The Cranky Purple Sourface Grump

“You could not live with your own failure, and where did that bring you? Back to me.”  ~ Thanos

“Who hasn’t been to space? You’d better not throw up on my ship.” ~ Rocket

“If I tell you what happens, it won’t happen.” ~ Doctor Strange

“What I’m saying is… time works differently in the quantum realm. I can’t stop thinking about what if we could control the chaos and navigate it.” ~ Scott Lang\

“If we do this, how do we know it’s going to end any differently than it did before?” ~ Bruce Banner

“Because before, you didn’t have me.” ~ Carol Danvers

“Natasha, you know what I’ve done. You know what I’ve become.” ~ Clint Barton 

“Well, I don’t judge people on their worst mistakes.” ~ Natasha Romanoff 

“Maybe you should.” ~ Clint Barton 

“You didn’t.” ~ Natasha Romanoff

“I can put a pin in it right now. And stop.” ~ Tony Stark

“Let’s kill him properly this time.” ~ Thor

“We lost. All of us. We lost friends. We lost family. We lost a part of ourselves. This is the fight of our lives.” ~ Steve Rogers

Avengers Infinity War ended on a stunner, with the villain triumphant and wiping out half of everything in existence with the snap of his Infinity Gauntlet toting fingers. Just like that, endless beings were turned into dust before the eyes of friends and loved ones, the heroes were shocked, and the villain was satisfied with what he deemed a job well done. And of course, unless you want to torture the fan base forever by leaving it right there (imagine the psychological damage of Marvel Studios saying that’s the end of the line with this nihilistic ending), of course there had to be a follow up. And so we have Avengers: Endgame.

The film opens in a tranquil way, with the former Avenger Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner, making a welcome return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Hawkeye) at home with his wife and family, still under house arrest but living peacefully. All of that is shattered when he finds himself completely alone. He might not understand what happened, but the audience does- their existence has been wiped out. And so the surviving heroes of the last film hunt down their adversary Thanos (Josh Brolin), but find themselves unable to set things right.

Five years pass by, and the world’s a darker place. The loss of loved ones have left their mark on people the world over. Things are becoming overgrown and neglected. Heroes have found themselves struggling with despair in different ways. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has retreated to a life in the countryside with his wife Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) and their daughter Morgan. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has settled a number of Asgardian refugees in Scandinavia, but has taken to drinking himself into oblivion and getting out of shape- all while looking like The Dude in The Big Lebowski. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) has found a way to make the Hulk less of a problem and more part of the solution by merging his intellect with the Hulk’s brawn. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) are managing their surviving teammates in dealing with various issues, but both are strained at the edges. And into the mix comes the Ant-Man, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), who spent five years in the Quantum Realm as seen at the ending of Ant-Man & The Wasp, though for him it’s been much less time… and he might have a solution that can set things right.

The screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely picks up where their last screenplay left off. The pair are more than familiar with the Marvel Cinematic Universe by now, having had done the same for Thor: The Dark World, all three Captain America films, and Avengers: Infinity War. This time they weave in elements like time travel, heists for Infinity Stones in the past, despair and renewal, sacrifice, loyalty, emotional closure, and empathy, using them in different ways among the protagonists. Their story ultimately brings together a huge cast of heroes and villains- more than the last film, with the return of Hawkeye and the addition of Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), as well as a few surprise faces in cameos here and there, but for a good part of the film their focus is on the surviving heroes as they try to set back the clock and save the universe.

The dynamics that come out during that are interesting ones- the common bond between Rhodey (Don Cheadle) and Nebula (Karen Gillan), who both live with broken bodies. Thor and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) bantering and bickering while covertly making their way around Asgard during the events of The Dark World, and Thor finding his way in the most unexpected of ways. Scott coming back to a world where he knows something has gone horribly wrong and knowing that it has to be set right. Bruce as Hulk trying to reason his way with someone whose worldview is entirely different from his scientific rationalism. The deep friendship between Natasha and the emotionally wounded Clint, and their inherent trust in each other. And Steve and Tony finding their way past their falling out to trust each other again.

