Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Iron Man 3’

Written by Scott Edwards and John Edward Betancourt 

​“A FAMOUS MAN ONCE SAID, 'WE CREATE OUR OWN DEMONS.' WHO SAID THAT? WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? DOESN'T MATTER. I SAID IT ‘CAUSE HE SAID IT.”
​– TONY STARK

Scott’s Review
We are all human. I know it is hard to admit it, but it is true. Things that we believe can be done that we come to learn are impossible may be beyond our comprehension, but we are always willing to try. That is the human drive that we are taught growing up, if you put your mind to it, you can do it. In so many ways this is true, but there are just some things that our mind and body will not allow us to accomplish.  

This is one of the things Tony Stark has to confront in the third installment of Iron Man. Our story starts off with Stark attending a conference in Switzerland (noted in the cave from the first movie) in 1999. Stark is researching researcher Maya Hansen on New Year’s Eve, who is working on a project called EXTREMIS. EXTREMIS is a growth hormone that gives the body the ability to regenerate, to the point where the body can re-grow missing limbs. During the trip up to the hotel room, Stark and Hansen are confronted by a less than ordinary man named Aldrich Killian who seems very interested in Hansen’s research, but is blown off by Stark who had only one thing on his mind, and little does Tony know that seemingly unimportant moment, will come back to haunt him.

Now, the first line of the movie, which I quoted above, speaks volumes about how our demons persist, after all, Iron Man 3 takes place after The Avengers. Tony Stark is back at work in his shop, and not being able to sleep at all, Stark does what he does best, creating a newer and better suit, up to Mark 42. Trying to battle his own demons, at least the ones he knows about, Stark is doing his best to hide his current problem, which is battling anxiety over facing his own death once again. Being brought back down to the problems of normal people, Stark is confronted by another villain, The Mandarin. The Mandarin is challenging the President of the United States and believes he should be taught a lesson. As to what specific lesson the President will learn, well that will have to wait for another time, as the Mandarin continues to break into the public television feed with visions of terror.

Iron Man 3 is a great look into the strengths that we encompass, along with our weaknesses and this movie features some incredible performances. Robert Downey Jr. delivers as Tony Stark as always and Don Cheadle continues to clean up any scenes when the two are not in the same room, also War Machine is a name of the past as Iron Patriot is announced to the public. Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) continues to play the normal girlfriend but is willing to put up a fight for what she believes is right. Aldrich Killian is played by Guy Pearce and he is able to deliver in his role the way a brilliant, almost madman should. Ben Kingsley, who plays the Mandarin with a mountain of hair, does a fantastic job of filling the American public with all kinds of fear.

With all that has happened in the Iron Man series and with the addition of The Avengers movie, this is the only way to follow it up. Making sure to keep Tony Stark in check as a real person may not be everyone’s favorite way to finish up this first trilogy, however this adds a sense of reality to the character. Everyone can find a way to be the best at what they do, but some people are able to find a way to do it faster, and while faster may be the path that most of us what to take, you must always remember that the stress that it entails may cause you more problems than it is really worth.  

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John’s Review
It is our mortality that defines us. Simply because from a biological standpoint it is what we are truly made to do. We are born, we live a life that is hopefully filled with incredible moments of wonder before we pass into that great beyond. Yet facing that end is something we rarely do because knowing that everything can come to an end on a moment's notice is a terrifying prospect. It is something that at some point we will all face whether we want to acknowledge or not and it is something that you rarely see addressed in the comic book world. Sure, some characters have died, but often times they come back. But there is one comic book motion picture in particular that not only addresses the issue head on but reminds us of how scary a brush with death can be in Iron Man 3. 

Nothing has been the same for Tony Stark since New York. His sleep is constantly interrupted by nightmares of his close encounter with the end as he battled the Chitauri. To avoid these terrible dreams Tony stays up for hours on end, building one new innovative Iron Man suit after another, all in the hopes of soothing his rattled psyche. But there will be little time for Tony to heal, as a new enemy, the Mandarin, has come forward to terrorize the world and his arrival will change Tony’s life in ways he never could have imagined. 

So, let me say it out loud right now, I absolutely loved Iron Man 3. It is by far the best film in the saga so far for so many reasons. First and foremost, I was stunned with how Tony Stark is badly damaged on a psychological level in this story and his plight brings up a good question...who counsels super heroes through their times of need? The quick answer is no one. Tony Stark is a hero, the man who finally stopped the Chitauri invasion. He is seen as brave and strong and what Iron Man stands for, means that the public sees him as invincible, and that puts Tony on a lonely journey. It makes for a beautiful and haunted Iron Man film and quite frankly the most thoughtful.  

Yet the wonder of this story doesn't stop there. Director and co-writer Shane Black does an incredible job of bringing Tony's vulnerability to life by removing him from his suit of armor for a better part of the film. It not only gives us a finer acting performance from Robert Downey, Jr., but it also places him in tougher situations where he is forced to use his genius to escape. But the film's depth doesn't end there, one of the best parts thematically of Iron Man 3 is the fascinating concept of what we hold on to. For example, Aldrich Killian's anger toward Tony has driven every single decision of his life, consuming him like the fire of Extremis while Tony's fears of the end, have left him ‘in a cocoon.’  

It's that distinct intelligence and heartfelt wonder that makes the film hopeful and beautiful at the same time. Simply because while it focuses on the fear that blankets us over our eventual end, it reminds us that each moment is wonderful and will never come again and we should celebrate every last one of them, as often as possible.

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