2013's Top 5 Fight Scenes!

When talking about entertainment two words almost always come up as must have's, sex and violence. Rocky covered the romantic side of things the other day with her 'Top 5 Kisses of 2013', which you can check out here, now it's time for the other side of that one-two punch of sure fire fun. Without further adieu let's get to some gratuitous violence, shall we?

5. Iron Man 3- Iron Man suit fleet VS The Mandarin

Iron Man 3 was not a good film, to be honest it was downright bad when it came to the final development of what was to be Tony Stark's archenemy. Yet, even the crappiest gift can have a pretty bow, and that's what we got at the end of Tony Stark's latest adventure. It's pure visual candy with plenty of easter eggy goodness for comic fans (see: Hulkbuster), it isn't particularly rewarding to the storyline nor does it make much sense in more than one facet but DAMN is it sweet to see the Iron Man squadron of suits come flying to Tony and that, my friends, is what merits a place at the bottom of this list. 

4. Star Trek: Into Darkness- Klingon showdown

While more of a gun battle than a straight up fight there was no way I could leave this scene off the list. Benedict Cumberbatch was already on the fast track to my favorite actors list after seeing Sherlock, but this scene, in which he mows down a squadron of Klingon warriors perfectly illustrates the capabilities of this villain. Extra points for the cool black hooded trenchcoat!

3. The World's End- Bar Fight

It's kind of an odd thing to have a movie show up in both a best fights list and a funniest scenes list. Unfortunately I ran into the same problem that Mae did earlier this week when she included The World's End in her Top 5 funniest scenes of 2013 list, which you can check out here, that problem is that, oddly, there seem to be no clips of these scenes anywhere on the 'net. In any event the fight that puts this awesome flick on my list of best fights comes about 3/4 of the way into the film when the group decides to stop trying to be inconspicuous and take the blanks head on. If you haven't seen this movie get out there and do so now, watching Nick Frost nail a combat roll and the wield two bar stools like a veteran bar ninja is one of the greatest things to happen inside of a theater this year. The best part? It's not done for laughs, the choreography is legit and would not look out of place in something like a remake of Roadhouse (with different actors of course). 

2. GI Joe: Retaliation- Snake Eyes V Storm Shadow 2
Do I really need to explain my reasoning here? These guys are the ultimate ninja warriors, the characters we all wanted to be the most when we were kids...hell even their names are right out of Encyclopedia Badassica. We got to see a lesser version of this ultimate showdown in GI Joe: Rise of Cobra but the battle we get in Retaliation blows that one away. As if that weren't enough we also get Jinx, Snake Eyes protege, and a legion of Storm Shadow trained ninja thrown in the mix.

1. The Grandmaster- Opening Fight Scene
Prior to the release I was prepared to have this movie at the top of every list I do this year, sadly Wong Kar Wai's epic film chronicling the legendary Ip Man fell apart after the first 20 minutes. But you know what? Those first 20 minutes make it worth it. To a true martial arts fan seeing a well choreographed, beautifully show fight scene is no different than anyone else watching a top level ballet. The way Wong Kar Wai captures the flow of movement throughout this entire opening scene make it one of the most breathtaking fight scenes I've seen to date. What really puts it over the top and earns it #1 over Snake Eyes V Storm Shadow is the striking use of black and white and the wonderfully artistic rainfall which both serve to extenuate the beauty of the martial art.

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Has Ben Kingsley's Secret Marvel Project Been Revealed?

Expect some heavy Iron Man 3 spoilers in this one, just in case two or three of you haven't seen it yet.

Last week while hyping Ender's Game, Ben Kingsley let slip that he was working on a super secret Marvel project. And as one might expect, the speculation was that it would involve his Mandarin character from Iron Man 3, who we learned was really just some London stage actor named Trevor Slattery. It was a reveal that some thought was brilliant and satirical, while others felt it a poor representation of the Marvel villain. Well, it turns out Marvel may not be done with Mandarin after all.

According to Latino Review, so please take this rumor with a dash of salt, Kingsley will be starring in one of Marvel's One-Shot short films centered on the Mandarin. That's pretty much what most were expecting, but the kicker is that the story would involve the real Mandarin looking for revenge against the imposter Slattery for ruining his reputation.

