Uniforms for Female S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents

 

While viewing many Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films and television productions over the years, I have noticed something. I find it rather interesting . . . or perplexing that the clothes worn by the majority of female S.H.I.E.L.D. field agents wore tight-fitting uniforms.



UNIFORMS FOR FEMALE S.H.I.E.L.D. AGENTS

My question is . . . why? Before I continue, I will acknowledge there is one female character who wears a tight-fitting uniform - namely Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel:



However, Carol Danvers was a U.S. Air Force pilot before she became an enhanced being. The uniform she wore was a variation of the Kree uniform that she originally wore after disappearing from Earth. And it was based on the uniform created for her in Marvel Comics. Could Marvel Comics and later, the MCU have created a less sexualized uniform for her? Yes. But that is nothing in compare to the uniforms worn by most S.H.I.E.L.D. agents within the franchise. And aside from two men - most female S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Like Captain Marvel's uniform, they are basically tight-fitting leather uniforms with a few variations. Below are following examples:



Agent Natasha Romanoff aka the Black Widow





Agent Maria Hill





Agent Melinda May aka "the Calvary"





Agent Daisy Johnson aka Skye aka Quake





Agent Bobbi Morse aka Mockingbird





Agent Elena Rodriguez aka Yo-Yo


There were at least three male S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives who constantly wore tight fitting leather uniforms:



Steve Rogers aka Captain America





Agent Clint Barton aka Hawkeye





Director Jeffrey Mace aka the Patriot

Out of eight S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and one agency director, only three were men. Three out of nine. And only one of them - Agent Barton - was not an enhanced (genuine or otherwise) individual. Yet, the majority of male S.H.I.E.L.D. field operatives usually wore what the situation called for - whether it was a military-style uniform, casual clothes or a suit.

I can only recall three female field operatives who did not wear any style of a leather unitard:



S.S.R. Agent/S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Peggy Carter - She never wore any kind of unitard or leather uniform during her years as a S.S.R. (forerunner of S.H.I.E.L.D. agency) agent. She wore an Army uniform or a military-style jumpsuit in the field during World War II and the early months of the post-war years.





Agent Sharon Carter - I have only seen her in pants, a blouse and a jacket in "CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER"; and in jeans/pants, a blouse and a vest (or jacket) in "CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR".





Agent Piper - Like many of her male colleagues, she wore either a military-style uniform or a casual outfit that consists of jeans/pants, a blouse and a jacket. How she managed to avoid being squeezed into a tight, leather unitard is a mystery. And great luck for her.


This brings me back to my original question. Why did the Marvel Cinematic Universe found it necessary to have its S.H.I.E.L.D. female characters dress in a tight, leather unitard (or something close to it)? Why have these characters dress like Cathy Gale and Emma Peel from the old "THE AVENGERS" television series? And why is it that most of the S.H.I.E.L.D. characters that dressed this way were women?

"Destruction in Comic Book Movies"

"DESTRUCTION IN COMIC BOOK MOVIES"

Two things happened to me recently.  One, I just finished a re-watch of the 2012 movie, “THE AVENGERS”.  And two, I came across this ARTICLE praising the MCU’s portrayal of the destruction of Midtown Manhattan in the film’s final action sequence and in many other films from the franchise.  

Now . . . not only did that article praised the Battle of Manhattan sequence in the 2012 movie, I had stumbled across another article even claimed that “THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON” handled massive destruction better than the 2013 movie, “MAN OF STEEL”. It also claimed that "THE AVENGERS" managed to achieve this, as well.  And if I must be honest, the article featured mainly photographs and shallow reasons that in my eyes, had failed to hold up.  

I have come to the conclusion that the media and many moviegoers were and still are incredibly hypocritical when it came to the MCU and the DCEU franchises.  They did not pitch a fit over the destruction featured in movies like “THE AVENGERS” and “AGE OF ULTRON”.  And when the MCU had finally decided to address the issue in the 2016 movie, “CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR”, it was more or less shoved aside for the Bucky Barnes manhunt and used as a motive in Helmut Zemo’s convoluted revenge plot against the Avengers.   Come to think of it, no one had raised a fuss over the destruction in Greenwich, England in 2013's “THOR: THE DARK WORLD”, aside from one comment used as a joke in Season One of “AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.”.

But when the Kryptonians under General Zod nearly destroyed downtown Metropolis with their World Machine in "MAN OF STEEL”, both the media and many moviegoers went into a SNIT FIT over the destruction.  They accused Zack Snyder and screenwriter David S. Goyer of going too far with the film’s sequence known as the “Black Zero Event”.  Many of them are still bitching about it to this day.  

