Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 played with my expectations in more than one way.  That doesn't mean it was bad, I had a ball watching it, it just means I'm having a hard time judging it for what it was rather than what I was expecting it to be.  I went in expecting Marvel's Avengers.  What I got was more akin to Lethal Weapon.  Both fine, fun films, by the way.  

   Iron Man 3 was in many ways a more intimate movie than I was expecting.  A lot of time, and I'm trying to avoid spoilers here, was spent on "vulnerable Tony".   Rather than big sweeping adventure with a massive cast we zoomed in on PTSD addled Tony struggling to adjust to the events in New York (from the Avengers).  

   The Mandarin character, initially teased in the first Iron Man movie, was also played counter to expectation and has created something of a geek schism among fans.  The general consensus appears to be: A) yes, the move was clever and funny but B) it flies in the face of traditional depictions of the character.  

So, purists tend to be annoyed. 

   All told I can comfortably say I enjoyed this more than Iron Man 2 and perhaps not so much as the original.  I'd like to see it again just to see how it stood up to a second viewing.  But even without another go-round I can give it a solid thumbs up.  Go see the movie, it's a super good time.  On a scale of 1-10.  I'd give it an 8.