The Russo brothers, Anthony and Joe, return to helm the film as directors, following up the last one, and they too are familiar with how the Marvel Cinematic Universe works, having had also worked on the second and third parts of the Captain America films. Their work on this one follows that pattern of excellent work, with CGI never overwhelming the film but serving the story. They can mount epic action sequences and yet keep the audience from getting overwhelmed and lost in it all. Mostly they keep the story grounded in their characters and in the actors. A couple of moments show that- Thor getting closure with one character (and thus finding his way out of his own torment), or Scott’s interlude with a passing boy- whose silent expression is all the answer to his question. A different director wouldn’t dwell on such moments, but the Russos let the characterization govern the film.

Much of what we see in the film have been places we’ve already seen in previous films, but the fantastic settings of distant worlds and deep space are well rendered, as well as Asgard in its glory. The same applies to the Quantum Realm, already seen in the two Ant-Man films but providing a vital element to the story this time out. This being a story about time travel, we see aspects of previous films from different angles, and nods to the plotlines of earlier films, and yet the attention to detail is such that things don’t appear out of place when we see our heroes in the past. Set construction and costuming allows for that, but so does CGI as needed- a scene with a young Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) comes to mind.

The cast of course is epic in scale, with many of the actors reprising their roles from earlier films before it’s all said and done, but the focus of the film is on one antagonist and several survivors. Josh Brolin was well chosen as the nihilistic Thanos, who sought to wipe out half of existence to balance the scales, as it were. Having had succeeded in his quest, there’s not a lot for him to do, or so it seems, as time travel plays into the film and we’re not quite done with him. Thanos acts because he believes he’s right, but it’s not personal… at least until late in the game when he decides it should be. It’s a good take on the character, a ruthless force of nature that Brolin brings out the best in. I can’t imagine anyone else playing him.

 Karen Gillan, playing his adopted daughter Nebula once again, gets a lot to do. First introduced as a villain in Guardians Of The Galaxy (and in fact we see some of her at that stage of her life as we get Nebula at two stages of her life), the character evokes sympathy, especially now that we know that she has been tortured and abused by the man she only wanted approval of. Her allegiances have shifted, and the actress plays to that, taking the role and making the most of it. Bradley Cooper returns to voice Rocket, the talking raccoon (just don’t call him that) with an attitude and an engineering savvy to match. This time the character finds himself in an unlikely spot, having to be tough with a god of thunder whose mind isn’t quite on the ball, all while keep check on his own grief for the Guardians, the only family he had.

Brie Larson, having had made her debut in Captain Marvel, turns up here as a force to be reckoned with. Carol Danvers has become a hero, but her area of responsibility spans far beyond the Earth. She’s direct and forceful as she needs to be, calm in the face of adversity when she wants to be, and continues to invest the character with the right kind of spirit. I like Thor’s reaction to her- as well as a moment late in the film between her and Peter Parker (Tom Holland). She’s all confidence, and that’s how Larson plays her. Don Cheadle has been in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for quite some time as James Rhodes, aka War Machine, Tony Stark’s best friend and a military officer. He’s always given the character the steady hand that you’d expect out of an officer, as well as the temperament that one would have to have to deal with Tony Stark on a regular basis. The character pushes back against what might be the instinct to despair because duty requires him to do so.

Gwyneth Paltrow has said this will be her last turn as Pepper Potts, once Tony’s assistant, now his wife. The film gives the two characters a good deal of time, as well as a personal stake- their daughter Morgan, entirely too cute. She knows her husband well, knows that once he has an idea in his head he won’t let it go, and so instead gives her blessing. The film gives her more to do, including a suit of armor, a nice touch as the film gets into epic mode, but it also respects the character and lets the actress bring out the sympathy, resolve, and strength that she’s shown before in the part. The character has drastically changed since the beginning of the film. Paul Rudd, having had played Scott Lang in three previous MCU films, is familiar with the role and his place in things. The standard humour of the character is underplayed given how dark things have become, but it’s there, and Rudd also brings a sense of direction to the others as he provides the one ray of hope for making things right. I like how Rudd works with the other actors, even if their characters haven’t been in the mix before, and the film gives him a lot to do before it’s all said and done.

