Iron Man (2008)

MOVIE SUMMARY

Iron Man (2008) is the first film in the Marvel Films approach to introduce the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this film, Tony Stark, a billionaire, genius, philanthropist, and playboy has inherited Stark Industries from his father Howard Stark. Stark Industries is a defense contractor. So Stark, along with his friend Colonel James Rhodes goes to Afghanistan to demonstrate the new “Jericho” missile.

His convoy is attacked and Stark is critically injured by one of his own rocket-propelled grenades. Stark is captured by terrorists. While there, another prisoner grafts an electromagnet to Stark’s chest. This prevents the shrapnel from tearing into his heart, thus killing him. Stark and his captive friend build an arc reactor to power his electromagnetic “heart.” This power source has enough energy to power an armored suit. Stark uses this armored suit to escape.

When Stark returns to his company headquarters, he makes plans to abandon the defense industry and make Stark Industries a clean energy company. Obadiah Stane, a former partner to Howard Stark, strongly disagrees with this new direction. In the end, Stane reverse engineers another armored suit and fights Stark for control. After a final battle, Stark overcomes Stane. In the final scene, Tony Stark reveals that he is Iron Man.

POWER

Tony Stark exerts power through technology and weaponry. His last name (Stark) means strong in German. The arc reactor in his chest or heart is the source of his life and power. The arc reactor powers his heart and the Iron Man suit. Tony Stark uses the arc reactor to stay alive and he uses the Iron Man suit to fight enemies.

For Tony Stark, the arc reactor is the source of life. Tony needs the arc reactor to live. In the same way, for the Christian, the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is our Source. The Bible gives many examples that describe Jesus as our Source. He is the Light of the World (John 8:12), the Living Water (John 4:10, John 7:38), the True Vine (John 15:1), the Bread of Life (John 6:48), as well as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

The Iron Man suit gives Tony Stark his supernatural strength. The Iron Man suit uses the arc reactor to power the strength that Tony Stark needs to protect his life and help other people. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ gives every person who trusts Him the Holy Spirit to help them in life (John 3:5, John 6:63, John 14:16, Romans 6:11, Galatians 4:6). The Holy Spirit is like the Iron Man suit for the Christian. With the Iron Man Suit, Tony Stark is strong enough to live and help other people. With the Holy Spirit, every Christian is strong enough to live for Jesus Christ and do the good works that God has made us to do (Acts 1:8, Romans 15:13, Galatians 4:29, Ephesians 3:16).

QUESTIONS

The arc reactor is the source of life for Tony Stark. He struggles to live when he is disconnected from the reactor. Do you struggle in life when you are disconnected from Jesus, the Source of Life?

The Iron Man suit gives Tony Stark the ability to do good works. How does the Holy Spirit help a Christian to do good works?