10 thoughts on “Iron Man 3: Life Goes Boom”

1. My everyday life has enough reality. I don’t even watch “reality shows” on television. I go to movies to be entertained, preferably with a
   happy ending, after two hours and a tummy full of popcorn.

   1. I hear you, Darlis!
      Here, here!
      I’m cool with lots of reality-based films; but Marvel & DC Comics is not reality-based. Did you see those aliens in The Avengers? Yeah… fantasy! So, bring on the entertainment, action and adventure!

2. Naima,

   I am with you and Darlis. I have my own problems…. I don’t want to go to the movies and watch someone else’s – especially my superheroes! LOL!

   Like you Naima I want to see my heroes fly, do super heroics and save the world -not have panic attacks!

   So do I want to see my heroes humanized -nah!

   Isn’t that why we call them SUPER heroes?

   Nice post!

   1. Thanks, Mike.
      Appreciate it.
      Yes, that is why we call them SUPER heroes!
      For some odd reason, the studios have decided that we, the audience, want heroes with problems… so it is what it is. LOL!
      I’m sure the tide will turn eventually.
      Until then, they’ll be panic attacks and all kinds of creative ailments. 🙂

3. [SPOLIER ALERT] Do no read if you haven’t seen the film.

   It seems this conversation falls into a modern vs. post-modern film critique. The former desiring for superhero to act “super” and kill all the bad guys while the latter want the superhero to struggle (maybe even fail?) while fighting the bad guy(s). Post-modernist tend to associate with the struggling nature of the human condition in movies while modernists tend towards looking at movies as a form of escapism from the human condition. These are broad generalizations and exceptions certainly exist. However, I’ve found them to be relatively consistent provided the viewer has critiqued their own worldview (happy to argue about it further though! 😉

   Compounding our cultural understanding of the film is also the specific genre of comic book movies. These story lines that are just now being made into movies have been around (in comic book form) for up to 60 years, depending on the specific story arc. There’s a lot of character depth to build on for movies like X-Men, Wolverine, Iron Man, Thor, Superman, Batman, etc. For this particular trilogy of Iron Man they’ve pulled heavily from a more recent story line – the Extremis Arc published in the mid-2000’s. However, that arc still builds and integrates much of the previous decades of Iron Man. Remember Iron Man first appeared way back in 1963! 50 years ago!! That’s a lot of character to explore.

   All this to say that I believe Stan Lee’s characters typically have a heavy dose of the human condition – Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Magneto, etc. While the movies aren’t “reality-based” (a term that probably needs some extended definition and discussion), that doesn’t mean they jettison all human reality and connection. In fact, in your post I would argue that Batman is the most human of any of the “superheros” because he is in fact just a man performing vigilante justice. He has so specific super powers (i.e. healing, strength, etc). Even within The Avengers, Iron Man is probably the most “human” of all the characters (Hulk – mutant gamma radiation with Jekyll/Hyde personality, Captain America – superhuman strength from 1940’s experimentation, Thor – god from another world).

   In Iron Man 3 they’re moving the story beyond the suit. Near the end of the film he has his Les Mis Jean Valjean moment of “Who Am I?” He realizes that he doesn’t need the suit or the arc reactor (the thing in his chest) to be Iron Man (though he technically does need the thing in his chest to stop the shrapnel from killing him…). He is Iron Man whether he suits up or not. And because Marvel wants to create an anthology of movies Tony Stark couldn’t possibly act the same in 3 as he did in 1 and 2. In the first two movies he was fighting people on earth. He’d never seen aliens, believed that there were other planets/dimensions, or been willing to sacrifice his own life to save anyone. It seems that he couldn’t stay the same. Something has to budge if Tony Stark is going to be anything beyond a playboy smart aleck character.

   I’m personally glad to see a more human, struggling side to the character. I also liked the metaphor of the Iron Man suit being broken and not functioning perfectly similar to Stark himself. So even when he was in his suit he wasn’t protected from everything (much like when he’s in his man-cave building his suits he’s not protected from everything). I’m hoping Thor and Captain America also change as characters post-Avengers.

   But maybe I’m just comic-book fan that loves watching and making movies…..

   1. [SPOLIER ALERT] Do no read if you haven’t seen the film.

      Thank you so much Ryan for taking the time to stop through and share your thoughts.

      Yes, you are a comic book fan who loves watching and making movies! And a wonderful media producer, I might add! Fam, if you’re in the TX area (or elsewhere) with media needs, look Ryan up!

      OK, great point re: post-modern vs. modern; though yes, a broad generalization. I can think of films on both sides of that coin that defy those conditions, but broadly speaking, we can roll with you.

      Here’s the thing, though, Ryan.
      Yes, Marvel’s characters have typically leaned heavily upon human flaws, as my husband Kevin repeatedly points out to me. However, when we’re paying $20 a pop for an IMAX, 3D experience in the “comic book” genre, (nobody is expecting an Academy Award here), with 50 years of story lines to choose from, I’m curious as to why it’s more attractive to flaw Tony up with panic attacks that don’t seem natural to the storyline.

      Now, you and Kevin probably know if Marvel gave Tony Stark panic attacks in the actual comic books. I don’t know. But onscreen, I kept thinking, “It’s not working”. Maybe it was the acting. Maybe it was the writing. Either way, it felt forced like somebody kept saying, “We have to make something wrong with him!”

