Chapter 60
Afu Khan, Khulna Province
A group of military Humvees drives closer, kicking up clouds of dust. AC/DC's classic rock blares in the background—Tony Stark's unmistakable anthem.
Tony sits in the back of one Humvee, casually sipping from a wine glass, as soldiers around him eye him warily.
"Is this the atmosphere before a court-martial?" Stark quips, breaking the silence. "Come on, guys. What did I do wrong?"
He looks around, then grins, "You look like you're auditioning for Forrest Gump."
This was Robert Downey Jr.'s first line as Tony Stark—a mix of playboy charm and biting sarcasm. The original script didn't include the "Forrest Gump" joke, but Downey improvised, a move that set the tone for the character's wit.
From this point on, Downey became inseparable from Stark, the first glimpse of the iconic billionaire-genius-playboy-philanthropist character.
The atmosphere in the vehicle lightens as Stark's humor breaks through. The soldiers even join in, one of them asking, "Mr. Stark, did you really sleep with all twelve cover girls in the modeling magazines?"
Stark takes off his sunglasses, smirking. "Not exactly. I missed March due to scheduling conflicts. But December was a twin, so... you know."
This further solidifies Stark's image as a carefree, self-indulgent playboy—a depiction that left some theatergoers wondering, Is this really a superhero?
Mid-conversation, an explosion rocks the convoy.
Boom!
The Humvee in front flips over, and the strong visual and auditory shock hits the audience hard. Stark's Humvee is strafed with bullets, and the soldier who was joking just moments before loses his life instantly.
Stark barely escapes the wreckage. As he tries to take cover and call for help, a missile lands right next to him, emblazoned with the Stark Industries logo.
"What the—" Stark begins, but before he can finish, he's blown unconscious.
He awakens surrounded by terrorists.
IRON MAN
"Tony Stark: genius inventor and son of legendary weapons developer Howard Stark."
"Built his first circuit board at age four and his first engine at six…"
Stark Industries co-founder Obadiah Stane assumed control until Tony, at just 21, took over as the youngest CEO, leading the company into a new era.
At an awards ceremony, Colonel Rhodes, Tony's good friend, prepares to present him with a trophy. But Tony is too busy gambling to care about such accolades.
Post-ceremony, Tony meets a female reporter. When questioned about Stark Industries manufacturing weapons of destruction, Tony shrugs it off, believing he's just a businessman. The reporter isn't satisfied, but they return to Tony's mansion for an "in-depth interview."
During filming, Robert Downey Jr.'s wife, Susan Downey, one of the producers, watched the scene, causing some awkward takes. Xu Can, the director, eventually asked her to step out to allow the scene to flow naturally. When the film played in theaters, Downey quickly reached for his wife's hand during this scene.
Back in the movie, the reporter wakes up in Tony's mansion the next morning and is greeted by Pepper Potts, Stark's assistant. Expecting to become the lady of the house, the reporter is swiftly shown the door by Pepper—the true mistress of the mansion.
Pepper then efficiently nudges Tony to board a plane, their playful exchange ending as they prepare for the day ahead.
Watching this scene in the theater, Xu Can suddenly felt someone touching his leg. He looked down to find it was Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays Pepper. Her high-heeled shoe had slipped off, and her toes brushed against his leg. She was leaning in close, her breath warm on his ear.
"Lady, please be restrained. Don't distract me while I'm watching the movie," Xu Can thought to himself, calmly pulling away. Although Paltrow had a certain charm, Xu Can wasn't interested in creating unnecessary scandals, given his already complicated personal life.
Disappointed, Paltrow leaned back and focused on the film.
Tony Stark arrives at the U.S. military base in Afghanistan, showcasing Stark Industries' latest product—the Jericho missile. After its launch, the missile splits into multiple warheads, causing a massive explosion that flattens a mountain. Tony spreads his arms wide, prideful of his creation, still the cold-blooded businessman.
But when terrorists attack and Stark is critically injured by his own weapon, the shrapnel in his chest and captivity by terrorists force him to confront the horrifying truth. Stark Industries' weapons were not maintaining peace—they were in the hands of terrorists.
