The blockbuster season officially begins with "Iron Man 3," an action-packed third installment to the Marvel franchise with a strengthened emotional core.

IRON MAN 3

Main Cast: Robert Downey Jr.
Supporting Cast: Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Ben Kingsley
Director: Shane Black
Genre: Superhero, Action, Adventure
Released by: Columbia Pictures
MTRCB Rating: GP

Movie Info: Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man? –Disney

The Positive: Hiring Shane Black as the new director of the movie franchise is such a breath of fresh air. Known for helming rapid fire action movies like “Lethal Weapon” and “Last Action Hero,” Black tripled the action sequences in the latest “Iron Man” film but at the same time improved its emotional core. His take on Tony Stark as a superhero who bleeds and prone to nightmares and panic attacks and armor-less in several of the fight scenes gives the character more humanity and makes him more relatable.

Robert Downey Jr has proven yet again that no one can give justice to the character better that he does. The Iron Man suit fits him like a glove and his take on the witty dialogues that Black has co-written is superb. The supporting cast performed very well, too.

The Negative: The third installment is not cohesive with the previous outings and it separates itself from the Marvel connection by the non-inclusion of S.H.I.E.L.D. and other Avengers. Fans will definitely miss that.

Memorable Lines:

The Mandarin: You don’t know who I am. You’ll never see me coming.

Tony Stark: You’re not a man. You’re nothing more than a maniac.

Quality:

Entertainment:

STARMOMETER SCORE: 9.5/10

“Iron Man 3” Trailer: