Robert Downey in an interview at Comic-Con International in San Diego over the weekend opened up about what he thought the character of Tony Stark – the man within the Iron Man – and his life. "He just starts off as a guy who's desperate to save his own life, and very surprised that he was put into a position where he has to do so.”
"I don't think it's a film about someone's conscience getting the better of them," Downey Continued. "I think it's a film about survival and being conflicted. I think it's a pretty apt metaphor for the 21st-century human being, you know?"
When quizzed about what he felt the theme of the movie was, Downey elaborated on the glowing round "repulsor technology" mandala that his character had to wear over his heart at all times through the movie.
"It's all about the heart," he said. "You know, it's subtly laced throughout the footage you saw, but I got it. Everyday they'd be gluing an RT to my chest, and I'd be like, 'I wonder what the essence of the film is? Oh, yeah, there it is.' I'm the heart center. ... I've read a lot of Bodhi-tree bulls--t, and now I literally have it, like, glued to my heart."
The footage he is referring to was a clip shown to the fans at Comic-Con giving a brief look in to the character of Stark.