Mark Ruffalo actually spends a good part of the film as the Hulk, in a version we haven’t seen before in the movies. This Hulk combines the intelligence of Banner and the power of the Hulk, and it’s Banner’s voice talking- and in fact this version of the Hulk has a closer look to Banner’s face. Part CGI or motion capture by Ruffalo, the effect is seamless. It’s odd, but funny, to see a Hulk sized Banner cheerfully interact with fans, and we get a bit more humour in seeing an earlier version of the Hulk unappreciative of what’s a standard part of highrise infrastructure. For the most part, however, Ruffalo’s take on the character has new touches. Banner is initially resigned to how things are, has changed his approach to viewing the Hulk not as a problem, but as a constructive solution, and experiences grief as the story develops. It’s a sympathetic take on the character building on what has come before.

Jeremy Renner’s return as Clint Barton was overdue, and quite welcome. Opening the film with him and his family turned out to be a wise way to do so, and what happens informs everything he does from that point on. Five years pass and the character is a shadow, exacting a personal war on crime across the world, taking no prisoners, channeling his grief into his mission. His look has changed, evoking his Ronin look from the comics. Clint is a broken man, refusing to allow himself to hope, and his journey involves his grief, guilt, and finding his way back to trusting others again. Renner plays to that throughout.

The other half of that equation is the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff. She and Clint have long been partners, have had each other’s backs, inherently understand each other. She seeks him out because she still deems him her friend, because he’s saved her and she knows she must do the same for him, lost in his own pain. Scarlett Johansson plays off that in her interactions with Renner, and it’s good to see that partnership and trust come back. Her Natasha finds herself at a difficult time early on, keeping herself working more to keep herself from dwelling on what’s been lost, but also investing the character with a strong sense of responsibility. And yet with all the gravitas around her, there are moments of levity- I particularly enjoyed a threat of a tossed sandwich at a colleague.

Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor, aka the God of Thunder, aka the King of the Asgardians, aka The Dude, aka The Big Lebowski. In the wake of the events of the last film, Thor has given up on everything, spending his days drinking himself into oblivion, getting himself quite out of shape, and looking like Jeff Bridges in that aforementioned cult classic film. Hemsworth actually gets to bring out a lot of the humour of the film in his drunkenness, but the character’s binges and I could care less attitude conceals his own wounds and despair. It’s a good touch for the character, who finally finds his way back to himself through the intervention of the one character it makes the most sense to have doing so. In finding his purpose again, the character’s journey is one that brings him back to resolve.

Robert Downey Jr. started the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe in the first Iron Man film, in which his Tony Stark found his life changing because of the sacrifice of one unlikely fellow prisoner who told him to make something better of himself and the world. That has informed the character throughout his travels in the franchise ever since, as even under the snark and sharp wit of the actor there’s been the underlying theme of a man seeking to make things better. Tony has given up in a different way from Thor’s way, but the result is the same. He’s hidden himself away from the world, seeking solace in the quiet countryside with his wife and his child. He feels deep guilt about the teenaged Peter Parker he mentored and then saw turn to ash. But the Stark mind is still the same, and when presented with a challenge rises to the occasion. Downey’s take on the character remains emotionally invested in his family, while understanding that he must make things better. Along the way he gets some closure in a surprising way, and gets to restore the rift that’s existed between him and Steve since the events of Captain America: Civil War. The performance turns out to be a cathartic one for the actor and the audience- a brilliant but stubborn man standing up to a nihilistic monster.

