If you’re keeping score at home, there are now 37 movies in the semi-linear Marvel Cinematic Universe. But the one that got things rolling came out all the way back in 2008: Iron Man.
It’s hard to believe it will soon be 20 years since Robert Downey Jr. first donned Tony Stark’s iconic red and gold armor. No one could have predicted that, for a while, the Marvel-movie maestros would tap into a narrative that seemingly could do no wrong.
Thanos and Loki were nowhere to be seen. Instead, we got a remarkably engaging origin story about a playboy billionaire’s journey from self-absorbed narcissist to an unlikely exemplar of moral clarity.
Plugged In Director Paul Asay and I recently revisited Iron Man, unpacking not only its themes and issues, but reflecting on how its story and characters laid a solid foundation for the entire Marvel franchise. In retrospect, the film seems surprisingly grounded in real-world issues, such as terrorism and the moral gray areas of running a huge multinational corporation.
But you can watch and listen for yourself on this edition of Plugged In Rewind.
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