Iron Man (2008, Jon Favreau, USA) *1/2
The previews give way to the awaited event. The marvel logo appears on screen signifying what we already know- that his is a superhero movie, a fantasy. In contrast to the thrill packed logo, the movie begins on a semi-somber note with a truck wheeling through the barren lands of Afghanistan. The rock music begins and everyone forgets that we are indeed at war. After all, this is an escapist movie that promises our nation a night of entertainment. People don’t want to be reminded of the economic hardships caused by the war (such as the rise in oil prices) that affect us on a daily basis.
The biggest mass murderer in the world and our soon to be superhero Tony Stark sits among the troops. Stark lightens the mood only to awaken to the realities of war as a bomb explodes nearby. Stark, ironically defenseless, watches as the men and women around him give up their lives in order to protect him (he is America’s most valuable commodity). Despite the troop’s valorous efforts, an explosion of metal shrapnel penetrates an unprotected Stark.
Never again will Stark be this vulnerable. In Las Vegas, we find an excessively self-indulgent Stark surrounded by women, drinking, and gambling. A Casanova figure, Stark easily brings home sexy reporter for a one-night stand. Only later are we introduced to his fetish- weapons. Stark proudly erects Jericho, his latest weapon of mass destruction. With Jericho, Stark can literally move mountains. Throughout the movie, Starks exudes godlike power due to his masturbatory indulgence in weapons. As a hostage, Stark learns, to his horror, that he has been obscenely violated. The weapons of mass destruction that he created for America’s use are in the hands of the enemy. His creations have betrayed him.
Stark does not want to be remembered as a mass murderer. He does not want to be responsible for the death of Americans from his unaccountable weapons. So he has a change of heart, sort of. He will not produce any more weapons that can get into the hands of the enemy. Yet Stark, while in prison, creates the model for what will be the greatest weapon of mass destruction, his Iron Man suit. Stark uses the suit to kill nearly all the surrounding Afghanis when he breaks out of prison. At home, he shuts down the production of weapons but works obsessively on perfecting his sleek, sexy, ever-evolving suit, which he will later use to kill villains.
A noble Stark, now armed with the humanist views of only killing the bad guys and only allowing Americans to have weapons of mass destruction, discovers that his partner and colleague Obadiah Stane (perhaps as influential and powerful as Stark) is the true enemy. His most trusted friend, the very person who Stark respected as a leader, has betrayed our noble superhero. Stane is responsible for allowing the Afghanis to have weapons of mass destruction.
Just as Top Gun express American fantasies about the Cold War; Iron Man expresses fantasies about the War on Terror. We are currently in a weapons based war with Afghanistan. The president’s disapproval rating is at an all time high (at 71%). Many feel betrayed. It was George H. W. Bush who aided Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War. Now George W. Bush fabricated a war to remove Saddam Hussein from power. In these times, the biggest villain is someone from within, our president. We have no hero, we have no figure to respect, we have no leader. Iron Man is the fantasy of that leader.
Iron Man can invade a country without the real life consequences. Once his form fitting, muscular, impenetrable iron man armor is complete Stark flies to Afghanistan to destroy the terrorists (who pose a threat not only to the US, but also to their own people). Afghanis are villains too only weaker because they cannot create their own weapons (their Achilles heel). The audience roared with excitement when Stark kills all the terrorists (who threaten to kill the women and children) with one shot. Iron Man offers the ultimate protection for America and the ultimate destruction to the enemies. He is homeland security.
Tony Stark’s anti-weapons stance is a façade, for Stark, our superhero, is the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. The movie insists that weapons are necessary for security and that war must continue until America again dominates the world. Stark only learns to tame his gun in devotion to love interest Pepper Pots (a conservative view of romance).
On opening night, fans push their way into sold out shows of highly anticipated Iron Man, the first big Blockbuster of 2008. On Friday alone, the movie grossed approximately $35 million. Immensely popular, Iron Man has an impressive 94% on rottentomatoes.com. Why do people buy this conservative fantasy? The movie resonates because it manifests our nation’s desires. Iron Man is the mascot for a betrayed nation.
~Kristen Gorlitz