      I agree that there must be a character arc and Tony would definitely have to change over the course of time, particularly after The Avengers. But we, as an audience. know that we’re getting a sarcastic, billionaire playboy when we sign up for Iron Man. In the same way we know that we’re getting a brooding Batman, a moody Wolverine and a quirky Spider-Man. We know that Bruce Banner is unstable. That’s what we expect.

      My point is the filmmakers probably could’ve achieved the same outcome with the failing suit as a failing body. There was just a whole lot going on. You know?

      I did appreciate the identity crisis and resolution. That was powerful.
      Honestly though, I will be totally fine if I don’t see a new Thor with split personality or Captain America having anxiety problems. LOL!!!

      Thanks again for taking the time. Always great to hear from you, my friend.

4. I think I’m referring more abstractly to the “idea” that my superheros have flaws….referring specifically to the panic attack portion of Tony Stark….yeah I don’t know. I see what you’re saying where it felt a little strange, like it was forced onto his character in the writing room. But his interactions with the kid in the movie seemed pretty genuine to me. I guess I’m also glad that Downey didn’t just phone in this performance and collect a check. Even if you don’t like how he played the character, I think it was evident that he was trying to bring more to the role and depth to the character (which is saying a lot for his 3rd Iron Man and 4th Marvel film!).

   “However, when we’re paying $20 a pop for an IMAX, 3D experience in the “comic book” genre, (nobody is expecting an Academy Award here)”

   I think I actually expect more out of these stories because of the history of writing they have. And it’s unfortunate that these movies don’t get more respect from the Academy (though you do have to contend with clunkers like Transformers though, so I can see where it’s a challenge). But that’s another topic….And being a shooter myself, I would’ve advised you to steer clear of the IMAX 3D version since they didn’t shoot it in 3D (or IMAX). It was shot in 2D and converted to 3D in post (then blown up to IMAX resolution). My rule tends to be that I’ll only see a movie in 3D if it was originally shot in 3D. Reason being the Director, DP, actors/actresses, and crew are all thinking about the staging in a spatial way when shooting 3D. In 2D the space gets compressed and things are blocked differently as a result of that compression. I know you’re aware of all this….point being if ain’t shot in 3D save the $8 surcharge and just see the regular showing! 🙂

   And my modern vs. post-modern theory is more in relation to those of us viewing the films (maybe writing them?), than the actual characters in the films. Generally speaking, I notice the older generation wants to attend a movie to “escape reality.” Whereas, more and more younger people interact with film/TV as a language and are therefore a bit more critical of it as a medium (cf. Vine, Snapchat, YouTube, etc.). I try to communicate to those around me that consumption must be followed by critique. Otherwise, you’re “merely” being entertained and failing to interact with the philosophy, theology, and worldviews of the art.

   P.S. – Thanks for adding “Spoiler Alert” to my post! Stinks when you read the comments on a blog and it ruins the movie for you. Keep up the good work (and thinking!). And thanks for the props in your previous comment….much appreciated.

   1. Got it, Ryan!

      Yes, it could’ve been the performance, though I rather enjoyed RDJ in the film. He is “Iron Man”. LOL! The panic stuff wasn’t very believable, but other than that, I was along for the ride. Lots of stuff went boom, bang and everything in between.

      And I really did appreciate the identity crisis and resolution.

      It’s wonderful to hear that comic enthusiasts expect more of the genre and story lines. I hope I didn’t sound insensitive with my Academy comment. There have certainly been Marvel and WB/DC films that have been worthy. Mostly though, the summer is the time when studios roll out their tent pole action films to make money and make up for all that they may likely lose on the Oscar films they push at the end of the year. (Though, surprisingly, this year 5 of the 9 Best Picture nominees went blockbuster at over $100 mil.)

      Great advice on the IMAX 3D and 2D.
      Fam, if you’re reading this, please take note and let’s find out if the movie is filmed in 3D before we drop the extra dough.

      I agree with you that it’s great to follow consumption with critique. So many of my blog posts do just that. I’m interacting all the time with the creative content that we as artists are putting out for consumption. And then sometimes, my friend, I just want to be entertained, and go yell at the screen, “Get ’em Iron Man!” and watch an army of robots dance in the sky. You know?

      I so appreciate your dialogue.
      Give my best to all the DTS Fam!
      Great to hear from you.

5. Naima – thought you might appreciate this given your blog post and our discussion in the comments. USA Today interviewed Stan Lee (former Marvel president, comic book writer, and executive producer of every Marvel film to date) on his seemingly human superheroes. In the interview he said, “I thought it would be great to do superheros that have the same kind of life problems that any reader…could have…I just tried to write characters who are human beings who also have super powers.”

   It’s worth a read just to get inside the mind of the writer a little bit: http://usat.ly/14y0kH9

   1. Hi Ryan,

      Thanks so much for the article, Man! Good stuff.
      I recently read another article about how Stan Lee powered back from bankruptcy, not very long ago. Quite impressed at the fortitude.

      So, what do you think of this Doctor Strange and Ant Man? Do they have a large enough following to keep things afloat between the other more well known heroes?

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