Iron Man Has a Problem with Women
May 23rd 2010 15:19
While many people are basking in the glow of the new Iron Man 2, I thought I'd better play catch up and watch the first one. In so many ways I wish I hadn't bothered.
I should start off by saying, I love the comic genre. As a kid, X-Men was always my favorite. But I watched and read a lot of Batman and Spider-Man too. So, don't think that just because I'm a woman, I'm predisposed to not like the genre. Sin City is one of my favorite movies. And I'll admit I didn't know much about Iron Man when I went into the movie, so I can't be sure if the flaw is specific to the movie or to the original comic storyline.
But nevertheless, my problem with Iron Man is essentially the female roles. First, lets apply the Bechdal Movie Test:
1. Are there more than two female characters (with names): Yes! They are Virginia Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow - who I am not a big fan of and thus, makes for a bad start) and Christine Everheart (played by the fairly forgettable Leslie Bibb).
2. Do they talk to each other? Yes!
3. About something other than a man? No! Iron Man fails the Bechdal Movie Test.
And actually, it was the first conversation between Pepper Potts and Christine Everheart when I knew this film was going to be in trouble. It goes like this: (sorry I couldn't find a clip):
Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: [after Stark's one night stand with Christine] I have your clothes here; they've been dry cleaned and pressed. And there's a car waiting for you outside that will take you anywhere you'd like to go.
Christine Everheart: You must be the famous Pepper Potts.
Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: [smiles and nods] Indeed I am.
Christine Everheart: After all these years, Tony still has you picking up the dry cleaning.
Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: I do anything and everything Mr. Stark requires. Including occasionally taking out the trash. Will that be all?
These women are meeting for the very first time, why the need for the catfight? I suppose it's character development to show what a hot shot man Tony Stark is, but instead they've just made the women look pathetic. (Stark is the film's hero, and Iron Man.) Everheart is trash because she had a one night stand -- nothing else about her matters. And Potts is just a laundry servant even though she basically handles every task for Tony Stark. Way to shoot down the significance of women's work. The ends don't quite seem to justify the means here.
Pepper Potts role in the whole movie is just incredibly awkward. Again, I don't know if this is because of bad acting (thank you Paltrow) or because of the comic's original storyline, but when Potts and Tony Stark talk for the first time on screen, I wasn't sure if she was just his sister looking after him. There wasn't a feeling of passionate, unrequited love.
Then later in the film, Pepper Potts who is supposed to be Tony Stark's personal confidant, tough gal (in the movie she gets all his shit done for him, sets up appointments, demands that he be in a certain place at a certain time, etc.) but by the end of the film, when it's the big reveal that Stark is into her, she gets all pathetic and wimpy.
It pissed me off incredibly when she was willing to be his servant while he's making weapons and killing thousands of people, and yet quits because she's afraid that he'll kill himself with the suit. Stark even questions this preposterous position and she just says, "You're going to kill yourself Tony. And I'm not going to be part of it." I mean, this isn't complicated charachter development this is pathetic. The entire film she's all "taking out the trash" and getting paid with beautiful dresses, and yet now her bleeding heart can't stand the thought of harm coming to the playboy? What was she not concerned about all the STDs he probably has from sleeping around like he does?
Likewise, when she and the other U.S. agents go to arrest Obediah at the end of the film, this was a pathetic way to create a damsel in distress scenario. Really, Pepper Potts doesn't have the common sense to get Stark first, or to assume that Obediah is going to be incredibly dangerous? No, she just goes busting into his lab in high heels and a skirt hoping for the best.
While some scenes in the movie are super cool--my inner geek was squealing when the shiny suit was getting latched onto Stark for the first time. But really, if you have any feminist sensibilities, this movie is likely to offend them. I don't think Iron Man is worth two hours of your time. And unless given good reason, I'll skip Iron Man 2 too.
I should start off by saying, I love the comic genre. As a kid, X-Men was always my favorite. But I watched and read a lot of Batman and Spider-Man too. So, don't think that just because I'm a woman, I'm predisposed to not like the genre. Sin City is one of my favorite movies. And I'll admit I didn't know much about Iron Man when I went into the movie, so I can't be sure if the flaw is specific to the movie or to the original comic storyline.
But nevertheless, my problem with Iron Man is essentially the female roles. First, lets apply the Bechdal Movie Test:
1. Are there more than two female characters (with names): Yes! They are Virginia Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow - who I am not a big fan of and thus, makes for a bad start) and Christine Everheart (played by the fairly forgettable Leslie Bibb).
2. Do they talk to each other? Yes!
3. About something other than a man? No! Iron Man fails the Bechdal Movie Test.
And actually, it was the first conversation between Pepper Potts and Christine Everheart when I knew this film was going to be in trouble. It goes like this: (sorry I couldn't find a clip):
Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: [after Stark's one night stand with Christine] I have your clothes here; they've been dry cleaned and pressed. And there's a car waiting for you outside that will take you anywhere you'd like to go.
Christine Everheart: You must be the famous Pepper Potts.
Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: [smiles and nods] Indeed I am.
Christine Everheart: After all these years, Tony still has you picking up the dry cleaning.
Virginia 'Pepper' Potts: I do anything and everything Mr. Stark requires. Including occasionally taking out the trash. Will that be all?
These women are meeting for the very first time, why the need for the catfight? I suppose it's character development to show what a hot shot man Tony Stark is, but instead they've just made the women look pathetic. (Stark is the film's hero, and Iron Man.) Everheart is trash because she had a one night stand -- nothing else about her matters. And Potts is just a laundry servant even though she basically handles every task for Tony Stark. Way to shoot down the significance of women's work. The ends don't quite seem to justify the means here.
