Iron Man 3 doesn't live up to its potential

"Prepare for heavy metal!"

RATED- PG-13
RUN TIME- 130 MINS
WRITER(S)- DREW PIERCE AND SHANE BLACK
STARRING- ROBERT DOWNEY JR., GWYNETH PALTROW AND DON CHEADLE
DIRECTOR- SHANE BLACK



Synopsis taken from IMDb
When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.




First off, I'd like to mention that this movie actually has a lot of surprising elements. They advertising campaign did a great job with not letting a lot out to the public through the trailers. After seeing the movie I realized how much happened that wasn't even brought up in the trailer. However, the childish aspect of Marvel's movies really shows through in this film, bringing it down a peg.

The first Iron Man film was a damn near great film and the sequel was a bit lesser than what we expected. This film lets the ball slip a little more. Luckily this is the last Iron Man portrayal by Robert Downey Jr aside from Avengers 2. After that Downey is handing off the role to someone else who's younger. Last I heard, Disney and Marvel have an idea of who will be playing Iron Man, but their lips are sealed. The Iron Man series won't be rebooted, just a new actor like in the James Bond pictures.

I fell like this movie wasn't taken seriously at all and that hurts the series. It's as if they wanted to celebrate Iron Man's exit with a laid back and fun approach as appose to a epic finale like "The Dark Knight Rises". What once had a serious tone and vibe now is reduced to a lot of unnecessary humor and a bunch of new ways to put his suit on. I felt this movie has more of a childish tone to it than any of the other Marvel films as of late. Is this to do with Disney dipping their hands into the cash cow? One can only speculate.

I think they lost focus of what Iron Man originally was and chose to do over-the-top special effects and a lot of cheap jokes instead of good writing and a decent plot. I must admit that this film has a ton of cheese in it. Some of the stuff I laughed at wasn't meant to even be funny. I didn't find there to be any real threat in this movie, it wasn't very thrilling for me. The acting wasn't anything special and that includes Downey, his Tony Stark portrayal was lazy in this film.

I'm not trying to completely bash this movie, but there are quite a few things that I didn't like about it. Including the twist. They made everything one big sarcastic joke and that aggravates the hell out of me, but it's still a solid action movie and fun to watch. It's just pure entertainment. I felt Iron Man deserved a better exit than this. Not a terrible movie overall, but not even close to what it should have been.

THIS FILM GETS 2 1/2 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

Hannibal: episode 6 "Entree"

***SPOILERS***

Last night's episode was  very, very good and one of the best yet. It was very dark and violent. They actually were able to re-create the feeling from "The Silence of the Lambs" very well last night.

The episode starts off at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Inside, we see some guards and armed officers looking into a cell that strongly resembles Hannibal's cell from the movies. That's a good thing because it adds to the authenticity of this show. Inside the cell lays a heavyset patient, laying on his stomach and bleeding out his mouth. After making sure that it's not a hoax, the guards open his cell and have him rushed to the emergency room. Once there, the nurse hooks him up to all the breathing machines and all that good stuff, only to find out he's fine and that it is in fact a hoax.

Doctor Chilton calls Will and Jack down to his hospital and while walking they dispute rather or not one of Chilton's patients is the "Chesapeake Ripper". Will and Jack insist that Chilton's patient isn't the ripper only to be lead into the room where the nurse was murdered and to see that she's killed in the same exact fashion as the ripper. This puzzles Will and Jack.

It had been over 2 years since the "Chesapeake Ripper" committed a murder and that is Chilton's argument. He patient Dr. Abel Gideon has been locked up for 2 years. This leaves Jack thinking that Dr. Abel Gideon is there man, while Will isn't so convinced. Something doesn't add up to him.

I thought that when Will investigated the nurse's murder was the best part of the show thus far. This time you really got to see how Will's mind works and it was directed perfectly. You saw Will act out the murder just like it was committed. What's cool is that earlier when the nurse got killed, you didn't see the murder. So later you see what exactly happened, only Will was acting it out.