Many articles and moviegoers had complained that Superman helped cause Metropolis’ destruction by not bothering to re-direct his fight against General Zod to a safer location.  In the 2013 movie, Superman had made two attempts to direct his fight against Zod away from Metropolis.  Unfortunately for him, Zod kept returning to Metropolis in his determination to kill Humans.  Many had also failed to notice that the Kryptonians’ World Machine was responsible for most of the destruction that was inflicted upon downtown Metropolis, while Superman was trying to destroy the damn thing.

In the end, the two Avengers movies received praise for its portrayal of the destruction of midtown Manhattan and Sokovia.  At the same time, many fans and critics have continued to criticize “MAN OF STEEL” for its destruction of Metropolis.  It is bad enough that some of those criticisms have been proven to be erroneous.  But many have failed to point out that the consequences of the movie’s “Black Zero Event” had a main role in the narrative for 2016′s “BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE”.   I am not only amazed at this hypocrisy, but also disgusted.

Ranking of Movies Seen During Summer 2018

During the summer of 2018, I only saw seven new movies. I want to say that I had enjoyed watching each and every one of them. However, below is my ranking of those seven films: 

RANKING OF MOVIES SEEN DURING SUMMER 2018 

1. “Solo: A Star Wars Movie” - This STAR WARS movie set ten years before the Original Trilogy told the story of the early years of Han Solo as a smuggler and criminal. Directed by Ron Howard, Alden Ehrenreich starred in the title role. 

2. “Incredibles 2” - The direct sequel to the 2004 hit Disney animated film follows the Parr family as they try to restore public’s trust in superheroes, while balancing their family life. They also find themselves combating a new foe who seeks to turn the populace against all superheroes. Directed by Brad Bird, Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter and Samuel L. Jackson provided the voices. 

3. “Mission: Impossible - Fallout” - In this sixth film in the “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” franchise, Ethan Hunt and his IMF team are ordered to track down stolen plutonium, while being monitored by a CIA agent after a mission goes awry. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the movie starred Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. 

4. “Ant-Man & the Wasp” - While serving out the last days of his house arrest, Scott Lang aka Ant-Man is recruited by Hope van Dyne aka the Wasp and her father, Dr. Hank Pym to help them retrieve Dr. Janet van Dyne from the Quantum realm. Directed by Peyton Reed, Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly starred. 

5. “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” - When Isla Nublar’s dormant volcano becomes active, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event, which proves to be a scam kick-started by a greedy corporate executive. Directed by J.A. Bayona, the movie starred Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. 

6. “The Avengers: Infinity War” - The Avengers and their allies struggle to prevent the powerful Thanos from collecting all of the Infinity stones and using them to commit genocide against half of the universe. Joe and Anthony Russo directed. 

7. “Deadpool 2” - Former mercenary Wade Wilson aka Deadpool Wade Wilson form a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy with supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-traveling cyborg, Cable.  Directed by David Leitch, the movie starred Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson aka Deadpool.  

"Comic Book Movies: Critical Hypocrisy"

"COMIC BOOK MOVIES: CRITICAL HYPOCRISY"

It just occurred to me that none of Marvel’s Captain America films ended on a happy note. Yet, they have never been criticized for possessing too much angst or being depressing. On the other hand, D.C. Comics films like 2016's "BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE" have been accused of being dominated by these traits. And I have never understood this contrasting attitude toward the two comic book movie franchises. 

In "CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST AVENGER", Steve Rogers lost his close friend, James “Bucky” Barnes during a mission. He was forced to crash the HYDRA plane into the cold Atlantic Ocean, where he froze for the next 66 to 67 years. Because of the crash, his burgeoning relationship with S.S.R. Agent Peggy Carter abruptly ended, with her believing that he had died. The movie ended with Steve awakening in 2011 New York City as a fish out of water and the world completely changed.

Although I love it with every fiber in my body, "CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER" proved to be a rather depressing film, if one is completely honest. The only positive thing that came out of it was Steve’s new friendship with Afghanistan War veteran, Sam Wilson. Otherwise, the movie featured the downfall of S.H.I.E.L.D., the very agency that his old love Peggy Carter, Howard Stark and Chester Philips had created, due to a major mistake they had committed. And that mistake turned out to be the recruitment of former HYDRA scientist, Armin Zola into the newly formed S.H.I.E.L.D. agency. Steve discovered that despite Johann Schmidt aka the Red Skull’s death, HYDRA continued to exist and that it had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. and the U.S. Senate. He also discovered that his former best friend, Bucky Barnes, was not only alive, but also a brainwashed assassin for HYDRA. Everything eventually went to shit by the end of film, including Steve’s career with S.H.I.E.L.D.

"CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR" proved to be another depressing film. It introduced the Sokovia Accords, a United Nations sponsored document that forced enhanced beings like himself and other members of the Avengers to register with and be regulated by various governments. The main drive behind the Accords was Secretary of Defense and former U.S. Army General Thaddeus Ross, who had been the nemesis of Bruce Banner aka the Hulk. The Sokovia Accords finally gave Thaddeus Ross the opportunity to control a team of enhanced beings. The ninety-something Peggy Carter finally died. And the Avengers faced another threat - a Sokovian named Zemo, who wanted revenge for the destruction of his country - an event caused by Tony Stark’s creation of an artificial intelligence (A.I.) called Ultron. And Zemo also used the still brainwashed Bucky Barnes, whose past involved being coerced by HYDRA into murdering Howard and Maria Stark, to get his revenge. Between the Accords and Zemo, the Avengers suffered a permanent split by the end of the movie.

On the other hand, many film critics and moviegoers have criticized about "darker" aspects of the DCEU films. They have accused director Zack Snyder and the production teams behind the DCEU movie franchise of being too depressing or portraying its major protagonists as a bit too angsty. One, I see nothing wrong with morally and emotionally complex comic book hero movies. Also, at least two of the DCEU movies, "MAN OF STEEL" and "SUICIDE SQUAD" ended on a happier note. 

"MAN OF STEEL" ended with Clark Kent aka Superman moving to Metropolis and joining the staff of The Daily Planet as a junior reporter and exchanging a knowing smile with his love, Lois Lane - the only person other than his mother who knew of his identity as Superman. "SUICIDE SQUAD" told the story of a group of super villains (two of them, meta-humans) who were forced to battle a powerful sorceress, bent upon world-domination by the director of A.R.G.U.S., Amanda Waller. Although Waller's right-hand man, Colonel Rick Flagg, had allowed the villains to walk away after she had been kidnapped, the "Suicide Squad" assisted Flagg in taking down the Enchantress anyway. They were repaid with a reduced prison sentence and a few benefits. Also, "SUICIDE SQUAD" was filled with a great deal of humor - something that many critics and moviegoers have complained that the DCEU was lacking. 

I find it ironic that "MAN OF STEEL" and "SUICIDE SQUAD" have been criticized for being "depressing and angst-riddled", along with the DCEU's boogeyman, "BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE" (which I also adore with every fiber of my being). Yet, the MCU's Captain America films have managed to evade such criticisms, despite their ambiguous endings. Why have many critics and moviegoers have been so hard on the DCEU films about their ambiguity and given the Captain America films a pass? Hypocrisy much?

"Irrelevant Bashing"

"IRRELEVANT BASHING"

I am another moviegoer who is getting sick and tired of the regarding Marvel/Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films and Warner Brothers/D.C. Comics’ D.C. Extended Universe (DCEU) films. I have come across articles in which fans of both movie universes have accused the other of excessive bashing. 

I never understood this rivalry between Marvel and DC Comics movie franchises. To be honest, I find it unnecessary. And I believe today's audiences are getting too caught up in this so-called rivalry, thanks to the media, the studios and the two comic book conglomerates. I have seen both DC Comics and Marvel since "SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE" first came out in 1978. Why do certain films from one comic book company need to be better than those from another one? I have seen films from both that I found very impressive. And I have seen films from both that left me feeling disappointed. For me to decide whether the Marvel films or the DC films are better strikes me as ridiculous.

Some fans have claimed that since the MCU films perform better at the box office, they are without a doubt, the superior series of films. One major problem with this reasoning was the box office performance of the five major comic book movies released in 2016. Marvel’s "CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE CIVIL WAR" proved to be the second (or third) biggest box office success of that year. Yet, D.C. Comics’ "BATMAN v. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE" proved to be that year’s fifth biggest box office success. Although both the DCEU’s "SUICIDE SQUAD" and the MCU’s "DOCTOR STRANGE" never reached those heights in terms of box office, both were successful and ironically, the DCEU movie proved to be a bit more successful.

