_Iron Man 3_ enters what's called "Phase 2" of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it does so imperfectly. I’ve mentioned this before, and I’ll say it again: no film is ever truly perfect. But because _The Avengers_ established such a high standard, following that up proved difficult for Black’s entry. There are numerous inconsistencies, plot holes, questionable decisions, illogical moments, and weak points—though not as many as some online discussions might suggest. These issues don't lead to _Iron Man 3_'s complete failure, but they do leave a somewhat negative impression overall. That isn’t to say it’s a bad movie, though. It’s actually quite good; it surpasses the quality of _Iron Man 2_ and establishes itself firmly within the MCU, something only _The Incredible Hulk_ failed to achieve. Yes, it has its problems, yes expectations were higher, and yes I have criticisms, but the film isn't a failure. It manages to bring things full circle while still leaving Tony Stark & Iron Man with a future in the Marvel Universe. Shane Black and Drew Pearce manage to portray a sense of vulnerability that was previously only touched upon in other MCU films. Even Steve Rogers from _Captain America_ seemed to be in control of every situation, but here we see Tony Stark as not just someone who can be hurt, but as an ordinary man. He’s the most human superhero appearance within the MCU so far. The wit that audiences have come to expect is still present, but underneath and between those moments there's a person struggling with insomnia, extreme anxiety disorders, disconnected from reality, too invested in his work and a shattered identity to live up to how people think he should be. Pepper and Rhodey are also given opportunities to step up. The three of them form a sort of protagonist trio, helping each other out in a superhero-like way with more depth than I anticipated. The _Iron Man_ movies have always been known for their disappointing final confrontations. While Black delivers more here than Favreau ever did, the issues I had with _Iron Man 3_ largely stemmed from A.I.M., the Mandarin and Extremis (which now form an antagonist trinity). So, we got a better final confrontation, but against less significant villains. There’s a more human hero involved in a less human adventure, and a stronger connection between characters despite having less screen time. I could continue to dissect this film, but that word essentially sums it up: a roller coaster. Not in the sense of being a predictable “thrill ride,” but because it's a constant series of ups and downs, with the ending barely justifying the beginning. Considering the movie on its own merits, _Iron Man 3_ is a good film—not great, but definitely worth watching. It’s difficult for me to be objective since I’ve seen all the other films so many times that it's impossible to forget what came before when viewing this one. I would appreciate hearing from someone who has watched _Iron Man 3_, but not _Iron Man 1_ & _2_ or _The Avengers_. Such a person must exist somewhere, and their perspective would be valuable. I think I may have made it sound like I disliked _Iron Man 3_ more than I actually did. From _Iron Man 2_ until _The Avengers_, I saw all the MCU films in theaters. After each one, I had that feeling of wanting to see it again, a feeling that grew stronger over time. Each Marvel release left me with this sentiment more intensely than the last, culminating in _The Avengers_, which I watched six times and immediately pre-ordered on Blu-Ray (I even bought a PS3 just to watch them). But after seeing _Iron Man 3_, my interest level dropped considerably. Although it was an enjoyable experience, it simply didn’t have the lasting impact I had come to expect from these superhero films. 67% -_Gimly_

Source on TMDB