5. Tony Shows His Mettle Without His Armor
In
The Avengers, Steve Rogers asked Tony Stark what the latter would be without his armor. Ever the deflective comedian, Tony responded that he was a genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist. In
Iron Man 3, Tony has no need to tell his enemies what he is without his armor, opting to show them instead. Taking a hero out of his costume for such a long stretch of a film is risky. Fans want to see their favorite characters in full gear.
Iron Man 3 rewards the audience for its patience by showing Tonys ability to use his brains and brawn to best his opponents, some of whom were Extremis soldiers. Whether its firing a gun, throwing down in fisticuffs, or rigging a microwave to blow, Tony Stark proves that he is more than just a guy in armor. He is a worthy combatant and an even greater hero for succeeding even at the height of his physical and emotional vulnerability. Tony Stark is Iron Man. The rest is just a suit.