12 Years Later, It’s Clear That One of the MCU’s Most Divisive Movies Had One of Its Best Boss Battles

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As a huge MCU fan, I’ve been thinking about the best fights in the whole universe of films, and surprisingly, one of my favorites actually comes from a movie a lot of people don’t love! Let’s be real, the MCU hasn’t been perfect lately, and even during the Infinity Saga, some movies split fans. It’s bound to happen with so many films – it’s almost like Thanos was destined to appear! Adapting comics and storylines is tough, and while Marvel usually does a great job, movies like Thor: The Dark World and Iron Man 2 still get a lot of criticism.

Even Marvel movies that fans disagree about still have good qualities. For example, Thor: The Dark World features some really funny lines delivered by Loki, and Iron Man 2 successfully introduces Black Widow. Plus, one of the MCU’s most controversial sequels actually has an amazing boss battle – it’s a standout moment that doesn’t get enough credit.

Iron Man 3 Is Divisive, But It Has One of the MCU’s Best Final Battles

While Iron Man launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the sequels have always been a bit controversial. Iron Man 2 generally receives more criticism than Iron Man 3, which has a mixed reception. A common complaint about Iron Man 3 centers on the unexpected twist regarding The Mandarin. The film drastically changed the character from the comics, revealing him to be an imposter and making Aldrich Killian the real villain, which frustrated many longtime Marvel fans.

Many fans had anticipated The Mandarin’s introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe for years, and were disappointed by his portrayal as a joke. While the handling of the villain is the main source of controversy surrounding Iron Man 3, the film also receives criticism for its pacing and plot. Despite these issues, the movie boasts a fantastic final battle. Following the reveal of Killian as the true villain, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Rhodey (Don Cheadle) find themselves fighting against him and his army of Extremis-enhanced soldiers.

The soldiers enhanced by Extremis technology are formidable fighters, forcing Tony and Rhodey to call in the Iron Legion for backup. The battle is visually stunning, ranking among the most impressive action sequences in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Excellent fight choreography and significant consequences – including danger for Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and the President (William Sadler) – make it even more thrilling.

The villain, Killian, is a truly formidable opponent, and the movie doesn’t shy away from difficult moments. There’s a genuine sense of danger—you really believe Pepper might die, and Tony’s victory isn’t guaranteed. This emotional rollercoaster, combined with stunning effects, makes the ending of Iron Man 3 particularly memorable. Even though some parts of the Iron Man series haven’t held up over time, the finale of the third film remains impactful.

Iron Man 3’s Action Scenes Still Hold Up Years Later

While Iron Man 3 often sparks debate, it’s also been somewhat forgotten because so many other popular Marvel movies came out shortly after – like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. It’s easy to see how criticism and these bigger releases caused the film to get overlooked. However, revisiting it now shows that the action sequences still really stand out. The special effects and fight choreography hold up remarkably well, and the movie deserves recognition for its impressive action.

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2025-11-10 02:42