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Favourite Marvel Movie Love Interest

Poll Results: Favourite Marvel Love Interest?

 
  • 4% (2)
    Mary Jane Watson ("Spider-Man", "Spider-Man 2")
  • 2% (1)
    Gwen Stacy ("Spider-Man 3", "The Amazing Spider-Man")
  • 21% (9)
    Pepper Potts ("Iron Man", "Iron Man 2")
  • 2% (1)
    Betty Ross ("Hulk", "The Incredible Hulk")
  • 4% (2)
    Jane Foster ("Thor")
  • 64% (27)
    Peggy Carter ("Captain America: The First Avenger")
  • 0% (0)
    Elektra ("Daredevil")
  • 0% (0)
    Roxanne Simpson ("Ghost Rider")
42 Total Votes  
post #1 of 44
Thread Starter 

I got this idea from the "Thor" thread, where people have been comparing Jane and Pepper Potts. It seems to be a requirement that every superhero movie these days has a woman in it who the hero is interested in romantically. This character doesn't always feel organic to the plot or like a fully rounded three-dimensional character. She is sometimes reduced to a damsel in distress or a plot device to motivate the hero.

 

I'm surprised that Peggy Carter wasn't brought up in the Jane and Pepper debate. She's my pick for the best Marvel love interest so far. She is one of the most strong, independent, and well-developed female characters in those movies. She doesn't seem to exist just to moon over and/or flirt with the hero. She has a lot of ideas and motivations that have nothing to do with the hero and doesn't seem as forced towards being romantically involved with him as some other superhero love interests. 

 

How she and Captain America come to care for each other feels very natural and earned to me and by the end of the movie I felt deeply for both of them. Their chaste and ultimately doomed romance provides my choice for the most poignant relationship yet in a Marvel superhero movie. It's a big part of why I loved Captain America's first movie.

 

While the relationship between Spider-Man and Mary Jane is certainly more fleshed out, I thought it was a little belaboured at times and too soap opera-ish, although it did help make the end of "Spider-Man 2" very powerful (before the sequel killed its resonance).

 

With polls like this, there are inevitably some choices people might like to see that get left out. There may also be choices tht people find questionable. I tried to be as thorough as possible, but people will probably be disappointed by some exclusion or even inclusion. I'll address the few I can imagine people bringing up.

 

In the area of possibly questionable inclusions - I haven't seen "Ghost Rider", but I assume that the character played by Eva Mendes is the love interest. Elektra is more than a love interest as she's also a hero and even has her own movie, but in her case, I think it's possible to be both a hero and a love interest.

 

I haven't seen the Punisher movies, so I don't know if there are love interests in them. I saw "Blade", but I don't remember if there's an important girl in it.  I didn't include Rogue, Jean Grey, or the women of "Fantastic Four" in the poll because I wanted this to be more about solo superheroes and their ladies (and I didn't see those movies anyway). 

post #2 of 44

But Unforgiven sucked, right?

post #3 of 44

Lea Thompson from Howard The Duck.

 

Rowrr.

post #4 of 44
Thread Starter 

I seriously considered putting "Howard the Duck" in there, but then I thought Howard the Duck is not a superhero, and how can a duck have a human love interest? But whatever floats your boat, Art. cool.gif And Bailey, let's not go off-topic by bringing that shit in here. Yes, I do not like "Unforgiven"

 

I have brought that up in several threads. Here is not the place to discuss that and it's really myopic to imply this argument that a person's opinions are invalid just because they don't like a movie that you like. Even if it's a movie most people like with the credibility that comes with being deemed 'Best Picture' by the Academy. 

 

This being CHUD, I'm sure there are plenty of people who love B Action Movies more than some prestige pictures. I've seen a lot of prestige pictures and a lot of them left me cold, and yes, I even get more emotional over these silly little superhero movies than plenty of epic Westerns, including that one.

post #5 of 44

I voted for Natalie Portman because her character seemed authentic, she displayed a high level of physical attractiveness, and she had a genuine chemistry with Hemsworth.

post #6 of 44

In all seriousness, Nyssa (Leonor Varela) from Blade II was a pretty good love interest.

post #7 of 44

I liked both Peggy and Jane but I gave to Jane.  It's like the moments when Thor and her were together they both were goggly eyed.  It also doesn't hurt that yes Portman and Hemsworth had chemistry but I think of all the Marvel couples this one had felt the more genuine.  I liked Peggy but at the same time you could almost feel that her and Steve's love was doomed right from the start even if it did have potential.

post #8 of 44

I don't think it's fair to lump ASM's Gwen Stacy in with the barely-there version from SM3.  Emma Stone deserves her own entry, and would be the one I'd vote for.

post #9 of 44

Carter resisted the charms of a Stark in his prime, and expressed her jealousy over Cap making out with another woman by shooting at him.