Chris Evans also gets closure playing Captain America. The character has from the start been one of courage, resolve, optimism, and strength, qualities that Evans has always played to as an actor. Steve Rogers is a leader, and that shows itself early on as he leads self-help groups trying to cope with the sudden losses of their lives, or the Avengers coping with various issues on Earth and beyond. A man dedicated to duty, Steve has seen the darkest humanity- and beyond- has offered, but it hasn’t broken him. The optimism is there, shaken as it is, seen in conversations with some of his colleagues. And yet when a potential solution is presented, he knows it must be acted on. It’s refreshing to see the fractured friendship between he and Tony restored, which both actors play to. It’s also good to see that steel will and raw courage present itself again when face to face with the being who wiped out half the cosmos. Just as it’s also good to see him get to do something for himself… even if that puts all sorts of theoretical questions into the mix.

Avengers Endgame has the emotional payoff that’s been building for years through the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it provides emotional closure and endings for some characters on the one hand, it also tugs at the heartstrings for others. The stakes have never been higher, but the film chooses to find its foundation in its characters instead of letting special effects overwhelm the characters. An epic adventure and a personal tale, the film brings to a satisfying and thrilling conclusion for one era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all while allowing for what is yet to come. 

Just A Wee Bit Of A Disagreement

“We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are our own.” ~ Captain America

“We need to be put in check. Whatever form that takes, I’m game.” ~ Tony Stark

“Captain, while a great many people see you as a hero, there are some who prefer the word vigilante. You’ve operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That’s something the world can no longer tolerate.” ~ Thaddeus Ross

“Look, man, I know you know a lot of super people, so... thanks for thinking of me.” ~ Ant-Man

“If you do this, they will never stop being afraid of you.” ~ Vision 

“I can’t control their fear, only my own.” ~ Scarlet Witch

 “Are we still friends?” ~ Black Widow 

“That depends on how hard you punch me.” ~ Hawkeye

“I’m trying to prevent you from tearing the Avengers apart.” ~ Iron Man 

“You did that when you signed.” ~ Captain America

Marvel Studios continues its run of comic book adaptations with Captain America: Civil War, which could easily be titled Avengers: Civil War, since almost all of the team turn up through the film. The film brings back brother directors Anthony and Joe Russo, who helmed the previous Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as well as previous cast members, all while introducing some key new characters. Along the way, the story ties closely to the previously established continuity of the Avengers world, and ends up pitting heroes against each other... all while a villain pulls strings from behind the scenes.

The film opens years in the past, with the brainwashed Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), otherwise known as the Winter Soldier, dispatched by Hydra on an assassination mission. In the present day, months after the Avengers defeated Ultron, Captain America (Chris Evans) and some of his fellow Avengers work to bring down a familiar adversary, though there are casualties along the way. The team are informed that the UN wants oversight on the team; the news is delivered by the Secretary of State, Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt, reprising his military officer role which he last played in The Incredible Hulk).

The issue has the team seeing things differently. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), who’s been feeling guilty about creating Ultron in the first place and the destruction caused by it, supports the initiative. Steve Rogers has more faith in himself than in government agencies. One can see the validity of both arguments, but the dilemma has the team becoming fractured, particularly after the assassination of an esteemed African king at the hands of the Winter Soldier.

The screenplay is by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who wrote the two previous Captain America films, as well as Thor: The Dark World, and the Chronicles Of Narnia series. The story really comes across as a continuation of where things left off with The Winter Soldier, while also playing off the events of Avengers Age Of Ultron. It takes elements from a comics big event called Civil War, which threw the idea of superhuman registration into the mix. One character created for that event is reprised here, the notion of regulation is explored, and two opposing viewpoints expressed most strongly by Cap and Iron Man are clearly designated. That said, the film takes those plot points and goes off in a different and much better direction (the original limited series, written by a hack of a writer named Mark Millar, can be avoided).

Rather than an epic war torn film, the script plays like a psychological thriller, with hints of the Western here and there- with clearly drawn lines and little shades of grey. It’s hard to pick sides between the schism that forms up in the Avengers, but it’s easy to understand both points of view, and that comes across through the script. The story plays around with themes of personal and public responsibility, the loyalties of friendships, and political intrigue. And while it deals with heroes finding themselves on opposing sides of an ethical dilemma, the script does allow for villainy to rear its head, giving us an adversary who’s drawn differently from his Marvel origins, and yet is just as devious. Markus and McFeely’s script even brings in some humour, while maintaining the established characterization in what turns out to be a very large cast.