However, I believe that box office performance is not a true reflection of a movie’s worth. No one knows the true reason behind the critics’ current and more positive reaction to the Marvel films. Not really. True, some film critics might honestly believe they are better. Then again, it is possible that some film critics were bribed to praise the Marvel films to the sky and/or bash the D.C. Comics movies. Personally, I had stopped regarding their opinion as fact a long time ago. After all, their opinions are dictated by personal tastes, or . . . other means, just as the opinions of moviegoers are dictated by personal tastes. - Yes, there might be more people who believe that the current Marvel films are better. But I have encountered a great number of opinions that favor the current DC Comic movies. And I cannot help but wonder if the MCU fans are simply the loudest. Also, judging a film based upon box office success or the number of fans for a certain franchise strikes me as irrelevant. There are a lot of fans of the "TRANSFORMER" films. A lot. Which is why those movies generated a good deal of money. In the end, it is all subjective. 

I am fans of both the MCU and the DCEU. I have been aware of some bashing of the MCU films by certain DCEU fans. However, their bashing seemed to be minor in compare to the consistent and excessive stream of criticism and bashing directed toward the DCEU films … and I believe this bashing is getting out of control.

Sometimes, I get the feeling that a lot of Marvel fans (or perhaps I should say the Marvel/Disney company is threatened by the three movies released by DC Comics between 2013 and 2016. These three movies signaled the end of the Marvel/Disney’s monopoly on a series of comic book movies based upon a collection of titles. The bashing for the DCEU has become utter ridiculous and excessive. I am also beginning to wonder if those who had accused Disney/Marvel of paying off the critics to bad mouth ALL THREE DCEU movies that have been released so far … had been right after all. Because this criticism has become over the top. It has now extended to both "WONDER WOMAN" and "JUSTICE LEAGUE" and they have yet to be released. Has bashing the DCEU movies become the "in" thing to do? Just as bashing the "STAR WARS" Prequel films is still a popular past time? I hope not. For I had almost bought it myself. 

When "MAN OF STEEL", "BATMAN v. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE" and "SUICIDE SQUAD" first hit the theaters, I was reluctant to see all three, because I had stupidly accepted the bad opinions about them. Yet, I overcame my reluctance and went to see them, anyway. And when I finally saw those three movies, I enjoyed them. All of them. Very much. In fact, I regard "BATMAN v. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE" as one of the best comic book hero movies I have ever seen. And that was when I finally realized that a film critic’s opinion was worth dog shit. No more. I am simply going to form my own opinion of any movie I am interested in seeing. And I refuse to be some mindless drone and accept the views of others simply because it is the in-thing to do.

The idea that we are supposed to be accept that the Marvel or MCU films are better than the DCEU films, because many film critics or movie fans say so is irrelevant. It is irrelevant, because their views are matters of opinion. Preference. I do not accept this view "numbers matter" regarding the artistic quality of a film, because I do not share it. I have watched a lot of comic book movies in my time. From my perspective, only my opinion of an individual movie count. I do not care whether any those movies are based upon the titles of Marvel, DC Comics or any other comic book company that exists. And considering that art and entertainment are subjective in the end, what is the point in declaring that MCU films are better or that DCEU movies are better? It seems like a waste of time to me. I think we all should focus on which individual movies that appeals to us and not bother on which company makes the better films.

Warner Bros./DCEU is scheduled to release two movies in 2017. Disney/MCU has scheduled three to be released. I plan to see all five movies this year. And I will be damned if I pay attention to any film critics or moviegoer . . . until after I have seen these movies. Regardless of who performs better at the box office, I am the one who will decide which films I want to see and which ones I want to buy, regardless of whether they came from DC Comics or Marvel.

How Iron Man Ruined “CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR″ For Me

HOW IRON MAN RUINED "CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR" FOR ME

I am so disappointed with Marvel. And I am especially disappointed with its latest entry for the Marvel Cinematic Universe - namely"CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR". I never thought I would be so disappointed with a Captain America film, considering how much I loved "CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER" and especially "CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER". 

As for "CIVIL WAR", I found it disappointing. Worse, I left the movie theater feeling unusually angry. And a great deal of my anger was focused on Tony Stark aka Iron Man’s role as the movie’s co-lead, which the writers had allowed to nearly dominate the film. Someone on the TREK BBS forum had pointed out that "CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR" had sewn up the plot lines left dangling from "THE WINTER SOLDIER". And the movie did so . . . WITH BAD WRITING! 

"CIVIL WAR" started with a flashback of Tony’s parents getting killed in 1991. The screenplay tried to make a mystery of it, but even a dummy would have known who was the killer. 
Steve’s romance with Sharon Carter was rushed, because the Sokovia Accords story line and Tony’s man pain made it impossible for the screenwriters to do justice to it. Now, we have fans demanding that Steve become a bisexual, so that he can have a romance with his old buddy, Bucky Barnes. One, I cannot believe that these fans are so unwilling to see how badly written that Steve and Sharon’s romance was that they would rather he become a bisexual. Really? Because the screenwriters had failed to follow up the promise of Steve and Sharon? And two, I find it ironic (or not) that they would not consider Steve having a romance with Sam Wilson, who is African-America. 