 

Those two reasons alone make her the winner.

post #10 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Decade View Post

In all seriousness, Nyssa (Leonor Varela) from Blade II was a pretty good love interest.

 

She was the best Marta.

post #11 of 44

I'll have to go with Peggy Carter, but ASM's Gwen Stacy is not so far behind in second.

post #12 of 44

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottieFerguson View Post

 

She was the best Marta.

 

She made a huge mistake when she left after only a couple eps.

 

Out of the names listed above, I gotta give it to Pepper Potts. As insufferable as Paltrow is in real life, there are few actresses around who can keep up with Downey so naturally. The chemistry between the two characters is, to me, the saving grace of IM2 & Potts is the one Marvel love interest that doesn't seem like she was born out of committee.

 

I could watch Stark & Potts go at it for an entire movie. Can't say that about Jane whatsherface & Thor.

post #13 of 44

Surprised there's not more love for Pepper in this thread. I felt like the chemistry between Downey and Paltrow was probably the best thing about IM 1. Pepper is quick-witted, competent, and doesn't take any BS from Stark. I really love that character.

 

I would probably vote for Jane if they'd given that character anything at all to do. I adore Portman, and I thought she had great chemistry with Hemsworth, but that character is really badly written.

 

Also, May Jane is the worst thing about the Spider Man movies (I mean, not 3, because there are so many worst things about 3, but certainly in the first 2). I could not stand her.

post #14 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Harford View Post

I voted for Natalie Portman because her character seemed authentic, she displayed a high level of physical attractiveness, and she had a genuine chemistry with Hemsworth.

Ugh. I literally could not possibly disagree with you more on these three points. To me, she was totally phony, her performance was all twitchy artifice. I've never seen Natalie look as UNattractive as she does in Thor, and I could not believe for a moment that, with 3.5 billion human women to choose from, he would give 2 shits about this whiny, neurotic dork. Wisely, the writers and producers of Avengers must have felt the same, because she is MIA for that one (Thor doesn't seem particularly upset about that, either!)

post #15 of 44

Carter's has surprisingly little to do in the movie CAPTAIN AMERICA, but is also the clear winner, which is a testament to Atwell's great performance.

post #16 of 44

Yes, Atwell's "performance".

 

Both of them.

post #17 of 44

Did they give Portman some different colored contacts for THOR?  Her eyes were a bit unnatural looking and distracting.

post #18 of 44

Peggy Carter, and it's not even close.

post #19 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Shrinker View Post

Ugh. I literally could not possibly disagree with you more on these three points. To me, she was totally phony, her performance was all twitchy artifice. I've never seen Natalie look as UNattractive as she does in Thor, and I could not believe for a moment that, with 3.5 billion human women to choose from, he would give 2 shits about this whiny, neurotic dork. Wisely, the writers and producers of Avengers must have felt the same, because she is MIA for that one (Thor doesn't seem particularly upset about that, either!)

I basically agree that her character wasn't too great (though I loved that she was an academic), but her flirtations with Hemsworth felt very authentic and it made it fun for me on that level. Branagh killed that aspect of the film. I agree that what we got never really added up to the epic star crossed romance we were supposed to believe it was by the time the credits rolled, but it was a fun summer fling, for what it was.

To comment on some of the other choices:

Pepper Potts is a good character too, as was Nyssa, as someone else mentioned. The romance with the character from Captain America was well written but I never bought into the basic concept of a woman in a military leadership position of such strategic importance during WW2.
post #20 of 44

TASM's Gwen Stacey for me. Stone and Andrew Stone really have a nice chemistry together. Totally buy them being in love.

post #21 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Harford View Post


I basically agree that her character wasn't too great (though I loved that she was an academic), but her flirtations with Hemsworth felt very authentic and it made it fun for me on that level. Branagh killed that aspect of the film. I agree that what we got never really added up to the epic star crossed romance we were supposed to believe it was by the time the credits rolled, but it was a fun summer fling, for what it was.
To comment on some of the other choices:
Pepper Potts is a good character too, as was Nyssa, as someone else mentioned. The romance with the character from Captain America was well written but I never bought into the basic concept of a woman in a military leadership position of such strategic importance during WW2.

