Iron Man 3 Review and Merlin
May. 25th, 2013 11:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatBack from IRON MAN 3 - and once again I'm reminded of why I usually just see movies on HBO or via netflix. They are expensive. Crowded. People talk and text message during them. Although granted this one was loud enough that it truly did not matter. And the text messaging was kept to a minimum. Plus 3D? Not my thing. Head-ache inducing.
Other than that? I enjoyed myself.
It's not a great film. As much as I hate to admit this? The Avengers was actually better. Sad but true. So too was The Dark Knight Rises - but the Dark Knight Rises is the best superhero film outside of possibly the Dark Knight. (In my opinion obviously, movie watching is, let's face it, a purely subjective sport. You either prefer quippy campy superhero films or dark norish angsty ones with dry wit.) In contrast to the Iron Man films? I liked the first one better - less action more character. This did however have great action sequences, and Pepper Pott was given a bit more to do, and actually did get to kick ass from time to time, when she wasn't playing damsel that is. She actually does save Tony twice in the film. Nifty that. Not sure that was a spoiler or not?
It was fun though. Don Cheadle's character, the Col. had a lot more to do in it, and better lines. Plus we had a great cameo by Jon Favereau, the former director of the Iron Man series, who is not what I expected. But the joke was rather good. He plays Iron Man's former body guard. LOL!
I did convince my friends to stay through the end credits for the last ten minute reel at the end. (And as an aside, I think they overdo it on the credits. Also, movies employ a lot of people.) I'm not entirely sure my friends thought it was worth the effort. But it was funny and I enjoyed it.
While I don't see myself buying this film (haven't exactly bought any of the superhero films, so there's that), would definitely check it out again if it popped up on tv. There's about five scenes I would not mind re-watching without the pesky 3D glasses. (Although there are a few special effects sequences that are definitely enhanced by the glasses. But mostly the glasses make you feel like you are looking into a shadowbox. Not helped by the glasses constantly fogging up and my bifocal contacts having to readjust the depth perception every ten minutes.)
MD didn't think much of the villain or the twist. I, on the other hand, found it to be rather clever for a superhero flick. Plus, I like Guy Pierce and Ben Kingsley. I've followed Guy Pierce around, he's made a lot of odd films, but does have the distinction of starring in Chris Nolan's first hit - "Memento".
Overall? It wasn't what I was expected. Tad disappointed to be honest. While I liked it, possibly more than my friends did, hard to tell, I was overall? Underwhelmed. It's been overhyped and a tad overrated by the film critics in my opinion. (Making me wonder about the critics, although that would by no means be the first time. So far flist has been more reliable than film critics have been - at least in regards to certain films.) The critics stated that Stark spends more time out of his suit, which is true, but there's more action sequences than I expected. I was also expecting more character development and I'm not sure that happened. Also, I remember the Manadarine from the comic books and prefer the comic book version, the villain was more interesting in the comics. Here..he reminds me a bit too much of the villain from the Incredibles. Plus, Stark was more complex in the comics...and the first two movies, he feels less so here.
Overall rating? B-
MD has offered to loan me Mists of Avalon, since I can't manage to find it underneath my bed. It's probably there, but there are some boxes that just require severe physical injury to access.
Watched Merlin - the first of the series/season finale two-parter. So far it is keeping pretty close to the original myth, which is not exactly encouraging. I keep hoping it will veer sharply to the left of it. I'm also afraid that it won't provide me with the reveal that I've been dying for throughout the series. These types of series bug me. The character throughout the series is either hiding a huge secret from everyone, or has a big goal - but he/she doesn't achieve it until the very end of the series, if that. Often not at all. This annoys me. My patience for that sort of thing is no longer existent, and clearly I'm not alone in this - since most tv series don't do this any longer.
Although...I have hope. They've already veered slightly away from the myth.
* In the original Nimue tricks Merlin and traps him in the Crystal Cave, so he can't save Arthur or help him.
- Here, Nimue is the creature that removes Merlin's magic via Morgana, and Morgana traps Merlin in the Crystal Cave
* In the original - Merlin manages to help Arthur by overpowering Morgana's magic and making her create a myst or something to help Arthur's armies. Unfortunately Mordred still manages to kill him.
Here - Merlin comes to Arthur in a dream and warns him. (Although I think he may have done that too in the original, admittedly been a while.)