Pepper Potts role in the whole movie is just incredibly awkward. Again, I don't know if this is because of bad acting (thank you Paltrow) or because of the comic's original storyline, but when Potts and Tony Stark talk for the first time on screen, I wasn't sure if she was just his sister looking after him. There wasn't a feeling of passionate, unrequited love.
Then later in the film, Pepper Potts who is supposed to be Tony Stark's personal confidant, tough gal (in the movie she gets all his shit done for him, sets up appointments, demands that he be in a certain place at a certain time, etc.) but by the end of the film, when it's the big reveal that Stark is into her, she gets all pathetic and wimpy.
It pissed me off incredibly when she was willing to be his servant while he's making weapons and killing thousands of people, and yet quits because she's afraid that he'll kill himself with the suit. Stark even questions this preposterous position and she just says, "You're going to kill yourself Tony. And I'm not going to be part of it." I mean, this isn't complicated charachter development this is pathetic. The entire film she's all "taking out the trash" and getting paid with beautiful dresses, and yet now her bleeding heart can't stand the thought of harm coming to the playboy? What was she not concerned about all the STDs he probably has from sleeping around like he does?
Likewise, when she and the other U.S. agents go to arrest Obediah at the end of the film, this was a pathetic way to create a damsel in distress scenario. Really, Pepper Potts doesn't have the common sense to get Stark first, or to assume that Obediah is going to be incredibly dangerous? No, she just goes busting into his lab in high heels and a skirt hoping for the best.
While some scenes in the movie are super cool--my inner geek was squealing when the shiny suit was getting latched onto Stark for the first time. But really, if you have any feminist sensibilities, this movie is likely to offend them. I don't think Iron Man is worth two hours of your time. And unless given good reason, I'll skip Iron Man 2 too.
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Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
Pepper and Christine start off in a cat-fight because there is an underlying attraction between Pepper and Tony Stark. As a matter of fact they most likely share a subconscious attraction towards one another. Director Favreau wanted to keep their relationship close to original comic book. Naturally, Pepper would want to mark her territory by sending Christine on her way. It's a normal female reaction - heck, it's a normal "anybody" reaction.
Then again, there's another side as well. Christine is a reporter! The very capable Pepper Potts who always has her employers best interest at heart would naturally be weary of someone like her who could be out to get the inside scoop.
You wrote:
Neither. It's a mutual attraction that hasn't been developed yet. It's a budding relationship that develops over time. It starts off based on friendship and trust and develops into something else. It's a slow burn. IMO, I think Paltrow does a fantastic job.
You wrote:
You wrote:
You wrote:
If I'm understanding which scene you are talking about, I think he needed her there to hack into the system. He also instructs her to overload the full=sized arc reactor in order to kill Shane.
Peace!
Comment by heather van de mark
Women on Screen
The conversation between Pepper and Christine is just a played out scenario between two women competing for the same man. First, I don't know why Christine even gets in Pepper's face to begin with, with her, <i>You still pick up his laundry<i> comment. Perhaps, she felt some sort of jealousy over Pepper, but that doesn't make sense since she just met Tony. Just how hard did she fall for him?
But then Pepper lets her have it with both barrels. Pepper insinuates that Christine is trash--and slut-shames her by nonchalantly being like, oh here are those clothes you took off so easily last night, you probably didn't know where they went.
And while, I can understand why Pepper would go after Christine after Christine's rude laundry comment, it doesn't necessarily make Pepper's comments "right" or very professional. Obviously, the screen writer is trying to establish that Pepper has feelings for Stark, but 1. Christine isn't the first woman Stark has brought home, so Pepper should be used to it, 2. If Pepper has never brought up her own feelings to Stark and instead just does his every bidding for him while she stares at him with doe eyes, well then she's a pathetic character.
I don't think Pepper is concerned that Christine is a reporter. From what happens in the scene, we don't know if Pepper knows Christine is a reporter. Pepper didn't say, oh hear I brought you your notebook, oops, I tore the pages out.
I'm aware of what this scene was attempting to do, but I think it's an overdone scenario where to women compete over a man over which neither of them have any real possession. It's quite pathetic.
And to another of your points:
I understand that with Tony it's personal and she doesn't want him to get hurt. I do think that's a natural position to take about a loved one. However, I also think it's a natural position to be opposed to the maiming of hundreds/thousands of people for the sake of profit.
I'll give you that maybe he did need Pepper at the end to hit the button/switch. To be honest, at that point, I wasn't really paying attention anymore.
Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
It's been a while since I've seen the first movie, so I went to the scene in question. And yes we don't know if Pepper knows of Christine however, I think it's safe to assume that she did know of her. If the driver knew that she was a reporter, it's safe to say that Pepper knew of her as well.
Christine's comments towards Pepper were clearly out of jealousy or just being downright catty as women sometimes are. She just slept with him and now here's this other woman walking into the room, who obviously has orders from Tony to see that she's escorted out of his room. Naturally that would spark a rude comment. To give Pepper amazing credit, she's very polite, she even starts a friendly conversation with her and tells her about Jarvis, the security system that helps protect the house - something she didn't have to do and then Christine draws first blood by insulting her. Pepper's come back was classy and less overt than Christine's because it used a double meaning, it was brilliant in that if it was a different scenario and there were other characters present, only Christine would understand the barb while other's would take her literally.
Comment by Anonymous
Um. I don't think you watched the same movie I did.
Because in the movie I watched? Pepper Potts was 1/2 of the duo that saved the day at the end of the movie. She was a heroine, by the end, and she went in with SHIELD agents next to her. I never saw her as a damsel in distress once.
And there are plenty of people who make their living building weapons but would get upset if a loved one's life was threatened. This is called "normal human behavior."