Comments on: Iron Man: Full of Irony and Things That Go Boom

By: jesse crisler

jesse crisler — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:28:12 +0000

If you are the Carissa Turner Smith who submitted an article on writers Norris and Kidd to Literature and Belief recently, will you please e-mail me. Thanks, Jesse Crisler (jesse_crisler@byu.edu)

By: Carissa Smith

Carissa Smith — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:42:54 +0000

Ah, if only my dislike of Superman could make me cool, all my life’s problems would be solved. Unfortunately, I suspect the view is held too widely to be cool.

And, for the record, I’m quite fond of science fiction. In fact, I think Iron Man would have had more in common with science fiction if it HAD explained the technology more fully. But it’s a superhero movie first, sci-fi film second, so I didn’t really mind.

By: The Dane

The Dane — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:31:49 +0000

I work hard David and won't be foiled by upstarts. The Danes last blog post..20080505

By: David Dunham

David Dunham — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:27:35 +0000

It’s good to know that your position on this web site is firm, Dane, and you won’t give your glory to another!

By: The Dane

The Dane — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:46:57 +0000

@Carissa – From what it sounds like, the movie mines a lot of the best Iron Man material out there. There was a storyline from the ’80s called “Armor Wars” in which Stark discovered that a number of killers, criminals, and others had stolen his technology and employed it in their own PWMDs.* He basically goes on a rampage, destroying the armor of everyone using his technology (friend and foe alike). He eventually runs afoul of both the US and Soviet governments and people accidentally die in his self-made war. It was pretty interesting at the time.

*personal weapons of mass destruction.
__________________________

@Jack – Where does the author talk about needed to make up for the film being sci-fi? The only thing I noticed was a vaguish complaint that one has to willingly suspend disbelief with all the pseudo-science terms floating about.

As far as not finding Superman as compelling a character as Batman of Iron Man, Carissa’s not far wrong. Superman is so rarely used in an interesting way because his very nature precludes the use of most interesting story directions. Really, Superman only really becomes interesting when stories focus on the inadequacies of his powers to solve the real problems and the themes of alienation his nature and lifestyle encourage. Other than that, Superman is a pretty dull story foil in grown up incarnation.

Really, it just sounds like you want to complain. But see, that’s my job.

The Danes last blog post..20080505

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:36:39 +0000

Sorry if I disagree with you (and I hope that doesn’t get this comment ex-nayed).

First, it seems one of your assumptions is that just because the film’s “science fiction” it already has something to redeem itself from.

Additionally, you seem to make a slam against Superman because… you want to seem cool? I don’t know.

Explain yourself.

By: David

David — Sun, 04 May 2008 04:33:29 +0000

Good article! I really did enjoy this movie. I went into it with a “Fantastic Four” mindset, but was so suprised that I think this may actually be one of the better superhero films. Not as good as Spiderman 1 & 2, and nowhere even close to Batman Begins, but it’s up there!