What is not in the original is Merlin's father coming to him. (In the original myth, Merlin's father is well Uther's father. They are related. Arthur never knows his father. And Merlin is an old uncle. That's the Mary Stewart version. TH White's has Merlin and old hermit and we never meet his father. He is living backwards. And Exclabiur sort of stuck with the Mary Stewart Version more or less.) And Merlin emerges from the Crystal Cave as the old socerer Emerys, a long white beard, and red robe. (I'm like, REALLY? Did he spend eternity in there...and then go back in time to emerge as a sorcerer? Convenient. This means Arthur won't ever know that Merlin, his faithful servant and friend is a sorcerer with more power than he can imagine. Damn. Talk about frustrating.)
Also there's no dragon in the original. Or dragons, rather. And I remember Arthur weilding Excalibur in the original, it doesn't appear to be here. With Gwen and Lancelot showing up at the very end to help him, after their horrible betrayal of his trust. Which of course the show already did but in a different way.
Like Game of Thrones, it's impossible for me not see how they differ. I studied the Arthurian Legends in school, have three-four versions in my head plus the musical. In all of them - Merlin is trapped in either the crystal cave or a magical tree and can only see what is happening but can't do anything, while Arthur gets killed by Mordred and Morgana wins, but loses at the same time. And soon I'll have Marion Zimmer Bradley's take on it.
Other than that? I enjoyed myself.
It's not a great film. As much as I hate to admit this? The Avengers was actually better. Sad but true. So too was The Dark Knight Rises - but the Dark Knight Rises is the best superhero film outside of possibly the Dark Knight. (In my opinion obviously, movie watching is, let's face it, a purely subjective sport. You either prefer quippy campy superhero films or dark norish angsty ones with dry wit.) In contrast to the Iron Man films? I liked the first one better - less action more character. This did however have great action sequences, and Pepper Pott was given a bit more to do, and actually did get to kick ass from time to time, when she wasn't playing damsel that is. She actually does save Tony twice in the film. Nifty that. Not sure that was a spoiler or not?
It was fun though. Don Cheadle's character, the Col. had a lot more to do in it, and better lines. Plus we had a great cameo by Jon Favereau, the former director of the Iron Man series, who is not what I expected. But the joke was rather good. He plays Iron Man's former body guard. LOL!
I did convince my friends to stay through the end credits for the last ten minute reel at the end. (And as an aside, I think they overdo it on the credits. Also, movies employ a lot of people.) I'm not entirely sure my friends thought it was worth the effort. But it was funny and I enjoyed it.
While I don't see myself buying this film (haven't exactly bought any of the superhero films, so there's that), would definitely check it out again if it popped up on tv. There's about five scenes I would not mind re-watching without the pesky 3D glasses. (Although there are a few special effects sequences that are definitely enhanced by the glasses. But mostly the glasses make you feel like you are looking into a shadowbox. Not helped by the glasses constantly fogging up and my bifocal contacts having to readjust the depth perception every ten minutes.)
MD didn't think much of the villain or the twist. I, on the other hand, found it to be rather clever for a superhero flick. Plus, I like Guy Pierce and Ben Kingsley. I've followed Guy Pierce around, he's made a lot of odd films, but does have the distinction of starring in Chris Nolan's first hit - "Memento".
Overall? It wasn't what I was expected. Tad disappointed to be honest. While I liked it, possibly more than my friends did, hard to tell, I was overall? Underwhelmed. It's been overhyped and a tad overrated by the film critics in my opinion. (Making me wonder about the critics, although that would by no means be the first time. So far flist has been more reliable than film critics have been - at least in regards to certain films.) The critics stated that Stark spends more time out of his suit, which is true, but there's more action sequences than I expected. I was also expecting more character development and I'm not sure that happened. Also, I remember the Manadarine from the comic books and prefer the comic book version, the villain was more interesting in the comics. Here..he reminds me a bit too much of the villain from the Incredibles. Plus, Stark was more complex in the comics...and the first two movies, he feels less so here.
Overall rating? B-
MD has offered to loan me Mists of Avalon, since I can't manage to find it underneath my bed. It's probably there, but there are some boxes that just require severe physical injury to access.
