The Avengers (Joss Whedon)

[number8]

People seem to be asking the Hulk question a lot.

[

Show Spoiler

My take on it is that Whedon's intention was to subvert the usual "I can control it THIS time" plot point and make it a twist. See, we were intentionally led to believe the whole time that when Banner goes Hulk, he can't do anything about it. That's why there's the running line of his "secret" to keep from going Hulk. We assume that when he went on a rampage on the Helicarrier, that's how he usually is. But everyone was under Loki's staff's influence at the time. Cap was ready to beat the shit out of Iron Man. Imagine what that did to Hulk. Separating Banner from the others right after that whole sequence prevented Banner from explaining that, so the others (and the audience) didn't realize until Banner rejoined them in Manhattan that, actually, he can totally control the Hulk.

]

Awesome that you liked it, Mara.

[Ezee E]

I'll have to look it up, but it's been a long whole since I've had this much fun at a summer movie. Perhaps since the first Iron Man? Not sure....

Anyways, this is by far, the best of the Marvel canon of movies. I really don't see how you can step back and do individual movies of each character now. They all gelled so well together. I think Ruffalo, Downey, and Johannson lead the way as being the favorites of the bunch. This speaks great about Johannson whose powers are pretty silly when next to Iron Man, Hulk, and Thor.

Action sequences were varied, had focus, and were actually thrilling. I still think Loki wasn't menacing enough, and his influence certainly wasn't as well established as it should of. This thread and lots of theater goers were confused over why Hulk was attacking Black Widow.

I look forward to what Thanos will bring, despite knowing nothing about him. He seems like an Asgaard version of the Hulk. What was actually going on at that asteroid?

[Rowland]

Reading up on Thanos, he sounds more like the equivalent of the X-Men universe's Apocalypse, which is to say he sounds nearly invincible. One of my friends cracked a joke about it, that at least the Avengers will have the Black Widow there to shoot him with her pistols.

Regarding the Hulk, I think a big part of it is the difference between Banner being agitated into becoming the Hulk against his will, versus him choosing to transform. The secret is that he's always angry, so it's all about willpower for him.

[Thirdmango]

One of my first comics as a kid was The Infinity Gauntlet so Thanos has long been a favorite of mine. I got super giddy.

I knew Whedon was good at making smaller characters look good but I was also quite surprised at how good ScarJo and even Hawkeye looked through out the film. Hawkeye for me and I'm sure many others has never been all that cool, in this he turned out to be really cool. I loved his quiver.

[Henry Gale]

Uurgh. It's so difficult to look at a 25-0 score, hear how awesome it is from all sides (this site, every other site, real life, TV shows, Twitter, etc.), learn how many records it's breaking at the box office, and then remember I have to wait until tomorrow at the earliest to see it.

At least this way I know I can't be disappointed.

[Morris Schæffer]

Colbie Smothers also had some action-girl cred, and she is so so pretty.

Colbie Smothers?! :lol:

[dreamdead]

One weakness to the film for me was the lack of narrative development for Hawkeye. Whereas at least Johannson gets one or two solid character beats, Renner is largely reduced to being a baddie, with the restraining scene being the only real bit of humanity that we're given. That is to say, Whedon never really transforms him into anything cool, unlike the other characters.

[number8]

Whedon says his original cut was 3 hours long. Promises that the DVD/Blu-ray will have 30 mins of deleted scenes.

[Wryan]

Colbie Smothers?! :lol:

In Mara's defense, that name is truly awful either way. Sorry Cobie.

[Ezee E]

Whedon says his original cut was 3 hours long. Promises that the DVD/Blu-ray will have 30 mins of deleted scenes.

This was the appropriate length to me. Although I am curious what was cut out.

[megladon8]

Just awesome.

I have had serious doubts about this film ever since it was announced. How could it possibly work? How could it be anything other than a colossal, incomprehensible mess?

Well, Whedon made it work. Better than I ever could have imagined.

I think the choice of Whedon to helm the project was perfect and I didn't really think of the logic behind it until watching the film and seeing how well balanced it was. Coming from a TV background - and more specifically, TV shows with ensemble casts - there couldn't have been a more logical fit for writer and director. He balanced the characters perfectly.

It didn't feel like Iron Man 3, or Captain America 2, or a third incarnation of Hulk. This was The Avengers, and everyone got their due.

The action was jaw-dropping, the humor incredibly well-timed and executed by every actor involved.

I can't remember the last time I had this much fun at the movies. Probably The Cabin in the Woods.

We need more Joss Whedon at the movies.

[ledfloyd]

[

Show Spoiler

Also, does Black Widow have any actual powers, other than that butt?

]

number8 is probably the one to ask but i think outside of being a badass martial artist she has a wolverine like ability to heal and not age. which could explain that butt.

