Bonus Episode 9: Iron Man
Two hours of talking about most things that are not, actually, directly on-point for the 2008 film Iron Man. I think this is one of our best bonus episodes so far. Enjoy.
(I will also be putting up this month's AMA post in the next day or so, so start thinking about what you'd like to ask me. I'll leave the AMA post up for about a week and then record and release the content shortly after.)
Comments (9)
Panic Room is definitely worth watching if one is at all a fan of Fincher, though for me his best hands down is that one where Iron Man, Mysterio, and the Hulk are trying to catch a serial killer. (I also think, by the way, that Inception is Nolan's best hands down. . .he had the right idea to start with a concept that gave him free rein to ignore any rules about how time and spatial relations work.)
I liked your discussion of Iron Man. It's funny, I spend my days thinking of what I would like to do to billionaires if I could get my hands on them, how disgustingly horrific US history is, and how there are no happy endings in real life, but the minute I see superheroes in movies I turn into a 8-year-old, "HOORAY! It's Iron Man! And he's best friends with Captain America! YAY!"
Looking forward to the Batman episode. Don't say he is a fascist - you'll make Thought Slime cry. Although when DKR came out, to fund raise for the local social centre, we made shirts saying "Down with the bat man! Long live the Gotham Commune!"
Good stuff. I haven’t seen any of the Iron Man movies but felt like I understood enough from reading the comics when I was young. I’d actually love to hear you guys talk about the Mad Max series of movies in the sense of how each has a distinct post-apocalyptic scenario. Part 2 seemed the most optimistic while Fury Road, a movie I strongly disliked, seemed trapped in this more modern pessimistic view with this political virgin/whore thing going on. I think each of those movies reflect the times in which they were made for better or worse.
So, here’s a deep dive suggestion. Maybe review the Marvel comic book series from the 80’s, called “ROM.” It’s got an anti-fascist vibe, with the main character hunting evil aliens who hide in plain sight.
9. 10. Whatever it takes.
When it comes to Winter Soldier, I think it's worth pointing out that the story of the US intelligence apparatus being riddled with Nazis (like Armin Zola) who were brought in after the war because they had useful skills is very real. The movie explicitly name checks Operation Paperclip.
There’s a book called Taking Nazi Technology that discusses how everybody who could absconded with Nazi scientists after the war. Haven’t read it yet, but I heard a review on New Books Network and it sounded interesting.
I would love to hear you talk about cabin in the woods, for what it’s worth.