The Russos did exceedingly well with The Winter Soldier, and so it makes perfect sense to bring them back to direct this film. They’ve already shown that they have a good take on action, something that’s pretty much essential in a Marvel adaptation, but they also have the right touch in letting characters shine, which happens throughout- a difficult task when one is dealing with such a sizeable cast. The film was shot in various spots around the world, suitable since the story features globe-trotting locations, both real and Marvel-created; the use of a German airport- strangely not that busy- features heavily in the film, for instance. And I really liked the look of the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda.

While many of the characters through the film are previously established in other films in terms of costume design and other such details, three new characters key to the film show up, and I like the way the production crew gave their looks. Spider-Man (Tom Holland) makes his debut in the Marvel cinematic universe (thanks to a deal with Sony, who have apparently gotten tired of rebooting the character), and the character’s look is very much in the tradition of the comics. 

Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) also makes his debut, and I really liked the sleek, high tech look of the character’s uniform, fitting with his African origins and totally badass. Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl), a villain from the comics, on the other hand, does not have any of his traditional look- no mask, but the character’s look fits what the story has in store for him. In addition, the Russos brought back Henry Jackman to compose the score- he did the tense, slightly nihilistic score for The Winter Soldier- Jackman’s score expands on where he started from and moves in new directions.

The cast is a big one, but everyone feels cohesive to the purposes of the story. Martin Freeman (Sherlock, The Hobbit) turns up as an American government official, Everett Ross, tied to the Panther in the comics, somewhat ambiguous in terms of his world view. Marisa Tomei turns up as Peter’s aunt May Parker- still too young, but filling the maternal worrying aspect of the character. Alfre Woodard appears as Miriam Sharpe, a character from the comics, fulfilling the same role as she did in the Civil War limited series- making Tony Stark feel profoundly guilty, while not being nearly as obnoxious as her comics counterpart. William Hurt reprises his role as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who’s moved on from his military days spent hunting the Hulk to politics; he’s still as dismissive of heroes as ever, still comes across as a man bearing a permanent grudge.

John Kani was a surprise appearance as T’Chaka, the ill fated king of Wakanda; I really liked his work in The Ghost And The Darkness, and his appearance here was welcome. Emily VanCamp reprises her role from The Winter Soldier as Sharon Carter, the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who’s moved over to the CIA. Sharon has history with Cap, and the two characters have a common world view and good chemistry. Frank Grillo also returns from The Winter Soldier as the ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and Hydra loyalist Brock Lumlow, aka Crossbones, still imposing as ever (the look the production crew give him here suits him), and still bearing a serious grudge, which certainly comes across in how Grillo plays him.

Daniel Bruhl, who I last saw in Rush (opposite Chris Hemsworth- with the absence of Thor in this film, there’s a missed chance to have a double-take between the actors) plays Helmut Zemo, the villain of the film. He’s a man of facades, a military officer turned terrorist from Sokovia, the country devastated by the events of Age Of Ultron, and obsessed with revenge against the Avengers for the destruction in his country. It makes his motives understandable, at least- he’s lost loved ones and blames it on the heroes. Zemo’s quite different from his comics counterpart, in terms of background and his look, but the character in the film is devious, clever, and knows how to pull strings. Bruhl certainly plays to that, giving Zemo a ruthless, manipulative touch that fits into the Marvel universe very well indeed. He’s a bastard, but a relatable one, and he ends up making a compelling villain.

Paul Rudd reprises his role as Scott Lang after last year’s Ant-Man. The character is recruited into Cap’s faction, and Rudd provides some of the humour of the film, particularly in how he meets Cap for the first time. Some of the other humour comes from Tom Holland, debuting as Spidey; the character’s young, but already powered when we meet him (wisely the story doesn’t need to rehash the Spider-Man origin yet again). Holland gives the character the right degree of snark (he never seems to shut up), while the character takes part less out of any real principle than out of the personal relationship he has with Tony Stark- something of a mentor and student dynamic.