His arrogance shattered, Stark realizes he has become an executioner, his creations responsible for countless deaths. Filled with self-blame and despair, he's ready to give up, until a fellow captive convinces him to fight back.
In that moment, with an electromagnet in his chest keeping the shrapnel from his heart, Iron Man is born.
Under the guise of building missiles for the terrorists, Stark secretly constructs the first-generation Arc Reactor and the Mark 1 suit—a bulky, powerful prototype armor.
When the terrorists discover his plans and storm the cave, Stark, clad in the Mark 1, emerges as a metal-clad behemoth. Armed with flamethrowers and shoulder missiles, he obliterates the terrorists and escapes, though at the cost of his comrade's life. As the Mark 1's jets propel him out of the desert, the suit disintegrates mid-air, crashing him into the sands below.
U.S. military search and rescue teams, led by Colonel Rhodes, find Tony and bring him home.
At a press conference, Tony, casually eating a cheeseburger, announces his decision to shut down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing, effective immediately. The media erupts, and Obadiah Stane is left in disbelief.
Meanwhile, a government agent approaches Pepper.
"I'm Agent Phil Coulson from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."
Without missing a beat, Pepper replies, "That name's a mouthful."
"Yes, we're working on a shorter one."
Marvel fans in the audience are ecstatic—S.H.I.E.L.D. has arrived, confirming rumors that Xu Can's Marvel acquisition might lead to an Avengers film.
For comic fans, a live-action Avengers film was the stuff of dreams, something that seemed impossible until Xu Can, a 25-year-old Chinese filmmaker, turned it into reality.
In the next scene, Tony and Obadiah argue about Stark's decision. Tony's determination makes it clear—he's no longer a puppet; he's the head of Stark Industries. Realizing this, Obadiah plots to get rid of Tony.
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, the terrorists recover the remains of the Mark 1 and plan to replicate it. But Tony, back home, is already developing a new suit—Mark 2—with the help of his AI, J.A.R.V.I.S.
The film's special effects, far surpassing those of the original 2008 Iron Man, were created in-house by Xu Can's company, Galaxy Digital. The effects team, paid top dollar, delivered work that rivaled even Avatar.
As Stark perfects the Mark 2 armor, Xu Can injects humor into the process, particularly with the mishaps involving Stark's robotic assistants. The film's balance of tension, humor, and spectacle makes it a standout sci-fi blockbuster, capturing the audience's attention and delivering a thrilling ride.
After many trials, Tony completes the Mark 2 armor—a sleek, silver suit. The audience's excitement peaks as Tony tests the suit's flight capabilities. The film's immersive first-person perspective makes the viewers feel as if they're soaring through the skies with Iron Man.
"Mr. Stark, we're approaching fatal icing conditions," J.A.R.V.I.S. warns as the suit ascends to 85,000 feet, surpassing the altitude record for fixed-wing flight.
The screen shows Iron Man flying above Earth, nearly touching the edge of space, before the suit freezes and plummets. The tension in the theater is palpable as the audience holds its breath, knowing Tony's life hangs in the balance.
Just as it seems all is lost, the system reboots, and Iron Man pulls up at the last second, zooming through city streets at breakneck speed. The scene sets the theater ablaze with excitement.
The sequence concludes with Tony crash-landing in his garage, smashing through multiple levels before finally coming to rest on his prized sports car. The comedic timing of Stark's robotic assistant adds levity to the intense action.
As Tony picks up the pieces, he finds Pepper's gift—the first-generation Arc Reactor, now a keepsake encased in glass. The inscription reads, "Proof that Tony Stark has a heart."
Determined to improve on the Mark 2, Tony immediately sets to work on the next iteration—Mark 3. With J.A.R.V.I.S.'s help, he debates the suit's color scheme.
"Is gold a bit too flashy?" Tony asks.
"Well, you are generally very subtle and reserved," J.A.R.V.I.S. replies with dry British humor.
"Alright, add some fire-engine red."
"Ah, yes, much more understated," J.A.R.V.I.S. quips.
Thus, the iconic red-and-gold Mark 3 armor is born, ready for its grand debut.
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