7 Problems with ‘Iron Man 3’
The consensus here at the House of Geekery is that Iron Man 3 is quite possibly the best in the series to date. It’s well paced, it focuses on characters, Iron Man has a worthy foe and the action is big and bombastic. It’s also full of some glaring plot holes and problems. It’s a good thing the movie was so much bloody fun because this clunky moments would’ve unsaddled a lesser film. What problems are we talking about?
(Spoilers, obviously.)
#7 – Security on Air Force One
When Iron Patriot/Mandarin gets on board the Presidential plane Air Force One with the intention of take the big man hostage the rest Secret Service on board stood little chance. What chance they may have had is thrown out with a cabin window is hit with a bullet and the cabin depressurises. Wait – Air Force One doesn’t have bullet-proof windows?
#6 – Pepper Left Hanging
During the explosive finale to the movie Pepper is doing the classic damsel in distress routine of dangling from a high ledge. Tony Stark busts his ass trying to reach her in time and save her useless self but is frequently prevented from doing so. With his super genius it’s strange that he didn’t think to send one of the many Iron Man suits zipping around the place to scoop her up, since it had been shown a number of times that they could make themselves handy at the drop of a hat.
#4 – Killian and Pepper
Ok, what’s his deal with Pepper? He seemed really hung up on getting her by his side, and there’s an indication that they have known each other in the past but he rally puts a lot of his plan on the line trying to get her on his own team. If he really wanted to piss off Stark he could’ve simply killed her.
#3 – Killian’s Motivation
On that note, what’s his problem in the first place? Ok, so Stark made a fool of him back in the day and now he’s got a big plan for taking over America…but why? Indicators point to him having this plan in motion well before he set up the Think Tank and everything he has pursued in the meantime have been towards his plan of creating a faux terrorist and replacing the President. But why? What’s his ideological position and what does he gain? He’s already rich, powerful and dangerous, there’s little to gain from all this.
#2 – Trevor is the Worst Possible Man for the Job
What on Earth made them chose Trevor for the role of the Mandarin? Killian needed someone who could be controlled, and Trevor’s drug habit made that possible. But the guy is a complete disaster, desperate for work and kept in the dark about everything happening. First issue – how exactly did they keep him convinced that he was only acting and not killing people when he shoots someone on live television? Then there’s the massive juxtaposition between how professional he is in the role of the Mandarin and how he acts off camera. It’s difficult to imagine how this guy, who regularly nods off while people have guns pointed at him, gets his job done. It would be equally effective if they had a drug-addicted actor who was more clued in to what was happening but shared the ideology of the Mandarin and was willing to play that role.
#1 – Gwyneth Paltrow is in it
Yeah, we really don’t like her.
How about the fact that Tony’s having panic attacks about how unprepared he is for potential future alien attacks… so he blows up, what? 20… 30 specialized suits he made to help him prepare?
Seriously… Couldn’t possibly ever need those again. It’s not like they just saved the ass of everything he’s ever cared about.
They weren’t the morally questionable Oracle project from the Dark Knight… it made no sense.
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Damn, I knew I forgot something. Yeah, I don’t know what he was trying to prove blowing up all the suits.
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Great article! But not all of us writers here dislike GP in these films; quite the opposite in fact.
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If only Rachel McAdams hadn’t turned it down…
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Yeah good point, I love McAdams but I thought Paltrow owned the role of Pepper Potts in all 3 movies and would argue that she’s one of the best parts of Iron Man 3.
I agree with a bunch of these though, especially the Air Force One moments and the questionable background of Trevor
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I agree with Jamie, I love GP in the Iron Man films and I think with Iron Man 3 she’s given us some of her best stuff yet. I don’t see anyone else working as Pepper, her and RDJ share the perfect chemistry. Rachel McAdams I don’t think shares that with him, and I really couldn’t see her in the role, sorry Funkster.
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That scene in the motel with Mya was easily the worst acting in the movie. Nodding with her hand on her chin and a furrowed brow made her look like an actor in a high school production.
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Yes, I’m glad I’m not the only one who had issues with it. The Mandarin reveal marred the rest of the movie for me. Before that reveal, I felt like Tony actually had a real threat to face, but Killian was just not threatening enough for me. He didn’t seem to get under Tony’s skin, in the way that I thought the Mandarin could.
Of course, I have to credit the makers with pulling off that reveal without anyone knowing it was going to happen. Ballsy from Marvel.
I would say, with regards the suits, it’s not like it takes him a long time to build them. It’s part of his psychological trouble, where he felt the suit was what made him special, rather than his own abilities (to make the suits, for example).
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Reblogged this on Don't Worry, Be Happy.
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Could not have agreed more with #4. It’s been bugging me since I saw this film, and I’m glad someone else was distracted by that!
You’re right though… It was a good movie.
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They could have paid an actor, or kidnapped an actor, why a drug addict?
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He WAS an actor.
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My point is that could’ve found one who was such an unreliable mess.
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Who also was a homeless drug addict.
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I can’t handle how excited I am about this right now.
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In regards to #3 if the VP becomes the President and Killian is essentially in charge of him (behind the scenes) then he’s pretty much in charge of the whole country. Seems like pretty good motivation to me.
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This entire part of the character was only implied towards the end. Physically he was a good match but with more background he could’ve been more intimidating.
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I loved Trevor. He was easily the best thing in the movie. I also dislike GP but I got to admit, she does own the role. Especially in this fourth instalment. And about # 3; doesn’t all the true baddies want the world domination?
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BLA BLA….IRON MAN 3 IS WAYYY TOO COOL FOR ME TO EVEN BOTHER ABOUT THOSE CRAPS.
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Pepper going all hardcore Extremis at the end was laaaaaame.
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Gwyneth Paltrow is the worst thing about these movies. There is a reason why the trailers for Iron Man 2 showing Stark jumping out of the plane saying I love you was cut from the actual movie, its terrible. The whole love story between stark and potts is questionable at best. Pepper Potts exists for one reason, without her Iron Man is a total dude fest.
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How did the iron patriot (with the president inside) leave airforce one while it was still in the air. Also how was iron man able to board the plane without the pressure dropping?
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