Chadwick Boseman is new to the Marvel universe as T’Challa, the young African prince turned king also known as the Black Panther, a royal title as much as anything else. The actor previously appeared as Jackie Robinson in 42, so I was looking forward to what he would do with this character, and he fits T’Challa perfectly. For the story, the character is a third voice, a different point of view from Steve and Cap, and his motivations are very personal in where he stands. T’Challa is royalty, coming to inherit his father’s throne in a way he would have never wanted, and I like the way the story features him trying to find balance between tradition and the modern world. The Panther comes across as the brilliant but mysterious man I would have expected from his best comics appearances- when the solo film comes along, the writers would be wise to follow the comics works of Christopher Priest, whose writing style really paid off for the character.

Paul Bettany’s been involved in the Marvel cinematic universe from the beginning, giving voice to Tony Stark’s AI program JARVIS through the Iron Man and Avengers films until taking on the role of the android Vision in Age of Ultron. He plays the character with a combination of logical and naive, a curious being searching for the meaning of humanity. Elizabeth Olsen reprises her role as Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, having had debuted in Age of Ultron as the character. Wanda is somewhat conflicted, having had lost her brother in battle, and there’s some interesting chemistry between her and the Vision, while the position she ultimately chooses is entirely understandable.

Don Cheadle returns as James Rhodes, the military officer and best friend of Tony Stark who uses the War Machine armor. He’s been playing the character in two of the Iron Man films and Age of Ultron, still the hot shot pilot who puts up with Tony for some odd reason- and Cheadle continues to make him a more compelling character than the actor who originated him in the first Iron Man film (thank Odin for recasts). Anthony Mackie also returns as Sam Wilson, the Falcon, whose choice to join Steve’s side in the dispute is never in doubt- the two have been working awhile as partners, and there’s a lot of mutual respect between them.

Jeremy Renner reprises his role as Hawkeye; the character’s settled into a quiet life with his family. Yet he comes back and takes Steve’s side in the dispute- while finding himself on the opposite side from his oldest friend. Part of that seems to be out of an obligation to Wanda, whose brother saved his life by sacrificing his own. Scarlett Johansson returns as the Black Widow, and she’s as enigmatic as ever playing the character. She’s conflicted between the two sides over the issue of oversight, and I like that she sees both sides of the issue and that she’s even a voice of reason.

Sebastian Stan returns as Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier. The character has been through a lot- presumed dead in the war, brainwashed, and put into cryogenic storage on a regular basis in the decades since. He’s in a state of turmoil through the film, struggling with the darkness of his past and what was done to him. What side he’s on is a question throughout the film, as is the state of just how brainwashed he still is. Given all of that, feeling sympathy for him seems natural.

Robert Downey Jr. has been integral to the cinematic universe from the start as Tony Stark. The character’s been a wise ass, often given to try creating some new technology without thinking through the consequences. As sarcastic as he is, though, the character finds himself preoccupied by guilt- his role in creating Ultron did have consequences, and the film plays to that throughout, making his stance on the issue of oversight seem fitting. And a secret stands revealed through the story that makes things deeply personal for Tony- and perhaps putting him in a position where he can’t compromise. Having him in a position where he’s at odds with a friend and teammate makes for a compelling turn for the character.

This of course is still a Captain America film (even with almost all of the Avengers appearing in it), and Chris Evans returns as the title character. Steve Rogers is a man of principle, integrity, loyalty, and basic decency. He’s a natural leader, which we’ve already seen makes others follow his lead. While he’s strongly against the idea of oversight (rather libertarian, actually), it comes from a perspective of distrust in government officials, understandable given the events of The Winter Soldier. And as morally centered as Cap is, he’s stubborn too, not willing to concede that others might not share his integrity, not seeing the other point of view. His sense of optimism is increasingly challenged throughout by frustration, and it’s interesting to watch Evans bring that across through the film.

