Film Culture Commentary: The Ladies, the Critics, and the Superhero Movies

I'm talking actually about the ladies who happen to be movie critics.

Earlier this summer, I ranted about one whiny female writer's wailing about superhero movies. (Boo freakin' hoo.)

I'm glad to point you now to a more grown-up and intelligent approach to female opinions about superhero films. The ladies involved here are far more professional, and they don't use their gender as a reason to moan and wail and pewl for attention. Instead, they think about greater issues of movies and culture. Hooray! (And thank you.)

I'm amused, though, at one question in the survey of these female film critics: "Who is this summer's sexiest superhero, and why?" Well, I suppose we can't get away entirely from that ancient touchstone of gender relationships, the hot summer romance! (By the way, the vast majority of the critics went for -- no real surprise there, or is it? -- Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark/Iron Man. In fact, one critic specifically said what I had said a while back: smart IS attractive.)

But do take a look. While this survey is by no means comprehensive (nor can it be), it's a conversation involving a nice cross-section of female film critics and their feedback/opinions.