Stan Lee is an inspirational documentary chronicling the life of an extraordinary man. This moving film is a must-watch for any Marvel fan.
Stan Lee Documentary Review | Tribeca 2023
Disney+’s Stan Lee is a triumphant celebration of a true legend. Born Stanley Lieber, Stan Lee was always big reader. From a young age, he was fascinated by stories. He couldn’t devour them fast enough. It’s no surprise that once he graduated high school, he found himself employed at Timely Comics. In fact, he was running the department at the age of 17. This is when he gave himself the pen name of “Stan Lee.” He literally took his first name and split it in two, and it obviously stuck!
Stan Lee is narrated by the legend himself which makes the film all the more poignant. Hearing his voice tell the story of where he started and what he mastered in an incredible lifetime is heartfelt and even at times emotional.
Stan Lee brought a sense of realism to his characters. He created superheroes that people could relate to, which is why Marvel Comics was such a great success. The Fantastic Four is what really put him on the map. People started to recognize his name, and because Stan Lee’s characters were so realistic, people felt like they knew him.
The character of Mary Jane was inspired by Stan Lee’s wife, Joan. Stan Lee and Joan truly had a fairytale romance, mutually agreeing it was love at first sight.
The documentary goes to show what sets Marvel apart from other franchises. Aside from creating superheroes from ordinary people, Stan Lee had his characters crossover with each other. Rather than building a fictional location, he placed them right in New York City. Stan Lee knew NYC, so he felt comfortable writing about it. He could use his knowledge and place his characters in a familiar place.
In Marvel Comics, there is a fine line between heroes and villains. In fact, making a villain relatable enables us to have empathy for their character. This is why his villains are so popular.
Stan Lee challenged people to look at those who are different than them, and admire their strengths. He created the X-Men because there are mutations all around us, however, just because someone is different doesn’t mean they’re not extraordinary. It’s what’s inside that makes a person good.
There is one scene in the Stan Lee documentary where we see all the cameos he’s played in the MCU films. There are some really good ones. But what got me was seeing him shake Chadwick Boseman’s hand. Such an emotional moment.
Overall the Stan Lee documentary is a MARVELous tribute to an icon. Stan Lee changed the world of comics and superheroes, and we should all be forever grateful. Stan Lee’s legacy is infinite and will go on for eternity. “Maybe entertainment is one of the most important things.” – Stan Lee. We all agree.
Stan Lee is now streaming on Disney+.
Stan Lee Documentary Synopsis
racing his life from his challenging upbringing as Stanley Lieber to the meteoric rise of Marvel Comics, “Stan Lee” tells Stan’s story in his own words. Using only archival material—from personal home video, interviews and audio recordings—the film examines Stan’s origin story and what emerged from it: a far-reaching universe of stories with three-dimensional characters that have resonated with people all over the world. In this way, “Stan Lee” is both a story of comics and passion, and an intimate portrait of a man, his philosophy and its lasting impression.
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