The original Mandarin as seen in the comics was little more than a xenophobic Chinese sterotype, which is why Shane Black was so vocal against using him. If this story turns out to be true, would that mean we'd get the version most of us are familiar with? Probably not, but you never know. Would it be Kingsley playing the real Mandarin? Or would we get a version we've never seen before played by someone completely different? 

Latino Review suggests all of this is being done because Marvel thinks they screwed up with how they handled Mandarin, which to me doesn't make a whole lot of sense. That sounds like the site putting their personal opinions ahead of any facts. Nor do they seem to know when this supposed One-Shot would debut. Would it be in a future Blu-Ray release? Or maybe as the wrap-up to an episode of Agents of SHIELD?

Too many questions left unanswered for me to fully buy into this. We'll find out if it's true before too long.

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Ben Kingsley Hints at a Mystery Marvel Project

The response to Marvel's handling of classic villain the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 has been pretty split, with some loving the comedic turn the character takes and others being upset he wasn't more like the familiar version. But what there isn't much debate over is how great Ben Kingsley was in the drunken, overly theatrical role, and now it sounds like Marvel may want to see a little bit more of it.

While talking to The Belfast Telegraph, Kingsley revealed that he's working on a secret Marvel project, and he even dropped a tiny bit of info on it....

Kingsley: "It's a secret Marvel project. I'm not allowed to say any more, you're going to have to wait and see. I was with many members of the crew that were involved in Iron Man 3. It was lovely to see them again. It was great to be with this wonderful family."


So it sounds as if it's already been shot, which means it was likely one of Marvel's series of One-Shot short films, perhaps showing Trever Slattery before he became the global terrorist Mandarin? Or maybe he shot a cameo for a future Marvel movie?  Perhaps we'll get to see Slattery putting his acting skills to good use in a maximum security SHIELD prison? He and the other inmates could put on a great show.

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'Iron Man 3' and 'The Avengers' Animatics Reveal New Ending and The Wasp; Joss Whedon Talks Killing Characters

Those who read Marvel comics regularly probably have recognized that at times it seems they enter into major crossover events with the question "Who can we kill off?". It doesn't necessarily make for the most organic of stories coming from perspective, and thankfully Joss Whedon doesn't subscribe to that approach when it comes to the Marvel movies he's spearheading. While he's already killed off the popular Agent Coulson, it didn't really stick as the character will be back for Agents of SHIELD. So what would it take for him to off an Avenger for good? While talking to EW, he revealed that it would take a major whopper of a story...

Whedon: "I'd have to have a really good reason, a really great sequence for [Marvel executives] to go, 'We'll cut off a potential franchise, that's fine!' They know as any good studio does, that without some stakes, some real danger, how involved can we get?" We don't just rule it out across the board, but neither is the mission statement 'Who can we kill?' We try to build the story organically and go, 'How hard can we make it on these people?' You go to the movies to see people you love suffer-that's why you go to the movies."

Unless they're Uncle Ben or Bruce Wayne's parents, nobody really stays dead in comics anyway. So I'd love it if Whedon would "kill off" a few heroes, only to bring them back later. And they should make it a character fans really love, too, like Iron Fist. Have him pop up in the beginning of Avengers: Age of Ultron and get vaporized in the span of seconds. That would be awesome.

Anyway, storyboard artist Federico D'Alessandro, who has been working with Marvel ever since Thor, has released a number of the unused animatics for Iron Man 3 and The Avengers. The Iron Man 3 ones show an alternate version of the final battle, concluding with a more complete "ending" for Ben Kingsley's Mandarin. Whedon has spoken frequently about his early plans to include Janet Van Dyne aka Wasp as part of the Avengers roster, before settling on Black Widow, and a close look at one of these animatics show Wasp in the frame. Keep an eye out for her around the 17 second mark.