While Captain America: Civil War deals with serious issues, it doesn’t abandon a sense of fun along the way- a hallmark of Marvel, both comics and the cinematic universe. It has a large cast of characters- and yet none of them seem shoehorned in, and everyone gets a chance to shine, even while introducing new players. The film presents an ethical debate (amid a whole lot of action) that doesn’t really have a right answer, and in the end brings the Marvel cinematic universe to a crossroads- all while thoroughly entertaining the audience.

Tony, You Could Do With Some Sleep

"Some people call me a terrorist. I consider myself a teacher." ~ The Mandarin, Iron Man 3

Robert Downey Jr. is back as Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, in the third solo film for the Marvel comics character, and the fourth after last year's Avengers. The film starts out in the past, on New Year's Eve 1999 in Switzerland, where Tony is in the midst of seducing a botanist, Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) and crosses paths with a bookish and socially inept businessman-scientist named Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), who has a business proposal for him. Both characters will figure prominently what follows.

Flash forward to the present, where Tony is dealing with anxiety attacks and nightmares in the wake of the alien invasion of New York during Avengers. This is added onto his usual obsessive compulsive disorder, and he spends much of his time in his workshop, building new armors, experimenting with ideas that include remote controlled armor. His girlfriend Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) is running his company, his friend Colonel Rhodes( Don Cheadle) is using the War Machine armor for the military, newly renamed the Iron Patriot, and his other friend and former bodyguard Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) has moved up to head up security for the company. Tony is pouring his energy into work, avoiding issues. Pepper, on the other hand, is navigating the corporate side of things, including a meeting with Killian, much less bookish and socially inept now. His company is working on a new project called Extremis, that might well regenerate damaged bodies by recoding DNA; it's a concept that Pepper can't sign off on, due to ethical considerations. As it is, Extremis is unstable in some people... leading to very bad consequences.

Meanwhile, America is coming under threat from a mysterious terrorist calling himself the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). He's capable of hijacking the airwaves, broadcasting apocalyptic videos and threats, carrying out attacks through his henchmen, challenging even the American President (William Sadler). These attacks include explosions with no trace of bomb debris, carried out by gunmen who are living weapons powered by Extremis, capable of regenerating from wounds, of transferring lethal heat to bystanders and turning them in effect into a walking bomb. One of the attacks wounds Hogan, and sets Tony on a collision course with the Mandarin, a course that threatens the people he loves and forces him to deal with the issues that he's been trying to avoid.

The director's chair has been taken over by Shane Black, a screenwriter from the Lethal Weapon series who has moved into directing, most recently working with Downey in the caper comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. He mostly handles the film well, taking the reins from Favreau, who's one of the producers this time out. There's a bit off in a climactic scene with numerous Iron Man armors set at a dockworks; I found the camerawork a bit too close into the action at times, and thought it could have benefitted somewhat from having a more distant perspective. Essentially this is an editing issue that I would have preferred being done in a different fashion. These moments in that sequence were more than compensated for, however.

The action set pieces for the most part work very well, particularly one set at Tony's cliffside mansion and another involving a mid-air rescue. Black has assembled a good crew throughout, particularly in the designs of the armors. The Iron Patriot armor, a red white and blue design based on a comic book plotline (long story, don't ask, and it was written by a complete hack of a writer who I call He Who Loves The Sound Of His Own Voice... hi, Darth Bendis!) at least has the right guy in the armor this time out, and I do like the design. The CGI works well, particularly the Extremis-fuelled henchmen and the effects of the procedure on the body. Black and his crew keep the story moving along, taking Tony out of the armor for good portions of the film, putting him in a situation where he has to keep a low profile. The story is true to character, though the casual viewer might find the motivation of the villain needs a bit of fleshing out. I caught it, but it might pass by someone else.

