Comments on Right Next to Mars: Iron Man: Retro, Sexist, or Retro-Sexist?

Great work.

2008-10-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

Great work.

Retro-schmetro, it was just plain sexist. The thi...

2008-08-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

Retro-schmetro, it was just plain sexist. The thing that bothered me most was the way the Vanity Fair reporter was portrayed. She was the only intelligent woman in the film who challenged Tony (Pepper was smart , but totally subservient -- oh, excuse me, she was totally LOYAL). The reporter consistently asked tough questions, i.e., doesn't it bother you to sell the instruments of death, aren't you really Iron Man, but her challenges to Tony were seen as mere annoyances, and the character was totally unbelievable, with no consistent political viewpoint, just a characteristic bitchiness and consistently suspicious attitude. But of course, she is ultimately easily conquered, and sexually disposable. The fact is, though, her suspicious questions were right on. I guess the movies subtext is that women who confront a man insightfully are bad, obedient slavelings like Pepper are good. Ugh.

You might be right, but I also agree with Sam; the...

2008-06-23T03:20:00.000-07:00

You might be right, but I also agree with Sam; the concept is so masculine itself that female intervention might've looked forced. I don't think political correctness should be a priority over a film's style.

I was more disturbed with the political undertones though. I'm not buying the whole 'Evil Afghans vs. Good-hearted U.S. weapons salesman' concept. The fact that whole weapon industry is excused with the implications that only a handful of individuals are actually 'evil' in those companies disturbs me to no end.

Yeah, Tony's douchebag ways are easily forgiven be...

2008-05-26T00:14:00.000-07:00

Yeah, Tony's douchebag ways are easily forgiven because a) in the end, he is incredibly charming and b) he's helluvalot more interesting that way.

But I'm more interested in the filmmakers' attitude toward women, rather than Tony's, although I agree that you have to examine one to understand the other. Just one female scientist or pilot or bodyguard could have made a big difference (in my muy-humble opinion).

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I think that there was some lazy story telling in ...

2008-05-24T01:56:00.000-07:00

I think that there was some lazy story telling in not making Tony look bad for his douchebag ways.

I also think they tried to keep the cast down the very minimum in order to show the isolation of Tony. Granted, they could've included more women.

Actually, the footnotes just kind of happened. I ...

2008-05-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

Actually, the footnotes just kind of happened. I needed a way to throw in a few more thoughts. But I was thinking more of Chuck Klosterman.

And, ok, I can see your argument--which I would put under the retro-sexist cateogry--but here's my follow up question: doesn't the film then champion that attitude?

First off, I'm a fan of the footnotes. Not sure i...

2008-05-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

First off, I'm a fan of the footnotes. Not sure if you borrowed the format because of John August, but it works there and it works here too.

I think the film is clearly being sexist on purpose. Tony is a sexist, but a fun sexist. The female characters have no purpose in the film other than to relate to him.

I honestly think that it's just laziness on their ...

2008-05-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

I honestly think that it's just laziness on their part. Also, lets not forget that Tony Stark is a raging douchebag. If there's gonna be a hero who exists in a universe where women are full human beings, it aint gonna be him.

Finally, it's fucking IRON MAN. The whole concept is so hermetically boyish that it projects a dome of masculinity fifty feet in all directions that pretty much vaporizes anything with a feminine connotation, let alone actual ovaries. Gwyneth Paltrow only made it to the set because the force field fucked up and vaporized Coldplay guy instead. But hey, we got years worth of stuff out of "Speed Racer" that's queer in every possible way, if not actually feminist.