The Black Widow Problem
(and how much Whedon is too much Whedon?)
Evan: So I’m curious who other than myself considers themselves a “Whedon-holic” in any way? I ask because the first 5 minutes to me seemed like a Whedon show, and after the opening title, just another Marvel movie, but with really good witty dialogue
Jon: I am.
Kev: I’m a Buffy-Holic. Angel lost me at season 3.
Melissa: Buffy is cool.
Jon: Which brings me to my next topic: Whedon recently deactivated his twitter. The speculation is that he did it because of all the backlash from fans who were complaining about Black Widow’s character treatment. So how do you all feel about Black Widow and females in this film?
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Melissa: I want to know more about her.
Evan: I think he did it for contractual obligation. He started the account as he started production, and today is the day after the opening weekend. But yeah sure, not being enough of a feminist could be a reason.
Kev: Poorly represented. Like when she talked about her past and how she had to become infertile for the job, made me sad. But that was the biggest thing to come out of her for me and yet it is only brought up like once or twice.
Jon: Yeah, but we never got enough background on her. At least we saw a different side of Hawkeye in this film, and Widow has been in many more films than Hawkeye
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Evan: I think for what it’s worth, her character has grown immensely with every film she’s in. They definitely don’t waste her in my opinion. She just hasn’t gotten her own film yet…
Kev: Do you think she ever will?
Jon: I don’t believe it was Whedon’s fault really. I’m sure the studio told him what things had to be in there, and he made due with what he could.
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Evan: I feel that’s exactly what it was.
Melissa: I don’t know. But she should. What is doing when she’s not wrangling Avengers??
Jon: I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt considering his track record with strong females. I think a stand alone film could help her, and show some of the history between Hawkeye and her.
Melissa: Yesssss. Then again, Marvel doesn’t have Widow merchandise, why would they give her a movie?
Jon: I was at Build a Bear the other day and they had all of the Avengers as bears except Black Widow. I would have gotten a Black Widow bear, but none were available.
Kev: Imagine if he gets Sarah Michelle Gellar to come back as Buffy and it then becomes ten times better. I mean in a sex symbol kind of way they do. Guys drool over Scar-Jo. I’m guilty.
Evan: I wonder if that’s MARVEL STUDIOS or the toy companies though. Kevin Feige tends to handle these topics very delicately when asked about them
Jon: Also, I did like Widow’s upgraded costume.
Kev: I didn’t notice it.
Melissa: Widow’s costume kept reminding me of TRON
Evan: Yeah the costuming differences for all the characters were subtly different. And Tony is still plastering Under Armor on his back
Marvel’s Phase 2 Closes
Evan: Where do we think this stands among all the Phase 2 / Post Avengers stuff so far? 2015 is interesting for Marvel with stuff like Daredevil and Agent Carter.
Kev: What’s Phase 2? Or rather what films are a part of them? I lose track of this kind of stuff.
Evan: Iron Man 3 – Avengers 2. And technically Agents of SHIELD, Daredevil and Agent Carter.
Jon: Not a good start at all. To the films at least
Kev: Cap’n ‘Merica 2, GOTG, Avengers 2, IM3, Thor 2. Am I missing something?
Evan: No that’s all 5
Kev: BTW I abhor Thor 2.
Jon: Loved Agent Carter and Daredevil. GOTG and Cap 2 were great.
Evan: Thor 2 is forgettable, and I still really like Iron Man 3 for what it is, I don’t get the hate.Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy were a crazy good combo last year.
Kev: I hate IM3 too. Also that movie holds bad luck with me.
Jon: Daredevil succeeded because I don’t think it had any creative boundaries or restrictions since it was on Netflix
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