Iron Man 2

[osprey_archer]

My superhero movie education slowly progresses! Today we saw Iron Man 2. I gather that it has some plot holes or something. I am not the person to ask, my personal opinion is that superhero movies are made of plot holes, and frankly I agree with the Senate guy who was like "but maybe we don't want to be wholly dependent on your protection, Tony Stark."

I mean really, what is to stop Mr. Stark from deciding that being Dictator of the Planet sounds like fun? Or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, falling into a funk due to daddy issues/palladium poisoning and utterly neglecting neglecting his self-appointed duties? No one thought the Soviets would get the atomic bomb as quickly as they did either.

But never mind, soon after the Senate hearing I mostly stopped paying attention to Tony Stark's storyline (except the bit where he and Rhodie dueled, that was fun), because Black Widow had shown up and she had my full attention. Her hair is basically a darker version of Merida's hair, in a non-animated context. I think she should have her own movie so I can admire her at appropriate length.

Comments

[goldjadeocean.livejournal.com]

I loved the bit where Natasha and Pepper were quite obviously getting along well and efficiently ruling EVERYTHING. More of that, please!

Also when Pepper owned the hell out of Justin Hammer.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I have concluded that at some point, Natasha let slip that she was there to babysit Tony Stark, and Pepper was like, "I can get on board with that." And then they discovered a mutual love of velociraptors or something like that.

(Alternatively, Pepper was on board with SHIELD's plan from the beginning and objected to Natasha because she knew that objecting was the best way to get Tony to accept her, but sadly I don't think that quite lines up with the evidence in the movie.)

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, nope, no lady-starring movies. Because Marvel is doing like two movies a year and already has the next like 5 planned out, so. Yeah. Forseeable future = all dudes all the time. Because they are dummies. And you should be grateful to get Peggy, Sif, Pepper, & Black Widow in the movies we do have. Or something. ::eyeroll::

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Ugh, Marvel. Things like this are the reason I'm like, "I know Disney has problems, but at least they have a commitment to movies starring ladies."

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

But Marvel IS Disney now. :(

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

MOVIE COMPANIES ARE SO CONFUSING.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

That was the movie where I was cheering the villain the whole way through because he had such a more compelling story than Tony, who, next to him, just seemed like an entitled jerk. Poverty, dying father, a cute pet, did almost everything Tony did but in the COLD with his BARE HANDS. ... The killing innocent bystanders thing was bad, but still.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Tony avoids killing bystanders by sheer power of his protagonism. If he wasn't protected by authorial fiat, I'm pretty sure his fight with Rhodie, for instance, would have ended with a couple of the party guests seriously injured if not dead.

I did like the villain and his bird, and his dad clearly got a raw deal from Tony's dad. The movie offered some explanation, but the impression I got was that Tony's dad got the villain's dad deported because he didn't want to share the fame/profits. (Didn't they say something like "The villain's dad only wanted to make money"? As if Stark Senior, founder of a billion-dollar corporation, had some other motive.)

[goldjadeocean.livejournal.com]

Howard also seems to have "getting laid" on his "acceptable rewards" list.

[artemis_wandering]

Eh, sorry, I have to insert myself here. In the comics (616 particularly) Tony's dad is an ASSHOLE. He's alcoholic, abusive, awful, if genius. However, in MCU, Tony's dad was absent, but not awful (though you will still find many fans saying MCU!Howard is awful, but I'll take absenteeism because he's a genius and CEO over an abusive dad who forces his 4 year old son to drink alcohol to make him a "man"). Yes, Howard is interested in profits, but above all, Howard is interested in science. When you take Captain America's Howard Stark portrayal and the comments in Avengers (specifically about Howard spending billions searching for Steve in the ocean) and remembering Obadiah was the one to encourage weapons development, it's a picture of a Howard who yes, worked for the military, but actually cared about the effect his creations had on humanity at general. Thinking again to Captain America, Howard was in charge of the serum application and the doctor who created it used Steve because he wasn't a bully. Howard helped create a super soldier, but by using a good, honest man. All this has suggested to me that Howard was never about profit for profits sake. Whereas, I believe the villains father was interested for profit only. Howard saw whats-his-name building a weapon; Howard was building energy.

(My .02. Sorry, I have some major feels; like I said, Iron Man is my favorite, so I love exploring his relationship with his family.)

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Natasha and Pepper were the best part. I'm so mad we're not getting a Black Widow movie in the foreseeable future (although she does at least have a substantial and important role in Avengers).

[goldjadeocean.livejournal.com]

At least we'll see more of her (and hopefully her backstory!) in Winter Soldier.

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

Yesssss, I'm hopeful.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I find Marvel's stance on female superhero movies extremely frustrating. Given the success of movies like The Hunger Games, it's clear that audiences will pay just fine to see movies about action-hero girls, so it's exasperating that Marvel won't even try.

[artemis_wandering]

I'll give you I wouldn't want to be wholly dependent upon Iron Man, either. But, I HATE when Rhodey makes off with the suit and brings it to the military. Because one man can be stopped. Can you imagine the whole US military making use of those suits? Given they don't contaminate ala a nuke, there would be no MAD doctrine that could hold back the usage - abroad or at home. THAT is the far more terrifying thought than one man.

Also, yes, Black Widow SHOULD have her own movie. There's a whole campaign practically for it on tumblr.lol Even Chris Hemsworth just backed up the idea! Sadly, Kevin Feige has explicitly said there is no interest for Marvel/Disney in one.

Ugh, I love Iron Man. Tony Stark is my favorite Marvel character (closely follow by Magneto, Captain Marvel, Emma Frost, Mystique, Scarlet Witch, and well, lots more).