Infinity War War Machine/Rhodey... Like or Don't Like?

[SPO2 Dalisay]

Maybe if they had more scenes of him kicking butt outside of the armor. Or maybe yelling at his subordinates. Or something detailing of his military career or what life he has when he's outside of the uniform.

I'm not sure if they cared at all or maybe WM really is just a sidekick.

The big complaint the MCU had was that many villians were a mirror image of the hero. Spider-Man avoided that trap in Homecoming. In War Machine/Rhoady the sidekick is a gray mirror image of the hero. From his power set being a gray Iron-Man armor with an external gun. To his straight man to the billionaire philanthropist playboy.

In this age to see a screaming Colonel would be weird. I would think that how did he make it past Captain without getting RIFF'ed out of the service. USAF Colonels might still fly missions but Chuck Yeager can't make rank anymore. Those days are long gone.

Howard imo was alot more believable than Cheadle. Howard had more of an intimidating presence to him, where you could believe that he has had extensive military service. Whereas Cheadle just comes off as a sarcastic friend of Starks.

I saw it the other way, Col Rhodes, both of them, were Mister Clean to me. The type of guy who makes higher ranks in a 21st century US Military. the actors may be about the same age, but that extra 4 years that Don Cheadle carries just makes him seem too old for an active USAF Colonel. Since we are coming up to the tenth anniversary I guess there is not much we can do about that.

As a disabled veteran going forward is a good story, but it may be just wasted with magic Stark and maybe Wakandan tech in order to get another flying suit into the battle scenes..

 

[KevTravels]

The big complaint the MCU had was that many villians were a mirror image of the hero. Spider-Man avoided that trap in Homecoming. In War Machine/Rhoady the sidekick is a gray mirror image of the hero. From his power set being a gray Iron-Man armor with an external gun. To his straight man to the billionaire philanthropist playboy.

In this age to see a screaming Colonel would be weird. I would think that how did he make it past Captain without getting RIFF'ed out of the service. USAF Colonels might still fly missions but Chuck Yeager can't make rank anymore. Those days are long gone.



I saw it the other way, Col Rhodes, both of them, were Mister Clean to me. The type of guy who makes higher ranks in a 21st century US Military. the actors may be about the same age, but that extra 4 years that Don Cheadle carries just makes him seem too old for an active USAF Colonel. Since we are coming up to the tenth anniversary I guess there is not much we can do about that.

As a disabled veteran going forward is a good story, but it may be just wasted with magic Stark and maybe Wakandan tech in order to get another flying suit into the battle scenes..

Cheadle may be 54, but he's not playing Rhodey as 54. I'm sure the character is in his 40's. Maybe it's a case of him preferring to be a field colonel rather than sitting behind the desk as a general or so.

I do wish we don't have the disability glossed over. It def adds to his character.

 

[Aximili86]

Yeah, both Howard & Cheadle are fine in their own ways, I always wished they went with a more comics-y Rhodey since the start. Counter Stark a little more, have him more of this gruff, snarling/barking military hardass. Almost like Thunderbolt Ross in TIH, just more of a moral code.

Someone like Michael Jai White probably would have nailed a more comics-Rhodey take.

 

[MaceB]

They need to develop him more in order for me to care. Why is he in the service? What drives him? Is he the best at something? What are his weaknesses? At this point, War Machine is more of a prop than a character to me. If his character were to die, I wouldn't really care, because they haven't given me a reason to, except for the fact that he's friends with Tony. I'd feel bad for Tony if something happened to WM, but I wouldn't feel bad for WM himself.

 

[SPO2 Dalisay]

They need to develop him more in order for me to care. Why is he in the service? What drives him? Is he the best at something? What are his weaknesses? At this point, War Machine is more of a prop than a character to me. If his character were to die, I wouldn't really care, because they haven't given me a reason to, except for the fact that he's friends with Tony. I'd feel bad for Tony if something happened to WM, but I wouldn't feel bad for WM himself.

I wouldn't care because it was teased in the Civil War trailers. That he may already be combat ready, depending upon the time jump from Black Panther to Thanos seems like cheating the drama of his being shot down

 

[KevTravels]

They need to develop him more in order for me to care. Why is he in the service? What drives him? Is he the best at something? What are his weaknesses? At this point, War Machine is more of a prop than a character to me. If his character were to die, I wouldn't really care, because they haven't given me a reason to, except for the fact that he's friends with Tony. I'd feel bad for Tony if something happened to WM, but I wouldn't feel bad for WM himself.

^THIS. THIS. THIS. THIS.

He literally is written as one-dimensional as possible. It's as if the writer's don't care beyond that he happens to be a sidekick from the comics.

Maybe they didn't want to overshadow Stark/Iron Man. But they really have 0 fan love for WM after how they've written Rhodey in the films.

Honestly his appearance in CW was the only time I cared for him. And that's quite sad really. He def seems ignored by the other Avengers.

I can't imagine they are effectively capturing the comic book character correctly.

 

[KevTravels]

Yeah, both Howard & Cheadle are fine in their own ways, I always wished they went with a more comics-y Rhodey since the start. Counter Stark a little more, have him more of this gruff, snarling/barking military hardass. Almost like Thunderbolt Ross in TIH, just more of a moral code.

Someone like Michael Jai White probably would have nailed a more comics-Rhodey take.