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Latest 'Iron Man 3' Deleted Scene Contains Major Spoilers

With the Iron Man 3 Blu-Ray hitting store shelves next month, Marvel has been revealing some of the special features, including scenes that were cut from the theatrical version. The last one was fairly harmless, giving us a somewhat deeper look at Ben Kingsley's villain, the Mandarin. But this latest deleted scene includes a very significant spoiler, and it's unavoidable from the moment you hit "Play". So the two or three of you out there who have yet to see the $1.2B-grossing film will want to stay away. For the rest of us, this is a pretty funny clip and well worth the time to check out.

Iron Man 3 will be released on DVD/Blu-Ray on September 24th. [Empire]

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Get More Mandarin In a Deleted Scene from 'Iron Man 3'

Believe it or not, Marvel's Iron Man 3 is still kicking around in a few theaters more than three months after its release. It's the biggest movie of the year having earned $1.2B, far outclassing Warner Bros. Man of Steel which was thought to be the only real competition. Not so much. But now Marvel is coming back for more of your hard-earned cash, gearing up for the Iron Man 3 Blu-Ray release, and they've just released a deleted scene featuring Ben Kingsley as the villainous Mandarin.

The scene, which will be part of the special features included in the September 24th release, has Mandarin communicating with his hot-headed operative played by James Badge Dale, immediately following a very public display of power. Mandarin was arguably the most interesting part of the film, and Kingsley's over-the-top performance a definite highlight, so hopefully there will be even more unreleased footage of him in action. 

Pre-Order the Iron Man 3 Blu-Ray here

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Watch the dynamic, retro 'Iron Man 3' end credits

If the mammoth $175M opening weekend is anything to go by (and it is), then chances are you already saw Marvel's Iron Man 3. While my own personal opinion on the film was mixed, to say the least, one aspect that I thought was simply incredible was the retro end credits sequence that played out like a 1970s buddy cop show. The footage flashes us through a number of memorable moments from all three films, and in my opinion goes a long way in wrapping up Iron Man's solo adventures for good. Those end credits are now online so you can relive them for yourself. I've had it on a loop for about 30 minutes.....[Movies]

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Cinema Royale #16- Iron Man 3; Ramin Bahrani

When the world needs saving and The Avengers are nowhere to be found, who do you turn to? Iron Man, of course, and film critic Rocky Hadadi steps into the arena to talk Marvel's latest action epic, Iron Man 3!

Roger Ebert listed Ramin Bahrani's acclaimed film Chop Shop as one of the best of the last decade. Bahrani checks in with Cinema Royale host Travis Hopson to talk about his latest project, At Any Price, which stars Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid.

You can find Cinema Royale every single week on Blogtalkradio, Itunes, and Podomatic. Listen to this week's episode below...

Listen to internet radio with Cinema Royale on BlogTalkRadio

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Review: 'Iron Man 3' starring Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow

With the exception of last year's bombastic, $1B-grossing The Avengers, it's safe to say that Marvel's slate of superhero films have been pretty interchangeable up to this point. That's not to say they're bad, but if you swapped Jon Favreau's direction for Joe Johnston's, nobody's going to bat an eye. It's a formula that's worked, obviously, but it also comes with the risk of the films having the same texture, especially as Marvel pumps out more each year. Iron Man 3, however, boasts the authoritative voice and direction of Shane Black, known for chatty action-buddy films like Lethal Weaponand Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, the latter having gone a long way in applying jumper cables to Robert Downey Jr.'s flagging career.

Black's presence is felt almost immediately, as Tony Stark rattles off expeditious quips like Mel Gibson used to with Danny Glover. He's even given his own little array of silly sidekicks to exchange bits of dark humor with. Sometimes it's Don Cheadle as James "Iron Patriot" Rhodes; for a while it's a precocious 8-year old boy genius; and other times it's just the armor itself. Even the action feels a little retro, like we've been transported back to 1989. You half expect the 1980s stereotype villain of curious ethnic origin to turn up so Stark can smack him down verbally while smacking him down physically. Oh wait, that's here too.  It works to make Iron Man 3 the most distinctive film in Marvel's cinematic canon yet, and even if it's not a total winner, it's still an enjoyable beginning to Marvel's next phase.

