So I’m sitting here, watching The Avengers, trying
to think about what to write for a blog post. I get to the scene with Black
Widow tied up and I realize I know exactly what I want to write about. While I
thought Black Widow was portrayed well in The Avengers, I feel like she was a
disservice to the movie Iron Man 2. The only thing she pretty much did in Iron Man
2 is looking hot while she is or is not kicking ass. Other than that there isn’t
much to her character. She’s in the story frequent enough so the audience doesn’t
forget who she is, but doesn’t say or do much until the end of the movie. She’s
just in the movie to look good because everybody knows sex sells. Guys will
have more of an incentive to see Iron Man 2 knowing that there is a hot girl in
spandex in the movie. There’s a scene where she’s changing into her tight
spandex in the back of the car and practically naked. Wouldn’t it be funny to
see a hero like Captain America get naked in the back of the car to change into
his suit? I find no depth to her character which could have easily written out
of the movie.
I don't agree that Black Widow could have been entirely written out of Iron Man 2 since her presence sets up some Avengers plot points. When I watched the film, I saw the male characters reducing her to just a piece of eye candy and then her repeatedly proving that there's more to her than what they see. For example, after Happy scoffs at her boxing experience claim by asking if it was "booty boot camp," she turns his "lesson" about not taking your eye off your opponent into a lesson in not underestimating your opponent. More importantly, I think you completely ignored Pepper Potts who spent the entire movie handling everything like a champ and making it so Tony was able to help things.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, it's important to criticize media and Black Widow definitely could have had a stronger presence in the film.
DeleteNow that I think about what you said I can see where you are coming from. When you watch the preview of the movie (the official ones) you see the black widow alot. This is probably so the movie will appeal to guys, like you said. I can also agree that her roles in the two movies were really different. One being that she is just there to look hot and too sell the movie, and one being that she is actually in the movie and has a real role in the plot of the movie. Thank you for making me see movies differently.
ReplyDeleteBlack Widow's a conflicting character in IM2. On the one hand, she's using Tony's clear attraction to her to spy on him for SHIELD. But, on the other hand, isn't it uber cliche to have the sexy woman spy use her womanly wiles?
ReplyDeleteNick's point about the car clothing change is well taken -- I want to see a male character change into spandex in a car like that!
Pepper is equally problematic. She pretty much runs the company anyway (Tony just seems to sign stuff and be a figurehead earlier in the films), but she's somehow so happy that he takes back control of the company at the end of IM2.
All this aside, the sign where Black Widow trick Loki into thinking she's all emotional to figure out his plan is perfection. Tricking the trickster god.