3 we see a softer, more emotional, more mature side of Tony Stark. He see him grieve over past choices. We watch him try and make amends for mistakes he has made. We see him wrestle with his emotions in the quest of being not only a better protector for human kind, but a better man in general. And of course, there is the too-real theme of good vs. evil.

In Iron Man 3, a more mature Tony Stark has definitely made sacrifices to follow his heart's true desires. His priorities have shifted. But will this mean the end of Iron Man?

Head to theaters nationwide on May 3, 2013 to find out for yourself! This is one movie you're not going to want to miss!

To learn more Iron Man 3 journey, please follow along on twitter! The hashtag is #IronMan3Event