One of the many things Marvel has done completely right is making sure the events of their films don't happen in a vacuum, and this has been especially true for Iron Man. In the wake of New York's destruction, Stark is a changed man, afflicted with panic attacks and racked with concern for the people he loves. He's seen far more than any man should ever see, and for someone of his intellect it's impossible to brush aside the presence of invading aliens and Norse thunder gods. His obsession has begun to affect his relationship with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), as he spends nearly every waking moment locked in his lab.

A humorous flashback to 1999 Sweden puts all of the chess pieces in play. A younger, pre-Iron Man Tony Stark has a one-night stand with brilliant scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), while his bodyguard Happy Hogan (former Iron Man director Jon Favreau) accidentally blows up one of her experiments. An encounter with the nerdy Aldritch Killian (Guy Pearce) leads to Stark giving him the cold shoulder, a dismissive act that will come to have repercussions in the present. Killian returns, looking...well, like a suave Guy Pearce, and attempts to sell Pepper on his latest technology, something called Extremis. Meanwhile, a Bin Laden-esque terrorist known as the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) is dominating the airwaves with threats against the United States, even going so far as to threaten the life of the sitting President. When he begins actually blowing places up, like Hollywood's famous Grauman's Theater, Stark springs into action and gets a lot more than he could have ever bargained for. We're talking fire-breathing nuclear soldiers here.

We've been led to believe up to this point that the film will be the bleakest yet, and while Stark suffers more than his share of personal tragedies along the way, the mood never gets too dour. That's a product of the snappy script by Black and Drew Pearce, which always finds a way to lighten the mood even at the darkest moments. That doesn't mean the film is shallow by any means, as there are some solid character beats here. The question that has been at the center of the franchise up to this point has been "What makes Iron Man a hero?" Is it the suit of armor? Or is it the man inside the armor? Black and Pearce really dig into what makes Stark tick, and this film marks the completion of his evolution from egotistical billionaire to bona fide superhero. There's less of Stark in the suit blasting repulsor rays and firing smart bombs at his foes, instead focusing on the brilliance of the man. Investigator, secret agent, inventor...all of those aspects of his personality takes center stage.
At the same time, some may find themselves wishing he'd just whip up an all-powerful armor and blow down the Mandarin's doors with a well-placed rocket. When the action does happen, it happens in spectacular fashion. In particular a scene in which the Mandarin attacks Stark's mountainside home is breathtaking in its wanton destruction. Black's inexperience with action on this scale does occasionally come through. The final fight is a mess that is only saved by the clever tag-teaming of Stark and Rhodes, and a mid-air rescue of falling Air Force One passengers never packs the expected pizazz. It's fine, but nothing more than that.

Downey is terrific, of course, and the life of this superhero party. He's become so familiar with the character that it's practically impossible to distinguish where he ends and Stark begins. His ability to humanize Stark is blunted a little bit by the script, which includes all of Black's usual quirks. He's more concerned with making sure Stark is well-equipped with an arsenal of self-referential jokes and non-sequitors than digging too deep into his internal turmoil. There are a couple of surprising twists, one of which is a laugh riot those familiar with Black's sense of humor will appreciate.  Not all of the many many jokes land, but this is far and away the funniest Iron Man movie yet.

As great as Downey is, the secret weapon has always been the supporting cast. Cheadle has a lot more to do this time as the newly-minted Iron Patriot, and is game for whatever the situation calls for, whether it's playing the tough military man or as Stark's running-buddy. Kingsley's always been a chameleon, an attribute that serves him well as Mandarin. It's an interesting take on the character, vastly different the insulting Chinese caricature from the comics. Rebecca Hall shows a great deal of nuance to a role she probably could have slept through. Pearce is largely upstaged by the threatening presence of James Badge Dale as Mandarin's hired muscle. Gwyneth Paltrow has always been the franchise's emotional core, and we see that put on display in some really inventive ways.

There's a sense of finality that creeps in during the explosive coup de grace, and it's hard not to wonder what the future holds for Tony Stark. What Shane Black has proven is that Marvel can take more risks by hiring filmmakers who specialize in specific genres that many wouldn't normally associate with blockbuster comic book adaptations. Iron Man 3 has its share of problems, and will certainly face some competition from Man of Steel, but it's an exciting summer blast that will have you anxious to see what else Marvel has up its sleeve.