 

This. CA has the LAZIEST screenplay of any movie in recent memory & Peggy's entrance as a tough as balls 22 year old military person just destroys any suspense of disbelief with regard to her character. I didn't - I couldn't - buy into her role at all.

post #22 of 44

 

"What the fuck does that midget Portman know about love?  I fucking LOVE Blade, goddamnit!!!"

post #23 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by felix View Post

TASM's Gwen Stacey for me. Stone and Andrew Stone really have a nice chemistry together. Totally buy them being in love.

Hey now, Andrew and Emma haven't gotten married yet, so it's still Garfield for now.

As for the poll, I voted Peggy, though Pepper and Tony were close behind. That final scene between them on the radio sold it for me, through that YouTube series "How It Should Have Ended" has kind of ruined it for me now.
post #24 of 44
Probably Pepper. Of the Marvel Studios efforts, she's the only love interest who feels necessary to the film. She adds a great deal, both through her interactions with Tony and her credibility as a competent professional. I enjoy when the story takes time to focus on her character, which is something I can't say for the rest. Portman is cute and energetic, and Atwell is unfathomably hot and sexy, but their characters too often feel perfunctory, not necessary.

Dunst's MJ would probably be my second place. Love her in the first two. But Spidey 3 really kills my goodwill towards the character and the romance.

Stone's Gwen is fine, but the movie is a dog. Maybe my opinion of her will be more favourable after future sequels...
post #25 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post

I don't think it's fair to lump ASM's Gwen Stacy in with the barely-there version from SM3.  Emma Stone deserves her own entry, and would be the one I'd vote for.

 

I was going to say the same thing.

 

 

Also, in my fantasy the ASM sequels will have Stone play both Gwen and Mary Jane.

post #26 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Harford View Post


I basically agree that her character wasn't too great (though I loved that she was an academic), but her flirtations with Hemsworth felt very authentic and it made it fun for me on that level. Branagh killed that aspect of the film. I agree that what we got never really added up to the epic star crossed romance we were supposed to believe it was by the time the credits rolled, but it was a fun summer fling, for what it was.
To comment on some of the other choices:
Pepper Potts is a good character too, as was Nyssa, as someone else mentioned. The romance with the character from Captain America was well written but I never bought into the basic concept of a woman in a military leadership position of such strategic importance during WW2.


But you're fine with science finding a way to make a 90 pound weakling into a muscle-bound Adonis?

 

( I love the movie and hate Mark Millar's "writing" but always liked that his Super Soldier program in The Ultimates was a mix of science fiction machines and steroids. Better than the movie where he steps into a machine and..something happens. I half expected a microwave's "ding!" when it was done)

post #27 of 44

The key thing about Peggy is that she's never ever in need of rescuing.

post #28 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameron Hughes View Post


But you're fine with science finding a way to make a 90 pound weakling into a muscle-bound Adonis?

 

It's simple: with every superhero, you have the core hero concept & you have the world that surrounds that concept. Batman is always gonna be Batman but if you ground his peripheral world in something resembling reality, where the characters & their roles are easily believable, then you have Nolan's Bat-world. If you go the opposite direction where the peripheral world is more fantastical, then you have Batman Forever.

 

When Captain America is basing the US military & it's role in WWII (not the baddies, mind you) in a relatable, historical reality, the existence of a ridiculously young, British female with crazy high rank in the US military is farcical & dips the whole enterprise into Schumacher territory.

post #29 of 44

I voted for Peggy, but my heart is with that sweaty Brazilian Factory worker in The Incredible Hulk (no not the bald dude you pervs the hot sweaty chic that Banner saves from the bald dude).

post #30 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cylon Baby View Post

I voted for Peggy, but my heart is with that sweaty Brazilian Factory worker in The Incredible Hulk (no not the bald dude you pervs the hot sweaty chic that Banner saves from the bald dude).

