Release Date: May 3,2013
MPAA Rating:PG-13
Director: Shane Black
Studio: New Line Cinema
Genre: Action
Stars: Robert Downey Jr. Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce
This movie makes me really sad. Not because it’s a bad film, but because it could signal the end of an era. Tony Stark has been Robert Downey Jr. since day one and he portrayed the character with utter perfection that it’s hard to see anyone else filling his rather large boots. Unfortunately, this may be the case as his last turn as the billionaire, playboy might come after The Avengers 2. If this is the end for Downey Jr. then he’s going out with a bang, a huge bang. Let me wipe my fan boy tears away and get to the review.
Ironman 3 follows life after the events in New York from The Avengers movie. Tony Stark has become a shut in. He works tirelessly on new suits and technology in his lab for fear of another attack from unknown enemies. He’s afflicted with PTSD as he’s become traumatized from the experience of meeting aliens, gods, and monsters. He wakes up from nightmares of the battle against Loki. He can’t even hear people talk about the events without freaking out. While being asked about what he was going to do about a new terrorist calling himself The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), Tony calls out the psychopath in front of a swarm of reporters. This of course brings ruin to Starks front door and The Mandarin levels his home with a helicopter assault. From this point on Starks whole world is turned upside down.
This movie was almost perfect my only complaint was the complete non-factor the 3-D was in the film. They had really cool customized Ironman 3 glasses and no real 3-D parts to speak of. It seemed to me to be a ploy to grab a few more bucks from the viewer’s pockets. But, beside that this film is pitch perfect from the pacing to the performances of the main and bit players. Of course, Tony Stark is played aptly by Downey Jr. as always. Don Cheadle cemented himself as James Rhodes. I don’t think Terrance Howard would’ve been as effective in the role if he continued after the first movie. Kingsley is brilliant in his role in the film and one of the many pleasant surprises throughout Ironman 3. The banter and chemistry between Downey Jr. and Ty Simpkins as Harley is phenomenal. Stark pretty much finds his smart mouthed snarky child counterpart in Harley as they constantly go back and forth with one another and form a cute little friendship.
I mean I could rant about this movie more and more but I think that seeing this film will tell you more than my internet geek out session in this review. If you read the previous three paragraphs you know that I loved this film and I have a sneaking suspicion you will too. Oh yeah, and stay behind for the now standard after credits additional scene in Avengers related movies. Ironman 3 takes home 5 out of 5 stars as the 3-D money siphon isn’t enough to diminish any part of these two hours of movie magic. Fingers crossed we get at least one more performance out of Robert Downey Jr. in Avengers 2.
If you were born in the ’80s, ’90s, or literally ANY decade after those, you know about Super Mario. A cultural phenomenon was brought to life on the big screen this last weekend. One that has not only stood the test of time but reinvented itself time and time again. This wasn’t even the first time it’s been made into a movie but, well, let’s be honest.. some of us choose not to acknowledge the LIVE action adaptation of the beloved game from 30 years ago.
It was pretty bad… But this was animation. ILLUMINATION animation at that. The Universal company that brought us Gru and his Minions, showed us the Secret Life of Pets, and gave us a reason to SING! Still, I had my reservations and even some concerns, especially when the casting was announced.
Eyebrows were raised. As big of stars as they were on paper, could they really deliver on voicing characters from a staple of our childhood? They did.
Chris Pratt and Charlie Day may not be Italian, and Jack Black may not be a King or Turtle creature from the Mushroom Kingdom, but they make the characters their own all while paying homage to the lore of a video game.
From the jump, the story reintroduces us to the brothers that just want to save Brooklyn one clogged sink at a time. We feel an instant connection and relate to these “underdogs of the plumbing world”. The movie is riddled with easter eggs, each of which tugs on the heartstrings of every generation of Mario fandom. And the soundtrack was beautifully put together to not only make us feel like we’re taking a walkthrough of the game but like an experience all its own with some familiar favorites thrown in.
Every word in the movie is pure eye candy for both those that are casual fans, and those analyzing every frame to see what they’ll catch next. Bowser’s ship, the Mushroom Kingdom, Kong’s arena, and the Rainbow Road.. They’re all meant to give us just enough of a “new” look at these amazing worlds, but stay true to how we remember them.
The movie itself moves along at the perfect pace. Although, if you don’t really know ANYTHING about the Super Mario Bros, you may have gotten a little lost and felt left behind in the green tunnel. But that’s ok! It’s an adventure of the imagination and a classic story of a boy that meets a girl and tries to save the world from a monster that wants to destroy it.
What’s funny is that you could easily say this is a story about two characters who couldn’t be more opposite if they tried, battling to win the heart of a princess. Who would’ve thought that the King of the Koopas was just trying to impress his crush?
And that song? Ohhh THAT song! It’s my new ringtone and deserves the Oscar for Best Original Song.
Back to the movie.
Universal and Illumination clearly understood the assignment. Is it missing some things or could things have been done differently or even better? Absolutely! We’re the worst critics of the things we hold nearest and dearest to our hearts. But if you’re up for going on a 90-minute adventure through amazing worlds, with awesome music, and characters that’ll make you smile and laugh, then this is the perfect movie to spring you into that warm summer feeling.
Plus there’s the whole part with karts and shells, and banana peels and oh my goodness how amazing was that?? It’s enough to make you want to stand up and cheer, then go home and destroy your friends and family on your favorite track haha.
The bottom line, it pays homage in all the right ways to the little guy with the mustache, while giving us something new and exciting. Take the kids and go see Super Mario Bros. You’ll be glad you did!
Justice League x RWBY: Superheroes & Hunters Opening Act Saturday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m. on North 200A. Talent confirmed so far to participate in the post-screening panel is Natalie Alyn Lind (Big Sky, The Goldbergs, Gotham) as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and longtime RWBY cast member Lindsay Jones (Camp Camp) as Ruby, Kara Eberle ( RWBY: Ice Queendom) as Weiss, Arryn Zech (Detective Now Dead) as Blake and Barbara Dunkelman (Blood Fest) as Yang – along with Jeannie Tirado (Soul, Saints Row) as Green Lantern and Tru Valentino (The Rookie, The Cuphead Show!) as a cyborg. Also attending the panel will be producer/director Kerry Shawcross (series RWBY) and writer Meghan Fitzmartin (Supernatural, Justice Society: World War II).
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023 with the big screen debut from DC Animated Films: highlights this year include the world premieres of the highly anticipated Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham and Justice League x RWBY: Superheroes & Hunters Part One the weekend of March 24-26 in Anaheim, California. Both screenings will be followed by panel discussions with actors and creators. Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham premieres at The Arena on Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m. Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Uncharted) as Kai Li Cain, Christopher Gorham (The Lincoln Lawyer, Insatiable) as Oliver Queen, David Dastmalchian (Dune, Suicide Squad, Ant-Man) as Grendon, producer/co-director Sam Liu (The Death and the Return of Superman), co-director Christopher Berkeley (Young Justice) and screenwriter Jase Ricci (Teen Titans Go! and DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem Across the Multiverse).
Both films will have encore screenings in the Arena on Sunday, March 26. Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part One will screen at 12:15pm, followed by Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham at 2:00pm
No Question Mark Box Here; Super Mario Delivers a 1-Up in Theaters
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Crunnchyroll presents ‘BOFURI: I don’t want to get hurt so I’ll max out my defense’: You’re not twinking!
‘Knock at the Cabin’: Puttin on your boogie shoes!
No Question Mark Box Here; Super Mario Delivers a 1-Up in Theaters
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
An Askewed View Episode 7 Jay And Silent Bob Reboot