Speaking of Sam and Bucky, I noticed that their relationship was never really explored. Instead, the movie presented their rivalry over the role of Steve’s "best friend" in a series of silly comedy routines in which they are mildly hostile toward one another. The movie spent 10 to 15 minutes showing how Tony Stark recruited Peter Parker (who really had no business being in this movie) for Team Iron Man. They could have saved this first meeting in MCU’s upcoming "SPIDER-MAN" movie. Yet, "CIVIL WAR" failed to explain or show why Scott Lang and Clint Barton had decided to side with Steve. 

Zemo’s whole revenge plot was all about Tony finding out that Bucky, as the brainwashed Winter Soldier, had killed his parents in order to break up the Avengers for what happened in Sokovia. Again, it became all about Tony. The worst aspect of all of this is that Marvel ended Steve and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s conflict with HYDRA in such a weak manner. The studio ended it on "AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D." - with Phil Coulson and Glenn Talbot coordinating a series of bombing on HYDRA bases . . . off screen. I found that incredibly pathetic. Someone on Tumblr had pointed out that Steve Roger’s personal arc in "CIVIL WAR" had been weakened by the screenwriters’ unnecessary focus on Tony Stark. After seeing this movie, I heartily agree. What is really sickening about this is that Marvel Studios came up with the idea to focus the Civil War arc in a Captain America movie in order to lure Robert Downey Jr. into another Marvel film. 

You would think after the box office successes of movies like "CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER" and"GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY" that this idea was unnecessary. But apparently, Marvel thought otherwise and decided to shove an Avengers film into a Captain America movie . . . all because they could not do without the increasingly overrated Robert Downey Jr. And because of this decision, I have now developed deep contempt toward Marvel Studios.

Top Ten Favorite Movies of 2015

Below is a list of my ten favorite movies of 2015. Since my movie attendance was pretty low during that year, I missed a great deal of films. (List subject to change in near future): 


TOP TEN FAVORITE MOVIES OF 2015



1. "Jurassic World" - In the fourth movie for the JURASSIC PARK franchise, a new dinosaur created for the Jurassic World theme park goes amok and creates havoc. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the movie starred Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.





2. "SPECTRE" - Daniel Craig returned for his fourth movie as British Agent James Bond in which the late "M" (portrayed by Judi Dench) reaches out from the grave to send him on a mission to go after a sinister organization behind his former nemesis, Quantum. Sam Mendes directed.





3. "Ant-Man" - Convicted thief Scott Lang is recruited to become Ant-Man for a heist in this new entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Peyton Reed, Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily and Michael Douglas starred.





4. "The Hunger Games: Mockinjay - Part 2" - Francis Lawrence directed this fourth and last entry in "THE HUNGER GAMES" movie franchise, an adaptation of the second half of Suzanne Collins' 2010 novel. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth starred.





5. "Tomorrowland" - Brad Bird directed this imaginative tale about a a former boy-genius inventor and a scientifically inclined adolescent girl's search for a special realm where ingenuity is encouraged. George Clooney, Britt Robertson and Hugh Laurie starred.





6. "Far From the Madding Crowd" - Thomas Vinterberg directed this surprisingly satisfying adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1874 novel about a young Victorian woman and the three men in her life. Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Tom Sturridge and Michael Sheen starred.





7. "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." - Guy Ritchie directed this adaptation of the 1964-1968 television series about agents for the C.I.A. and KGB working together to fight neo-Nazis in the early 1960s. Armie Hammer, Henry Cavill and Alicia Vikander starred.





8. "Bridge of Spies" - Steven Spielberg directed this account of the 1960 U-2 Incident and the prisoner swap that followed. The movie starred Tom Hanks and Oscar winner Mark Rylance.





9. "Kingsman: The Secret Service" - Matthew Vaughn directed this adaptation of Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar's 2012 comic book, "The Secret Service". The movie starred Colin Firth, Taron Egerton and Samuel L. Jackson.





10. "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" - Earth's Mightiest Heroes are forced to prevent an artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner from destroying mankind. Joss Whedon wrote and directed this second AVENGERS film.





Honorable Mention: "The Hateful Eight" - A motley group of stagecoach passengers find refuge at a stage station during a blizzard in the Wyoming Territory. Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Oscar nominee Jennifer Jason-Leigh and Walton Goggins starred.