Great screen presence and very physical, but not the best actor. Then again, the character is written so thinly that White def could have did okay with it.

Shame for Cheadle. Dude is really talented.

 

[ctsketch]

^THIS. THIS. THIS. THIS.

He literally is written as one-dimensional as possible. It's as if the writer's don't care beyond that he happens to be a sidekick from the comics.

Maybe they didn't want to overshadow Stark/Iron Man. But they really have 0 fan love for WM after how they've written Rhodey in the films.

Honestly his appearance in CW was the only time I cared for him. And that's quite sad really. He def seems ignored by the other Avengers.

I can't imagine they are effectively capturing the comic book character correctly.

Thanks god some of the other sidekicks are being handled better than him like Sam and Hope

 

[Zant]

Thanks god some of the other sidekicks are being handled better than him like Sam and Hope

Sidekicks ranking

Sam>Hope>Winter Soldier>Ned>>>>>.Rhodey>>Wong>>Warriors 3.

 

[KevTravels]

Sidekicks ranking

Sam>Hope>Winter Soldier>Ned>>>>>.Rhodey>>Wong>>Warriors 3.

Ah dude, really after Ned?

Is Wasp really a sidekick though?

 

[Zant]

Ah dude, really after Ned?

Is Wasp really a sidekick though?

More of a glorified sidekick. We will know for sure after we see Antman 2.

 

[parkerpete]

^THIS. THIS. THIS. THIS.

He literally is written as one-dimensional as possible. It's as if the writer's don't care beyond that he happens to be a sidekick from the comics.

Maybe they didn't want to overshadow Stark/Iron Man. But they really have 0 fan love for WM after how they've written Rhodey in the films.

Honestly his appearance in CW was the only time I cared for him. And that's quite sad really. He def seems ignored by the other Avengers.

I can't imagine they are effectively capturing the comic book character correctly.

Rhodey was pretty great in IM3. He reverted back to 'bland' in Civil War.

 

[KevTravels]

Rhodey was pretty great in IM3. He reverted back to 'bland' in Civil War.

why do you think that? He def seemed like he's no standout against the other Avengers despite being probably the 3rd or 4th most powerful (sans Thor/Hulk). He shouldn't be seen as Stark's right hand man. He should be his own in the organization. That military career should be a boost.

I just wish he stated for sure why he felt so strongly for the accords.

 

[parkerpete]

why do you think that? He def seemed like he's no standout against the other Avengers despite being probably the 3rd or 4th most powerful (sans Thor/Hulk). He shouldn't be seen as Stark's right hand man. He should be his own in the organization. That military career should be a boost.

I just wish he stated for sure why he felt so strongly for the accords.

He just seemed a bit more cocky and badass as Iron Patriot. And he had great chemistry with Tony in the action scenes. Like when he's trying to explain to Tony that he can't give him more ammo because the magazines to their guns aren't interchangeable.

(sure, it seems more than a little ridiculous that the world's most brilliant WEAPONS MANUFACTURER wouldn't know that, but it was still funny)

 

[KevTravels]

Looking forward to war Machine kicking some ASS

 

[chamber-music]

I feel like this film delivered one of Cheadle's best outings as War Machine.

Spoiler

His military experience is really put on show by how he calls the aerial tactics in Wakanda alongside Falcon.

Rhodey is also more laid back in this film. Going against orders and pranking Banner.

 

[Aximili86]

Didn't really think his actual characterization was anything too special, but was really happy to see them finally lean into the heavy-duty suit/ordnance stuff a little more here. Differentiates him from Iron Man, they should have done it from the start.

He's doing friggin' Vietnam-style bombing runs and stuff in Wakanda, it's seriously awesome. Big Gun Rhodey.

 

[Brutikus]

Post I4 I can see a re-cast for Rhodey would not be a bad idea.

 

[Kev4000]

Post I4 I can see a re-cast for Rhodey would not be a bad idea.

How Comes?

 

[Brutikus]

How Comes?

Cheadle looked way past 40's to me in IW.

Maybe also what flattened my impression was the fairly small part Rhodes has in IW.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

If Rhodes is in Avengers 4 (which will be the real climax) they aren't going to recast the part. I don't see the logic in doing it right then.

 

[KevTravels]

He is really showing his age. 54 years old. 10 years ago he was best pals with Clooney, Pitt and Damon. Feels weird to see him in such a one-dimensional role in a superhero film. But he does the best he can with what he's given.

 

[KevTravels]

I feel like this film delivered one of Cheadle's best outings as War Machine.

Spoiler

His military experience is really put on show by how he calls the aerial tactics in Wakanda alongside Falcon.

Rhodey is also more laid back in this film. Going against orders and pranking Banner.

It's amazing how he's far better utilized in Avengers films than in the Iron Man series.

I really enjoyed him in this.

 

[KevTravels]

Didn't really think his actual characterization was anything too special, but was really happy to see them finally lean into the heavy-duty suit/ordnance stuff a little more here. Differentiates him from Iron Man, they should have done it from the start.

He's doing friggin' Vietnam-style bombing runs and stuff in Wakanda, it's seriously awesome. Big Gun Rhodey.

I concur. Though I wish we got more dialogue about his injury or how he felt being reunited.

 

[BigThor]

Badass, now THIS is the War Machine from the comics.