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On the Scene || ||

EARLY REACTION: 'Iron Man 3' − The Mandarin Is Marvel Studios' Most Daring Super Villain Yet

EARLY REACTION:  'Iron Man 3' − The Mandarin Is Marvel Studios' Most Daring Super Villain Yet

Iron Man 3 screened in Times Square last night, and though it's practically impossible to talk about the Mandarin without spoilers, I've got to say that he is the most daring creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far. As Ben Kingsley, who portrays the villain, said again and again and again in the trailers, "You will never see me coming," and that line resonates even more now that I've seen the movie. more »

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WATCH: 'Iron Man 3' − A Closer Look At Shellhead's Dramatic Air Rescue Sequence

"Marvel's Iron Man 3"Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.)Ph: Film Frame© 2012 MVLFFLLC.  TM & © 2012 Marvel.  All Rights Reserved.

My palms get sweaty just watching this extended clip of what I hear is one of the most riveting sequences in Iron Man 3. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has to suit up in a jiff and attempt to save 13 flailing, screaming people who've been sucked out of what looks like a crippled Air Force One. (If that's the case, it will be the first of two times the Presidential airliner gets blowed up this summer season.  The trailer for Roland Emmerich's White House Down shows the plane's wing being blown off.  more »

Variety Reviews... || ||

REVIEW: 'Iron Man 3' Proves Its Mettle Despite Symptoms Of Franchise Fatigue

REVIEW: 'Iron Man 3' Proves Its Mettle Despite Symptoms Of Franchise Fatigue

The third time is neither a particular charm nor the kiss of death for Marvel Studios robust Iron Man series, which has changed studios (from Paramount to Disney) and directors (Shane Black subbing for Jon Favreau) but otherwise toyed little with the formula that has so far generated more than $1.2 billion in global ticket sales. The inevitable franchise fatigue ― plus a markedly unmemorable villain ― may account for the feeling that Iron Man 3 is more perfunctory and workmanlike than its two predecessors, but this solid production still delivers more than enough of what fans expect to earn its weight in box office metal. more »

Burning Questions || ||

Robert Downey Jr. Confirms He's The $50-Million 'Iron Man' − And Loving It

Robert Downey Jr. Confirms He's The $50-Million 'Iron Man' − And Loving It

In March, I wrote about how Robert Downey Jr. is about as close to indispensable as you can get to Marvel Studios' lucrative superhero movie franchise — and now here's proof from the man himself. In a very entertaining profile of the Iron Man 3 star in the May issue of GQ, Downey confirms to writer Chris Heath that his payday on The Avengers was in the $50-million ballpark. The exchange between the actor and the writer is a thing of beauty:  more »

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The 'Iron Man 3' Onslaught Continues: Two New Videos

The 'Iron Man 3' Onslaught Continues: Two New Videos

Hey, Iron Man 3 fans. I've got some more visuals for you. MTV will be showing an extended clip from the hotly anticipated Marvel movie during its MTV Movie Awards presentation on Sunday, which begins at 9 p.m. And as is the practice these days, the cable channel has put out a teaser clip to whet your appetite. Not much new here — Tony Stark's existential anguish is apparent, already! — although the scene depicting the arrival of the Iron Men appears to be more of a close-up than the one used in previous clips. more »

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WATCH: 'Iron Man 3' Video − The Mandarin Unleashes Red-Eyed 'Terminator'-Style Army

WATCH: 'Iron Man 3' Video − The Mandarin Unleashes Red-Eyed 'Terminator'-Style Army

There's a new TV spot for Iron Man 3 out, and it drops a few new tantalizing images and hints.  The clip begins with the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) channeling Richard Nixon with some "My fellow Americans" shtick before proclaiming that "my soldiers will destroy your country." more »

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WATCH: Iron Man Flips Out In Marvel Phase 2 Preview

WATCH: Iron Man Flips Out In Marvel Phase 2 Preview

A few weeks ago I wrote about the importance of Robert Downey Jr. to the future phases of Marvel's superhero film rollout. With Tuesday's release of the limited edition Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One – Avengers Assembled Blu-ray box set comes some corroboration, plus a cool scene of Iron Man doing some acrobatic hot-dogging just to put on his mask.  more »

Talkback || ||

Which 'Avengers' Cast Members Are Most Expendable?