I did appreciate the little details of the screenplay and the nods towards the comics. Killian's company as Advanced Idea Mechanics, or AIM, is one such example. AIM is an organization with a nefarious and long history in the comics and a tendency to have annoyed most every super-hero out there, and it's good to see the concept used here. And an executive being held hostage by the Mandarin at one point is identified as working for the Roxxon Corporation. Roxxon is a company with a shady reputation in the comics, one that makes Bernie Madoff look respectable. Even the Extremis procedure- adapted from a comics plotline- reminded me of other Iron Man villains, the Melter or Firebrand.

The film is cast very well indeed. Favreau has been something of the comic relief in his cameos in these films, and that's true here, though he's also a guy who takes his job seriously... and can be overzealous about it. Paul Bettany returns as the voice of the computer system JARVIS, and as ever has that dry British wit in his voiceovers. William Sadler as the President is an interesting turn for the actor. I'm more used to him playing the heavy or the villain (his ruthless Colonel Stuart in Die Hard 2 comes to mind) that it's unusual seeing him as a principled political leader. Rebecca Hall is one of those wonderfully expressive actors with great range. I first noticed her in The Prestige, and enjoy her work. As Maya, she's linked to Killian, and her work leads to the Extremis process. Hall plays her in a way that's quite enigmatic, but it makes the character work so well.

Guy Pearce has a history of playing flawed characters or villains, and he's so very compelling at it. He first got noticed for playing the ambitious cop in L.A. Confidential, and he's played many roles since, including my favourite role for him, the vindictive Fernand Mondeo in The Count Of Monte Cristo. He starts out here as something of a geek in the past, a charming and suave man in the present, and gradually we start to see the dark and malicious layers beneath. He makes for a formidable presence in the film.

Sir Ben Kingsley steps in as the Mandarin, and the character is a significant departure from the comics. There he was a Chinese man empowered by alien rings. Here he is something of an Osama bin Laden-like man, a dark threat from the shadows. His ethnicity is uncertain; he speaks in an American accent, though he wears ten rings and the robes of the Far East. His ominous threats via video mark him as a serious threat, and yet there is more to him. Of which I will say no more. I will say that Kingsley, one of those actors who's usually the most interesting part of a film, plays the various facets of this man very well indeed. Of his previous work, I've always had a fondness for his turn as Feste the Fool in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, a version from the nineties (if you haven't seen it, look it up). There's a moment or two here where Feste doesn't seem that far off... 

The returning cast, of course, is exceptional. Don Cheadle is back for the second time as Rhodes, after being cast in the role in the second film to replace the underwhelming Terrence Howard from the first one. Cheadle carries himself like a soldier and an officer, a good touch for the character. He has something of a sense of humor, the occasional impatience with his friend Tony, and he gets plenty to do this time out, as himself and in the Iron Patriot armor. Even though he's not fond of the moniker.

Gwyneth Paltrow has been playing this role in four films now. Her take on Pepper suits the character's history: spirited and feisty, but smart and capable. She worries about Tony, conveying the long history the two have, and she's believable as someone running a company. And the way she and Downey work together comes across as very natural.

The film belongs to Robert Downey Jr. He has given the character such a signature interpretation that it's hard to visualize anyone else playing Tony Stark. He brings across the character's sleepless obsessive streak, and rightly conveys the symptoms of an anxiety attack, something that's understandable given what the character has been through. When he realizes a way to deal with the anxiety (with help, mind you), it's simple and direct... and at the right time. He spends much of this picture out of the armor, and it's a good thing. It reminds us that Tony's greatest weapon isn't that armor, it's his mind and his ingenuity. Downey conveys all of these qualities, gives Tony his motormouth sarcasm... and even empathy, which shows itself from time to time.

I had a lot of fun watching the film. There's a lot of action, but the characterization was true to itself, the pacing of the film kept things moving along nicely, and even the small details were very welcome. In closing, keep your eyes open for a couple of cameos. Stan Lee does one of his signature appearances here, but it's a blink and you will miss it sort of thing. And in the sequence set in the past, a character killed off in the first film turns up briefly. That was a surprise to me.

And don't leave until the credits are finished. The post-credit scene features another cameo, and is probably the best of these post-credit scenes in these films. You'll get a kick out of it.