Iron Monger Real Identity: Obadiah Stane Iron Man (2008) Characteristics and Powers: Stane is a large bald man, about fifty years old, with a long CV of business, business, business. He worked on the arc reactor prototype and directed the company into weapon-manufacturing, which led it to becoming the powerhouse it is today. Stane is a duplicitous, two-faced old sod. He can glad hand the press one day, then stab you in the back the next–not unusual for businessmen. Profit is his Achilles heel. So much that he gets reckless trying to duplicate Tony’s success with the Iron Man suit. Speaking of which, let’s talk about the suit. Stolen from…
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The Villain of Today
One thing I’ve been thinking about as I’ve been analyzing villains, Disney and Marvel. Something I’ve noticed as I’ve watched them evolve. Starting at about 1990, America no longer has an “external other” to hate or villainize in terms of a mass group. Prior to the sixties, Westerns had Indians. War movies had Nazis. Between that and the eighties, we had serial killers and clinical psychopaths. Then we got Soviets and communists. But after 1990, there’s nothing like that anymore. Political correctness gathers more momentum. After the Vietnam War, we’re become savvy about propaganda. We know that it’s meant to dehumanize the enemy. We know the toll war takes on…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: New Goblin & Sandman & Venom (Spider-Man 3)
NEW GOBLIN & SANDMAN & VENOM Real Identities: Harry Osborn & Flint Marko & Eddie Brock Spider-Man 3 (2007) Like I always say, when movies fail, the story is at the root of the problem. Not actors, not directors, not sound design, not costuming. Those can all make a movie not as good as it could be, but they don’t bring it down to a 66% meta rating after the previous had 93% and 90%. The big failing of Spider-Man 3 wasn’t the silly dancing or questionable effects, but trying to cram in too much plot (it’s frickin’ 140 min). Not only is there too much relationship drama, there are…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Dark Phoenix (X-Men 3: The Last Stand)
DARK PHOENIX Real Identity: Jean Grey X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006) Famke Janssen plays a good character. Unfortunately, the writing wasn’t there to carry her over the threshold. We spend WAY more time with Wolverine, Xavier, and Magneto. Which, of course, means her arc is meaningless. You’ve had two movies to tell us who Jean Grey is, you failed, and you’re going make her the antagonist? The producers’ message was probably to stuff as many mutants in there as possible, forget the personal stories. Characteristics and Powers: She basically becomes Dr. Manhattan. Like a “super-telepath/telekinetic”, whatever that means. I imagine that psychic powers must take a lot of control…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four)
DOCTOR DOOM Real Identity: Victor von Doom Fantastic Four (2005) Characteristics and Powers: Doctor Doom has a strong personality. He’s smooth and calm. Never loses his cool. Smart, powerful, successful. And extremely vain. He thinks he’s better than everyone else. As far as powers, he starts turning into “organic metal”, whatever the hell that means. In real terms, he’s becoming a metal man. Plus, he gains the ability to channel electricity. This is because, during the cosmic storm, he was in the special “shielding” that Reed Richards needed in the first place. How those two connect I don’t know. A wizard did it. This is a pretty pitiful depiction of…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Doctor Octopus (Spider-Man 2)
DOCTOR OCTOPUS Real Identity: Otto Octavius Spider-Man 2 (2004) Doctor Octopus, as played by Alfred Molina, is probably one of the best sympathetic villains portrayed in film. So good they brought him back for a significant role in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Ock fits all the criteria–he’s a surrogate father for Peter, matches him on intellect, and has a way to counter any one of Spider-Man’s attacks. The only way these two wouldn’t go into business together was if one of them went insane. Characteristics and Powers: Otto Octavius is a brilliant scientist and another role model for Peter Parker, showing him what he could have if he wasn’t a…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Colonel William Stryker (X2: X-Men United)
COL. WILLIAM STRYKER X2: X-Men United (2002) This villain represents an amalgamation of several characters from the X-Men comics/cartoon, but they’re all basically the same guy–a bigot. And the scary thing is he exists in real life. This isn’t Mephisto or Stegron. This is your next-door neighbor. This is a congressman working right now and he’s in charge of a hell of a lot of tanks and missiles. Characteristics and Powers: None. He’s just a human. But that gives him an advantage–being human (and a decorated military scientist) he can borrow the ears of politicians and influencers, especially with his background in mutant research. And from that research he’s developed…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Green Goblin (Spider-Man)
GREEN GOBLIN Real Identity: Norman Osborn Spider-Man (2002) There wouldn’t be an MCU without the one-two punch of X-Men and Spider-Man (2002). Green Goblin may not be the best villain. Heck, he may not be the best in the Spider-Man universe. But you remember him. Characteristics and Powers: Green Goblin makes a memorable villain because of an over-the-top performance by Willem Dafoe. But that’s what makes him so scary, because he can go from calm/rational to unhinged in a second. And you believe you are under threat because you don’t know what he’s going to do. Unfortunately, it’s not the greatest costume or powers. I don’t know about his comic…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Magneto (X-Men)
MAGNETO Real Identity: Erik Magnus Lehnsherr X-Men (2000) I’m starting with this movie because this is the real inception point for the MCU. If not for this movie and its compatriot Spider-Man (coming up next!) there would be no Tony Stark or Avengers. So I think it’s important to examine the precursors and their staying power with audiences. I don’t think it was a great movie — the problem with the X-Men is that it’s character soup — but after the chintzy animated series, it was a gourmet meal. Characteristics and Powers: Can bend and shape metal to his will. This includes stopping bullets in midair and some electromagnetism. And…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains
Time for a new feature on my blog. You’ve read my Analyzing the Disney Villains series. Now get ready for the Marvel Cinematic Universe villains. I think villain analysis is important because one of the keys to a really resounding story is the obstacles that the hero has to go through. The harder the obstacles, the harder the hero has to work, and the more glorious their triumph is. We wouldn’t remember Luke Skywalker as anything but another sandy-haired all-loving hero if not for Darth Vader. We wouldn’t remember wide-eyed innocent Dorothy if not for the cackling Wicked Witch of the West. We wouldn’t remember Batman’s noble pursuit of justice…