Meanwhile, Jack receives a call late at night and it's the recording of an ex protege of his by the name of Miriam Lass. She says she was wrong and sounds in danger. Earlier in the episode, it shows a flashback of Jack and Miriam when he took her on to help him investigate the ripper case. He explains that one day she never came back from doing some investigating. Jack is insistent that Miriam is dead, even though some don't think she is. He won't listen to any other FBI agents, he even threatens to get violent.

After conducting an interview with Dr. Abel Gideon, Will still isn't sold that he's the ripper. The feel isn't the same, the motive isn't the same either. Now the show has made it obvious by the end of the episode, but those of you who read the books like me, we know Hannibal is the real ripper.

They make an agreement with Freddy Lounds, the reporter none of us can stand, to write a piece on how Dr. Abel Gideon is the real "Chesapeake Ripper" in hopes to provoke the real ripper into coming out. Hannibal sees the report online and as calm as he remains, you see the anger inside him. That was done by great acting. When you can pull off letting the viewer know exactly what you're thinking through just facial expressions you did you job well. And that is worth a pat on the back.

Jack gets several more calls throughout the episode that are Miriam. Jack's being taunted. Or is she really alive? In any case, none of the calls are traceable until the last one which actually leaves a phone number. After tracing the call to an old observatory, Jack calls the number back and hears it ringing from inside the observatory. Upon entering and searching for where the ringing is coming from, Jack and Will discover the phone...in a female's hand connected to a arm severed at the elbow. 

There was also a lot of character development with Jack Crawford this episode. He makes a visit to Hannibal and talks about his wife and how he can't stop thinking about when she'll die. Hannibal comforts him and then brings up the Miriam situation and wants to know why Jack feels so responsible for her. It's because he's the reason she was investigating the case. Had it not been for him, she would be in class learning proper procedure with all the other future FBI agents.

We go to a flashback of how Miriam came to Hannibal's office to question him during her investigation. She has some solid proof that could land him in trouble, but he stays calm and offers only to help and she never suspects him. Until she see drawings in his office that are of the Rippers murders. Before she can act Hannibal grabs her and puts her to sleep by choking her. Now, I'm not sure if Hannibal did kill her or not, I'm thinking not. She didn't look dead, just passed out. 

I believe she is alive and Hannibal is using her as psychological leverage over Jack. Although after getting under his skin with Freddy Lounds, it is possible she's dead now. And she could have even been the meal Hannibal and Dr. Chilton enjoyed earlier, which was tongue.

I really enjoyed the story in this episode and where it's taking all of the lead characters. I'm wondering how long it'll be before Hannibal gets caught? Maybe the finale? If he gets caught that early than I don't see a way around changing the original story from the books. As long as they do it justice I'll be fine. And for those of you who are not liking having to wait so long for Hannibal to be the main focus, don't worry it'll happen soon.

As I've said before, I don't mind Hannibal not being in the forefront of it all. I like his character but find him and his rich, fancy tastes to be boring. I'm glad they're keeping him at a distance like the films and movies did. Except for "Hannibal" and "Hannibal Rising", those books were bad and the movies were worse.

THIS EPISODE GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5

Dexter Season 8: Teaser "Behind a Mask"

I'm not being melodramatic when I say that I am saddened by this season being the last. I know all good things must come to an end, but I have never in my whole life been as hooked and involved with a show as I have Dexter.

Dexter is such a brilliant show, and while some say the latest seasons aren't any good, I completely disagree. The show isn't as good as it was when it first started but there's no such thing as a bad season of this show to me. Every episode is a thrill and purely enjoyable.

Although I am staying away from big trailers and spoilers, I did watch this new teaser and am more compelled than ever to get this season started. Dexter is my favorite show of all-time and will never be replaced in my book. Hell, I spent about $500 on custom making a high-end Dexter action figure. But next month it all ends.

There's so many questions that are going through my mind, I don't even want to start. The one thing that I heard and that I am very proud of is that Michael C. Hall stated that the show will have a finality to it's ending, it won't be open and leaving you guessing or have him walking away down a road. It's going to be a solid clean cut ending and to say I can't wait is an understatement.