 

Ah yes, "La Bonerita". Miss "One Ticket To Brazil, Please".

post #31 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Decade View Post

 

It's simple: with every superhero, you have the core hero concept & you have the world that surrounds that concept. Batman is always gonna be Batman but if you ground his peripheral world in something resembling reality, where the characters & their roles are easily believable, then you have Nolan's Bat-world. If you go the opposite direction where the peripheral world is more fantastical, then you have Batman Forever.

 

When Captain America is basing the US military & it's role in WWII (not the baddies, mind you) in a relatable, historical reality, the existence of a ridiculously young, British female with crazy high rank in the US military is farcical & dips the whole enterprise into Schumacher territory.


Okay, that makes a lot of sense.

post #32 of 44

Roxanne Simpson brings a magic 8-ball to a date. Ergo, she wins.

 

Also:

-Blade doesn't have time for love. This is obvious.

-Ghost Rider 2 had Violante Placido, who is crafty, tough, and the mother to Danny Ketch. Recognize.

post #33 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Decade View Post
When Captain America is basing the US military & it's role in WWII (not the baddies, mind you) in a relatable, historical reality, the existence of a ridiculously young, British female with crazy high rank in the US military is farcical & dips the whole enterprise into Schumacher territory.

What crazy high rank was that? She was Agent Carter. Presumably OSS, of which both Julia Child (who was in her early 30's when she became a researcher working directly under the head of the OSS. Hayley Atwell is 30 now) and Marlene Dietrich were agents during WWII. I'm not seeing a massive historical disconnect here.


Edited by Fafhrd - 9/14/12 at 5:42pm
post #34 of 44

Fair enough, but Carter's entrance among the recruits in a "tough as nails drill instructor" mode still rings obnoxiously hollow & forced to me.

post #35 of 44

Personally, I think what makes it work is that Atwell just sells the character really, really well, but I can see why her entrance and subsequent role might ring false for some.

post #36 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Decade View Post

Fair enough, but Carter's entrance among the recruits in a "tough as nails drill instructor" mode still rings obnoxiously hollow & forced to me.

I just have to agree with Decade on this. It really took me out of the film, because it just was so far removed from anything approaching the historical reality the film had attempted to ground itself in up to that point. 

post #37 of 44

I don't see the big deal. Carter was a British agent, representing Britain's interests in the super soldier project.

 

Sorry guys, but in a revised history where people are able to transform a skinny kid into a superhero, it's not out of context to have a representative from our biggest ally in the war effort be present when it happens.

post #38 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by D.T. View Post

I don't see the big deal. Carter was a British agent, representing Britain's interests in the super soldier project.

 

Sorry guys, but in a revised history where people are able to transform a skinny kid into a superhero, it's not out of context to have a representative from our biggest ally in the war effort be present when it happens.

And General Tommy Lee Jones even mentions later that having her join his crew was a big risk; Carter was essentially a liason from the British to help the US Army when it came to intelligence on HYDRA; in the prequel comic to the movie, she's the one who rescues Dr. Erskine and brings him to America, since there was no resources for his project and too much of a risk for him in Europe.

Hell, in real life, the british had Cristopher Lee and Ian Fleming as secret agents working against the Nazis; hows that for farfetched?

post #39 of 44

Yeah, but they had penises.

post #40 of 44

It always boils down to penises.

 

...or always comes down to penises.

 

...or always goes down on penises?

 

Or something. Whatever.

post #41 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by ryoken View Post

 

Hell, in real life, the british had Cristopher Lee and Ian Fleming as secret agents working against the Nazis; hows that for farfetched?

 

Apologies for the minor derail, but this looks like a perfect opportunity to link to one of my favourite weird WW2 stories, what a story!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_Maskelyne

post #42 of 44
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glisten View Post

 

Apologies for the minor derail, but this looks like a perfect opportunity to link to one of my favourite weird WW2 stories, what a story!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_Maskelyne

How is this not a movie?!?

post #43 of 44

What was his rank?  I hope it was Captain.  Captain Fucking Magic.

post #44 of 44

Also, Peggy Carter for the win;  Hatwell plays her wonderfully, and her character is charming, strong and endearing.

Plus, i have yet to meet a guy who didnt get awestruck when she strolls into the bar in that red dress.

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