1. The Comic Tone
Iron Man 3 is arguably the most comically-toned comic book film yet released, riffing not only on the comedic tone we should have expected from the Iron Man source, and the newer cinematic iteration of the character, but also on Black's earlier films. In many ways it is a film perfectly suited to Black's locker of film-making skills, and especially his easy blend of action and comedy, to the extent that some might actually think he has gone a little over the top with the humour. But it works - that balls-to-the-wall spirit, in terms of both the action and the humour - serves the film's purpose well. In light of what happened in The Avengers, we could have had an overly melancholic, po-faced hangover of a film, too dark and gritty like The Dark Knight Rises, which would have felt like a betrayal of the character, even despite the circumstances. Instead, we are encouraged to laugh with Stark as much as we are to pity him, and what happens with The Mandarin, although undoubtedly polarising is a fitting decision in light of that wider tonal decision. In short, The Mandarin's reinvention was a necessary creative decision, no matter how some older, "more hardcore" fans of the source might feel, and it makes for another entertaining element of what is a hugely entertaining film. Have you seen Iron Man 3? Did you enjoy it? Share your thoughts below.