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New clips from 'Iron Man 3' and 'Star Trek Into Darkness'

Along with the scoring heat and an uptick in Slurpee sales, the summer also means its time to do away with all the cheaply-produced rubbish from the winter, and start getting into the really expensive rubbish. Ok, that won't always be true, and really this season looks relatively solid. If Oblivion was the soft opening salvo to the popcorn season, it kicks into high gear this week with Iron Man 3, then enters warp speed with Star Trek Into Darkness.

New clips from the latest Iron Man and Star Trek flicks have been released, to better whet your appetite to see them in your favorite IMAX theater.  The Iron Man 3 clip is basically an extended look at the previously revealed Air Force One scene, in which Tony Stark must pull out all of the stops to rescue passengers hurtling to their deaths. It's an action-heavy clip that shows Stark purely as a hero, rather than a billionaire driven largely by ego.  Iron Man 3 hits theaters on May 2nd.

The Star Trek Into Darkness clip could perhaps be seen as a bit of a spoiler, only in that it reveals exactly how the villainous John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) came to be aboard the Starship Enterprise. Otherwise, the banter between him and Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) is impenetrable without proper context, so those who are curious to learn where all those odd coordinates lead will have to check out the film when it opens in IMAX on May 15th, then everywhere else two days later.


Iron Man 3 - film clip #2 [1080p HD] (2013) Shane Black, Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Ben Kingsley, Rebecca Hall, Don Cheadle, William Sadler, James Badge Dale by myfilm-gr

Star Trek Into Darkness - Film Clip #1 [HD] (2013) J.J. Abrams, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, John Cho, Bruce Greenwood, Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Weller by myfilm-gr

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Tony and Pepper have a heart-to-heart in new 'Iron Man 3' clip

Will there or won't there be an Iron Man 4? The questions are already starting to surface days before Iron Man 3 opens here in America, with Gwyneth Paltrow not sounding too confident on there being any more. The uncertainty adds an extra layer of mystery to a film that is expected to have a lot of surprises.

A new clip shows a side of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) that we haven't really had a chance to see before. Clearly affected in a major way by the events of The Avengers, he pours out his heart to Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and reveals that he's far more than just a billionaire with a lot of sweet toys. It's been clear from the beginning that their relationship was going to be put to the test, and this is the first scene that really clues us in to the trials that await them.

Directed by Shane Black, Iron Man 3 opens on May 3rd.

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Geek Goodies: 'Iron Man 3' Deep Space Pop! Vinyl Figure

Let's just assume that Tony Stark will venture off into outer space to hook up with Rocket Raccoon, Star-Lord, and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy at the end of Iron Man 3. He'll be wearing this awesome sub-orbital space suit when he does. The fine folks at Funko have made the "Starboost" deep space armor a part of their popular Pop! Vinyl line of Bobble Heads, and it can now be yours for only $10.99! Order now and have it on your doorstep before Iron Man 3 hits theaters on May 2nd!

Click here to order yours now from our friends at Entertainment Earth! We appreciate the support you continue to show our sponsors as it helps us considerably. Thank you.

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Tony Stark shows off his toys in new 'Iron Man 3' featurette and comic art posters

Like all of the Marvel films, Iron Man 3 is a cross-promotional powerhouse, and considering Tony Stark's love of flashy toys, it's no surprise that Audi has been one of the biggest sponsors since the beginning. With the superhero film right around the corner, Audi has revealed via Your Car News a featurette via  on their sleek new R8 e-tron, which will feature in the May 3rd release. Mostly it contains behind-the-scenes footage of the shoot, along with various folks talking about how Stark's stylish cars are as much a part of him as his many armors.

Because if there's anything fanboys love more than superheroes, it's pizza, Marvel has also teamed up with Red Baron to produce some cool posters drawn by some of comics' best artists.  You can enter to win one of these limited edition posters simply by going here. John Tyler Christopher drew the Mark XLII armor; the Iron Patriot armor is by Jorge Molina; the awesome "Hulkbuster" Igor Mark XXXVIII armor is by the legendary Ron Lim; the Heartbreaker Mark XVII armor by Andrea Di Vito; and the orbital Starboost armor by Mike Perkins. It's the last one that many expect Stark will be wearing if he heads into space to hang out with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black and stars Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Ben Kingsley, James Badge Dale, Wang Xueqi, Stephanie Szostak, and Jon Favreau.

