Scene Standoff: Iron Man vs The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The final line of the first MCU film "I am Iron Man" vs. the much referenced Mexican standoff in The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.
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"I am Iron Man" - Iron Man
In the final scene of the opening film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony Stark is advised to contain his secret that he is the titular superhero. But in true Stark form, he goes against the advice and in front of a room full of press utters four words: "I am Iron Man".
- Gareth's scene
The Mexican Standoff - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
This Western classic is building to the famous standoff. Clint Eastwood raising his inquisitive eyebrows and his enemies quaking in their boots replaying their fate in their heads. It's so excruciatingly long, and the music that accompanies it is iconic.
- Ellis' scene
Ellis - italics
Gareth - bold
PERFORMANCE
Now in all fairness, the Mexican Standoff scene is three blokes standing still for ten minutes.
There's a tension though isn't there!
There is. And the occasional flick of the finger around the holster or the raise of an eyebrow.
Whereas Iron Man is literally, Bang! He says it and the Marvel Cinematic Universe has started in one sentence.
But is it the performance of that line that makes that scene?
The line is a build-up of the whole film. The rest of the film shows what Tony Stark is like. But yeah it's not necessarily the performance that makes that scene iconic.
Iron Man - 5/10 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - 7/10
NECESSITY
Well then, the way the scene in Iron man fits into the rest of the film...it's essential.
Without it, you wouldn't have Iron Man as we know him today.
And you wouldn't have the payoff in Avengers: Endgame. However, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly is all leading to the Mexican standoff. So it's close.
I'd probably hover Iron Man at about an 8.
Iron Man - 8/10 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - 7/10
REFERENCABILITY
The music of that Mexican standoff has transcended the film.
It has.
And then "I am Iron Man"...I mean I haven't said that very much.
Yeah it's not something you say in your everyday lingo.
So ironically The Good, The Bad & The Ugly might pip it, despite lacking in dialogue.
Yeah I think I'd give it a straight 10/10. It's referenced all the time.
In the playgrounds.
And I think "I am Iron Man" is more iconic now because of Avengers: Endgame not just because of that scene.
Iron Man - 4/10 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - 10/10
POPULARITY (using Letterboxd for reference)
For The Good, The Bad & The Ugly I've got an average rating here of 4.4.
Phwoar that's good. Iron Man has 3.7. We both gave it a 4/5.
And I gave my film a 4, so 4's all around. It has a very small amount of 1 stars on Letterboxd, which is mad.
Iron Man - 3.7 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - 4.4
ICONIC RATING
On a scale of cheese strengths, how iconic are these scenes?
Oh wow! Well I'd say the strength of a gorgonzola...it makes me vom; so as strong as it is I don't want to pick that because it's not a nice strength.
You know the cheese with the holes in it, Emmental is it? They're deceptively strong. And so is The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.
Deceptively strong, you're right. Whereas Iron Man is only more iconic now with respect to the rest of the MCU, to see how it all started.
Yeah, we're talking a mild cheddar. It's not very old, but you can taste it.
Iron Man - Mild Cheddar The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Emmental
THE FINAL STANDOFF
Iron Man 1-4 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
It's settled then. An early exit for Iron Man is a sad sight to see but that Mexican standoff is just too darn legendary. It's as iconic as they come and the music that accompanies it is a pop culture phenomenon, being a household reference and groundbreaking piece of score.
The scene has zero dialogue and is increasingly tense. At the start you feel that the standoff can only result in one conclusion, the protagonist's victory. But the longer it plays the less sure you become. And just Eastwood's face in that scene is known to most in todays culture. If you haven't seen it...see it.
As The Good, The Bad & The Ugly moves into the second round, will it continue to be as victorious...only time will tell.
Current Standings: G - 1 E - 1
NEXT BATTLE:
ANCHORMAN VS BIG
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly available to rent or buy now