Whedon says his original cut was 3 hours long. Promises that the DVD/Blu-ray will have 30 mins of deleted scenes.

want.

[megladon8]

Also, Agent Coulson.

[

Show Spoiler

I thought Clark Gregg signed on for, like, a million movies?

Did Nick Fury deceive the Avengers not only about the cards, but about his death itself? Did he survive?

]

[Pop Trash]

Uurgh. It's so difficult to look at a 25-0 score, hear how awesome it is from all sides (this site, every other site, real life, TV shows, Twitter, etc.), learn how many records it's breaking at the box office, and then remember I have to wait until tomorrow at the earliest to see it.

At least you won't have to sit on the stairs like me. My theater was beyond sold out yesterday and I even fandangoed dat shit.

[[ETM]]

That is to say, Whedon never really transforms him into anything cool, unlike the other characters.

I thought the whole roof sequence where he dodges enemy fire while standing in the open, firing arrows with pinpoint precision, while relaying tactical information to others was bone-chillingly cool and bad-ass.

[number8]

number8 is probably the one to ask but i think outside of being a badass martial artist she has a wolverine like ability to heal and not age. which could explain that butt.

She heals faster than most humans, but nowhere even close to Wolverine. She can break a leg and take off the cast and walk without crutches in a couple of days, things like that. She can't survive twenty swords to the stomach like Logan.

Also her slowed aging due to biotechnology thing was really just a fix to explain how a modern day character has a 50s Cold War origin, not to suggest she's immortal or anything like that. It's the same way the Infinity Formula serum was invented to justify Nick Fury still walking around all spry despite being a World War 2 veteran.

[MadMan]

Also, Agent Coulson.

[

Show Spoiler

I thought Clark Gregg signed on for, like, a million movies?

Did Nick Fury deceive the Avengers not only about the cards, but about his death itself? Did he survive?

]

My guess: [

Show Spoiler

is that Agent Coulson survived. What better way to get Iron Man all pissed off at Loki and willing to finally work with The Avengers?

]

My friend said the 3D was better than Avatar. Opinions on the 3D? Is there hope for conversions?

Nah its 3D isn't better than Avatar's, but I was surprised at how good it looked in 3D.

apparently everyone hates Spiderman 2. Oh well news to me. I loved it.

No, I like it a lot and I think its one of the best superhero movies of the past 10 years (which might not be saying much, though). My problem is that I don't love it since I don't like Spiderman. If I did a favorite superhero movies list that list would feature Unbreakable and Watchmen as my favorites of the 2000s. I'll admit I like The Dark Knight, but I'm a bit burned out on that movie.

[megladon8]

Did anyone else geek-gasm at that shot with Thor and Cap catching Mjolnir and the shield simultaneously?

Loved that.

There are so many little "ooo...cool!" moments in the movie.

I felt like I was watching a comic book with real actors. I don't think I've ever felt that (at least not this strongly) before.

Incredible.

[Morris Schæffer]

In Mara's defense, that name is truly awful either way. Sorry Cobie.

Well, she's Dutch. Not her fault.

[Morris Schæffer]

My guess: [

Show Spoiler

is that Agent Coulson survived. What better way to get Iron Man all pissed off at Loki and willing to finally work with The Avengers?

]

yeah, but if that's true it's tenuous at best. [

Show Spoiler

I'd have agreed if Coulson had been Pepper Pots, but it's a bit weird that It takes Coulson's demise to get Stark in the game at long last

]

[Morris Schæffer]

An unexpected side effect of seeing this smashingly cool movie, is that the past week I've been having a massive urge to buy Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3. And I'm probably going to cave. Goddammit, it's got Ghost Rider vs. hulk, hawkeye vs captain america, thor vs iron man, and many more marvelicious combinations. It even one-ups the movie by being a sort of wish-fullfillment by having Spider-Man part of the fray.

[Fezzik]

A theory I saw yesterday that has some merit.


[

Show Spoiler

Multiple times in the movie, the fact that Coulson is dating a cellist is mentioned. In the Marvel Universe, there was actually a cellist super-hero: The Scarlet Witch. She eventually married The Vision. Could Coulson be back with a different identity?

]

[Robby P]

This was certainly fun but didn't really stand out from most of the other Marvel movies in my mind. I wouldn't say I was disappointed but I was hardly blown away either. The best part of the movie was probably the Batman trailer, to be honest.

[slqrick]

A theory I saw yesterday that has some merit.


[

Show Spoiler

Multiple times in the movie, the fact that Coulson is dating a cellist is mentioned. In the Marvel Universe, there was actually a cellist super-hero: The Scarlet Witch. She eventually married The Vision. Could Coulson be back with a different identity?

]

That's the word on the street, and I'd be all for it.

[Watashi]

200.3 million opening weekend.

50% of its sales were 3D, but still.... damn.

No way Dark Knight Rises makes that much.