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'Iron Man 3' post-credits sequence revealed?

If anybody can be thanked with making the post-credits scene cool/annoying, it's the folks over at Marvel. They've become an integral part of developing their cinematic universe, occasionally debuting new characters like the first appearance of Nick Fury, or dropping major clues to what was next in store. You can also count on each of these extra scenes being spoiled weeks in advance, and that may have just happened with Iron Man 3.

Those spotty chaps over at Latino Review had some eyes on the ground at the Paris premiere of the film, and they've reported back with what they say happens if you hang around for a bit. Be warned, there be spoilers ahead....



Cool? Ok, here's the description they give...

It starts with a close shot of Tony Stark on a couch talking about his various traumas, obviously he’s talking to someone, as if he was seeing a shrink, the tone of the scene is light and supposedly funny. Then we discover that the person he’s talking to is Bruce Banner/Mark Ruffalo, who fell asleep because of Tony’s boring story. Tony remarks that Banner has been sleeping during the most part of his story and yells at him, and Banner just mumbles and says “You know, I’m not that kind of doctor!” Then Tony recalls another memory and resumes his monologue, and then we see Banner starting to fall asleep again.

So....wait...no Guardians of the Galaxy? What's up with that? Maybe that rumor from awhile back was just that, merely a rumor? Or did Marvel pull the plug because the Internet caught wind of it? Or, and this is my guess, they didn't want to spoil it early and left it out, only to reinsert it when the film opens wide on May 3rd. At least, I hope that's the case, otherwise Marvel has started a new trend of just using the post-credits to yank our chains, just like they did with The Avengers.

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Tony Stark gets in a shootout in new 'Iron Man 3' clip and TV spot

Last night's MTV Movie Awards proved to be a big one for Marvel and The Avengers. Not only did we get a chance to see host Rebel Wilson in her own custom-fitted Iron Man armor, but the film took home three award; Movie of the Year, Best Fight Scene, and Best Villain for Tom Hiddleston. During the show, the fans who helped turn the film into a $1B-grossing box office champion were rewarded with a brand new clip from next month's Iron Man 3.

The footage shows Tony Stark fighting to survive Mandarin's attack on his mountainside home, and finding that using one of his prototype armors may not be the most effective way to do it. A new TV spot has also debuted, and overall neither spoils too much of the anticipated superhero film.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Ben Kingsley, Rebecca Hall, and Guy Pearce, Iron Man 3 hits theaters on May 3rd.

Get More: 2013 MTV Movie Awards, Latest Movie News

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Tony Stark issues a challenge in first 'Iron Man 3' clip

If one thing has been made clear by the numerous posters, trailers, and TV spots for Iron Man 3, it's that Tony Stark is going to take a beating worse than anything he's ever experienced. Everything points to this being the darkest chapter in the armored hero's story, and the Mandarin his toughest foe yet. What we haven't seen until now is Stark tossing aside his calm playboy demeanor and actually getting angry about it.

The first clip from the film features a scene we've seen bits and pieces of before, as an obviously shaken up Stark issues a challenge to Mandarin, basically stating that the villain is a dead man. It's an especially fiery moment for the typically relaxed Avenger, and suggests that something far more personal than his mountaintop lab was destroyed in Mandarin's attack. He appears to have been leaving a hospital, possibly after leaving an injured Pepper Potts?

Directed by Shane Black with Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce, and Rebecca Hall starring, Iron Man 3 kicks off Marvel's second phase on May 3rd.

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New trailer for 'Iron Man 3' shows off Stark's army

They've been building up to it for days, and now Marvel has released the awesome new trailer for Iron Man 3. So far they've done a good job of selling this as Tony Stark hitting his lowest point, and that trend continues here. But what's also clear is this is the biggest film in the franchise yet, showing off the epic scale and action that looks absolutely incredible.

How incredible are we talking? Besides Ben Kingsley's menacing threats as Mandarin, we also get an incredible look at Iron Man's drone army, which seems to include the Hulkbuster Armor! Maybe those World War Hulk rumors weren't so far off, after all?