Watched Merlin - the first of the series/season finale two-parter. So far it is keeping pretty close to the original myth, which is not exactly encouraging. I keep hoping it will veer sharply to the left of it. I'm also afraid that it won't provide me with the reveal that I've been dying for throughout the series. These types of series bug me. The character throughout the series is either hiding a huge secret from everyone, or has a big goal - but he/she doesn't achieve it until the very end of the series, if that. Often not at all. This annoys me. My patience for that sort of thing is no longer existent, and clearly I'm not alone in this - since most tv series don't do this any longer.
Although...I have hope. They've already veered slightly away from the myth.
* In the original Nimue tricks Merlin and traps him in the Crystal Cave, so he can't save Arthur or help him.
- Here, Nimue is the creature that removes Merlin's magic via Morgana, and Morgana traps Merlin in the Crystal Cave
* In the original - Merlin manages to help Arthur by overpowering Morgana's magic and making her create a myst or something to help Arthur's armies. Unfortunately Mordred still manages to kill him.
Here - Merlin comes to Arthur in a dream and warns him. (Although I think he may have done that too in the original, admittedly been a while.)
What is not in the original is Merlin's father coming to him. (In the original myth, Merlin's father is well Uther's father. They are related. Arthur never knows his father. And Merlin is an old uncle. That's the Mary Stewart version. TH White's has Merlin and old hermit and we never meet his father. He is living backwards. And Exclabiur sort of stuck with the Mary Stewart Version more or less.) And Merlin emerges from the Crystal Cave as the old socerer Emerys, a long white beard, and red robe. (I'm like, REALLY? Did he spend eternity in there...and then go back in time to emerge as a sorcerer? Convenient. This means Arthur won't ever know that Merlin, his faithful servant and friend is a sorcerer with more power than he can imagine. Damn. Talk about frustrating.)
Also there's no dragon in the original. Or dragons, rather. And I remember Arthur weilding Excalibur in the original, it doesn't appear to be here. With Gwen and Lancelot showing up at the very end to help him, after their horrible betrayal of his trust. Which of course the show already did but in a different way.
Like Game of Thrones, it's impossible for me not see how they differ. I studied the Arthurian Legends in school, have three-four versions in my head plus the musical. In all of them - Merlin is trapped in either the crystal cave or a magical tree and can only see what is happening but can't do anything, while Arthur gets killed by Mordred and Morgana wins, but loses at the same time. And soon I'll have Marion Zimmer Bradley's take on it.
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no subject
Date: 2013-05-26 02:29 pm (UTC)Sophia wrote a nice thing at facebook about the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 (she thought it was a brilliant way to avoid the cultural stereotypes and subvert the viewers expectations).
no subject
Date: 2013-05-26 06:38 pm (UTC)I thought the deflection was quite clever and one of the better things about the movie. We are lead to believe at the beginning that the Manadarin (Ben Kingsley's Osama Bin Laden Middle Eastern Terrorist) is the bad guy and Adrian Killian ( the hot former geek male scientist and his colleague, Mia Hansen) is merely working for him and aren't that evil.
What we discover is that Killian cleverly created a bad guy terrorist to cover his mistakes, and act as dummy for his own ends, much as he is for the Vice PResident's ends. What Killian wants is someone to fund his research, much as Mia Hansen does. Both are attempting to get Stark Industries to do it, but Pepper and Tony Stark turn them down at different points in the time line, Stark in the past - when they were still innocent and desired to work with him, Pepper and Stark in the present.
It is admittedly the typical Marvel Mad Scientist from hell theme. Marvel was into mad scientists, all its' superheroes except the aliens tend to be creations of mad science, and the consequences of that.
But I rather like it - because it is relevant. Also the misdirect emphasizes the overall theme that we create our own demons and often demonize the other to justify our own actions. Stark justifies his creation of weaponery - by demonizing the villains. Also there's the great montage of Don Cheadle jumping around the middle east as the Iron Patriot trying to find the Mandarine and just finding poor defenseless people. (Neat - great metaphor on US WAR on Iraq, Kuwait, and Afganistan, if a tad too obvious in places. ie. Iron Patriot (the Patriot Act) and US "oil" Tycoon's being sacrificed, and the President, being killed in the "Patriot" Get-up with "oil". That's so Shane Black but it is a bit over-the-top. I'd have preferred a bit more subtlety.)
I liked most of it. I'd see it again.