Without further adieu, here's the latest teaser from the best show on television. Enjoy!

Bates Motel: episode 7 "The Man in Number 9"

***SPOILERS***

Now that Fox's "The Following" has ended my Monday night lineup is pretty weak now. But at least I still have Bates Motel, but nothing beats the lineup of the that was. I'll be anxiously awaiting next year when they're both on and my Monday tradition continues.

This episode of Bates was pretty crazy. Not as good as last weeks, but still good nonetheless. If anything this was a filler episode, because they open a lot of new doors in this episode that we know are coming into play later.

Dylan comes downstairs to be greeted by Norma who's making breakfast and in an extra chipper mood. Dylan accepts breakfast and is actually happy around Norma for all of a minute. Once he tells Norma he's still moving out she storms off in a hissy fit.

Norman is visited by Emma but refuses to see her. He has his mom tell her that he's under the weather. Norma sees the hurt in Emma's eyes and sympathizes with her. Norma has Emma take her out to run some errands and offers to buy Emma lunch.

Meanwhile, Dylan sees an unknown car parked and staring at the motel. Dylan gets smug and let's the strange man know not to invade on them. The man asks where Keith Summers is, and when he's told Keith passed away he suddenly leaves. 

Out on the town, Emma tells Norma about Norman's relationship with Bradley and Norma's interest is piqued. Emma takes Ms. Bates to Bradley's yoga class where Norma scopes her out with envy. I really like how Norma is looking out for Emma and likes her, I like Emma too. The character development is going to go well, I can see it.

Later, Norman and Dylan see Bradley while leaving the store and she and Dylan instantly give each other "the look". I can see this turning into something  and that's not good for Norman nor his blackouts. We all know what Norman is capable of.

During this episode Norman also finds a dog and somewhat adopts it, even against Norma's wishes. I was nervous when Norman first found the dog because he had a hammer in his hand. As you all know, killers often start off with killing animals before progressing to humans. I thought the dog was a goner. Good to see I was surprisingly wrong.

While Norma is tidying up, she sees the same man Dylan dealt with earlier and he's fishy, not to be trusted. You know something's off with him from the start. He asks if he can have the same arrangement he had with Keith Summers: where he rents room 9 and all other doors in that block every couple of weeks. Norma agrees pleasantly but she knows something is off with him. When she asks him what he does for a living he simply says "sales". Why Norma didn't kick him off the property I'll never know...I guess she wanted the business.

Norma has it out with Norman about his liking Bradley and Norman explains that he really likes her. Against his wishes Norma presses him on the issue and he storms out of the house, desperate for his individuality and freedom. 

Later, Dylan explains that the guy in room 9 isn't normal and demands that he go to his room so the man can fill out his information and give his payment. Yet again, Dylan feels him out. Letting the man know he's not playing games.

Norman goes to Bradley's house and spills his feelings only to be turned down and told pretty much that it was a "fling" and nothing more. Norman wasn't wanting to hear he got a booty call, he wanted a relationship. After utterly crushing him, Norman walks home crying. 

When he arrives back at the hotel he sees the dog he's adopted and calls it to him. As it's on it's way it is suddenly run down by a car. Norman runs to the little dogs aid and Norma helps him get the dog inside. He then tells his mother that she was right in her assumption of he and Bradley's relationship and that Bradley isn't right for him.

As I said earlier, not the best episode but a still solid. I think Dylan and Bradley are going to hook up and I think that is so wrong. Not only is it breaking bro code, but Dylan's pushing Norman to have a normal life so for him to stab Norman in the back like that is only starting a fire. I hope Dylan gets burned too. Up until this point I've really liked Dylan, but if it goes the way I'm predicting I won't like him much longer.

I'm most interested in the man in number 9 and what his tie is to Keith Summers. I'm guessing he is the big boss guy that Keith and Shelby answered to. The Bate's think they're safe now but I think it's only going to get worse from here on out. And that includes their personal lives with each other.

THIS EPISODE GETS 3 REAPER SKULLS OUT OF 5