Iron Man 3 hits theaters on May 3rd. Did this presumably final trailer measure up?


Iron Man 3 trailer 2 by 2013venjix

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'Guardians of the Galaxy' 95% set in space; more on 'Captain America 2'

I wonder if the folks at Warner Bros. just sit back and watch with envy how Kevin Feige makes running the Marvel cinematic universe look so damn easy. He's always making the rounds, asked at every turn about what's in store for the next big superhero film coming down the line, and he always manages to find answers that reveal nothing while also upping our hopes and expectations. Feige's been at it again, giving brief updates on Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

It's possible that Guardians of the Galaxy is going to be the breakout film from Marvel's second phase, as it's completely unlike anything they've done so far. The team, mostly made up of second-string heroes and anthropomorphic creatures like Rocket Raccoon and Groot, is quirky in a way The Avengers aren't. While discussing the cosmic aspects of the team, and their place in Phase 2 as a whole, Feige told SFX this....

Feige: "The Thor film and the Guardians Of The Galaxy film certainly are cosmic. Guardians and Thor will take the brunt of the cosmic side of the universe, particularly Guardians, which is 95% in space."

He then goes on to describe it as more of a "standalone" film, which makes me wonder about those rumors of Tony Stark flying off to meet them at the end of Iron Man 3.  He adds that the Avengers won't necessarily be involved in the Guardians' space-faring adventures, which also has me wondering how the villain Thanos is going to tie-in to everything.

Feige also seemed really upbeat about the Captain America sequel, which sounds like it will be worlds different than the first film....

Feige: "What’s exciting to me about Cap – sort of about Iron Man 3 too if you look at it – is it’s tonally almost like a different genre. Shane Black’s described Iron Man 3 as a Tom Clancy sort of political thriller, which I like a lot. We hired our directors on Cap because they loved our explanation that we really want to make a ’70s political thriller masquerading as a big superhero movie. Just like with the first film – we got Joe Johnston because we said, ‘We want to do a ’40s World War Two movie masquerading as a big superhero movie.’ I love that we’re doing a sequel to a film that’s a completely different genre than the first film. I think that’s fun. And the comics do it all the time.”

I recall Feige saying this was his hope for the Captain America solo films back in the beginning, and it looks like that plan is coming to fruition. I still have my doubts about the Russo Brothers as directors, based solely on their past work which was less than inspiring, but Feige's confidence in them goes a long way.


Guardians of the Galaxy hits theaters on August 1st 2014, while Captain America: The Winter Soldier arrives that same year on April 4th.

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Geek Goodies: 12-Inch 'Iron Man 3' Titan Hero Series figure

It's not often you can get a figure this big, this detailed, and this awesome for such a low price. You can get the new 12-inch Iron Man 3 Titan Hero Series action figure right now for only $12.99. Get ready for the new movie in style by having Iron Man stand watch over your collection of Marvel superhero Blu-Rays.

Plus, add two other in-stock Hasbro items to your order and you'll get the lowest priced one at 30% off! Click here to order your 12-Inch Iron Man 3 figure now from our friends at Entertainment Earth.

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Both versions of the 'Iron Man 3' Super Bowl TV spot

So far it's been nothing but doom and gloom for Tony Stark in every photo and trailer for Iron Man 3, and all signs pointed to the Super Bowl spot keeping in line with that. But that would have made for an awkward mesh with the generally cheery ads running through the biggest TV spectacle of the year, and so Marvel was wise enough to lighten things up a bit by showing Iron Man doing some actual superheroing.

The footage shows Iron Man busting out some cool aerial manuevers while trying to save passengers from a crashing jetliner, and realizing he may not have the power to rescue them all.

The expanded version is keeping in the darker tone previously established....well, except for Robert Downey Jr. and his play on the words "extended look".  There's a crisp shot of Don Cheadle donning the star-spangled War Machine suit, and other footage we've already seen before jumping into the plane rescue. Exciting stuff, but not especially revelatory.

Iron Man 3 opens on May 3rd. Thanks to our friends at Bleeding Cool for the extended cut.

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