Which 'Avengers' Cast Members Are Most Expendable?

There's an interview with Robert Downey Jr. in Collider that's got me thinking about the actors in Marvel's very lucrative superhero stable.  When the website's Steve "Frosty" Weintraub asked the actor if he's going to sign on for several more Marvel movies or take them "one at a time", Downey responded that he wasn't sure but then added candidly: "Let’s just say that me, the agents and the lawyers are having a bit of a ball right now."   more »

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WATCH: There's My Boys! Final 'Iron Man 3' Trailer Offers Sneak Look At Tony Stark's Metal Army

WATCH: There's My Boys! Final 'Iron Man 3' Trailer Offers Sneak Look At Tony Stark's Metal Army

This latest and last trailer for Iron Man 3 before the Marvel movie's May 3 release takes a while to work up a head of steam, but stick with it. Do your best to ignore the cringe-inducing dialect that Ben Kingsley has adopted to play the Mandarin — "you'lllll neverrrr see me coming" — try not to be distracted by Gwyneth Paltrow in a black bra and wait for the final shots of this Yahoo! exclusive.  more »

First Looks || ||

Say Hello To My Metal Friends: New 'Iron Man 3' Poster Reveals Alloyed Forces

Say Hello To My Metal Friends: New 'Iron Man 3' Poster Reveals Alloyed Forces

A new Iron Man 3 trailer will hit the Internets on March 5.  In the meantime, Yahoo! has posted this exclusive new poster, which depicts an army of iron men rising behind a clearly cheesed-off Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) whose armored suit is behaving like an iPhone that was accidentally dropped into a toilet. According to SlashFilm, this reveal may be a reference to the rumored climax of the movie in which Stark summons some multiple metal wingmen to kick some Mandarin pu pu platter, or whoever it is that's causing all the trouble in his life.  more »

Biz Break || ||

Helen Hunt To Receive Palm Springs Fest Fete; Robert Downey Jr's 'Pinocchio' Moves Forward: Biz Break

Helen Hunt To Receive Palm Springs Fest Fete; Robert Downey Jr's 'Pinocchio' Moves Forward: Biz Break

Also in Friday's news round-up, the studio suits are jubilant on Skyfall's box office prospects; Ted passes a b.o. milestone and a quick look at the weekend's new Specialty Releases including Silver Linings Playbook and Anna Karenina.
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First Iron Man 3 Trailer: What Do You Think?

First Iron Man 3 Trailer: What Do You Think?

Tony Stark is struggling to hold it together in the first trailer for Iron Man 3, and that's before Ben Kingsley as conveniently and ambiguously-ethnic baddie The Mandarin enters the picture with his samurai hair and his even more ambiguous weirdo accent.
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Close Reads || ||

'Iron Man 3' Teaser-palooza! Trailer Foreshadows Pepper Potts' Peril

'Iron Man 3' Teaser-palooza! Trailer Foreshadows Pepper Potts' Peril

With the first Iron Man 3 trailer premiering on Tuesday, Disney whet franchise fans' appetites by releasing a 17-second teaser trailer and poster for the latest installment of the metallic Marvel superhero saga. The trailer is one of those blink-and-you-miss-it deals that raises more questions than it answers, but, based on  the movie-trailer-foreshadowing course I took in college, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow)  will be in some definite danger come May.  more »

Newswire || ||

'Iron Man 3' And 'Thor 2' Storylines Share Common Threads − They're 'Personal' And Vague

'Iron Man 3' And 'Thor 2' Storylines Share Common Threads − They're 'Personal' And Vague

Walt Disney dropped a few more hints about the plots of Iron Man 3 and Thor 2:  The Dark World on Thursday, and, well, I wish I could say they were scintillating. In an effort not to give away the store, both synopses are fairly vague, although both stress how "personal" the battles they'll be waging are. more »

First Looks || ||

Yes, But What Does the First Photo from Iron Man 3 MEAN?

Iron Man 3 first image

You may look at this first photo from the set of Iron Man 3 and think, "Gee, Tony Stark has a lot of toys." I look at it — a shot of Robert Downey Jr. as Stark, gazing at his wall of Iron Man suits in a lab/Hall of Ego scattered with gadgets and gizmos aplenty — and remember I need to do laundry. Also, I need a bigger closet. Why does Tony Stark have so many wardrobe options?
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