223 replies to this topic

[garjones]

Yeah I thought it was the staff that was causing not just the Hulk but all of them to start arguing and bickering.

[Scott Wilkinson]

Yeah I thought it was the staff that was causing not just the Hulk but all of them to start arguing and bickering.

I thought it was clearly meant to be the case . . .

[GordonM]

Well, I enjoyed it, but don't think it's The Greatest Superhero Film Ever or anything like the hype would suggest. What story there is doesn't make much sense, although it is faithful to the essense of comic team-ups in that it's basically an excuse to get them all together and start punching. Acting is extremely variable (Johanssen was clearly cast for her jiggliness) and the likes of Hawkeye and Black Widow should've arguably been cut to allow some extra screen time for under-used characters like Thor and Captain America (who were both surprisingly 'flat' - where was the charm and energised purpose the former showed in his own film? Why was Cap so dull and relegated to supporting role?).

But, it was fun, and that's the most important thing for a film like this, after all. Some great action scenes, witty dialogue and hero moments (especially "I'm always angry"). As to be expected from Whedon it was really funny too, with Hulk once again getting the best moments (take that, Thor! That that, Loki!). I'm looking forward to seeing it again.

[Christian U]

Yeah, the plot was a bit generic, and there wasn't really a lot to it. I mean, the McGuffin was a true McGuffin and the bad guys except for Loki were non-descript. Luckily, that didn't bother me at all; the focus of this was the team, and I thought that Thor and Cap worked well enough (although it's true Thor was more charming in his own movie). Loved Black Widow and Hawkeye, and I think it's sort of important to have two human members to emphasise the superhuman-ness of the other guys (the Black Widow vs. The Hulk scene was pretty scary).

All in all, it was very much what I expected, with the team dynamics and the dialogue making it a thoroughly entertaining movie, in spite of some bits being very obvious.




My favourite scenes were Hulk's battering Loki, of course, and Loki trying his sceptre on Stark. "This usually works".

[garjones]

As to be expected from Whedon it was really funny too, with Hulk once again getting the best moments (take that, Thor! That that, Loki!). I'm looking forward to seeing it again.

On the Radio 5 film review with Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode they have a rule that any comedy should have at least 6 laugh out loud moments to be a success.

In my viewing of Avengers we got LOL moments from the audience on:

1. "Puny gods"
2. Cap giving instructions to the New York cop
3. The computer game on the helicarrier
4. Hulk punching Thor
5. "He's adopted"
6. A billionaire playboy genius philanthropist
7. I'm angry all the time

So it passed the comedy test while not being a comedy. Which isn't bad. I also laughed at the 'flying monkeys' and Cap getting the reference but I was alone there.

[Scott Wilkinson]

I also laughed at the 'flying monkeys' and Cap getting the reference but I was alone there.

No, had a chuckle at that . . .

[garjones]

No, had a chuckle at that . . .

I was alone at my screening but bear in mind that most people there have English as a second language and not all the same reference points. Clever clever dialogue often doesn't translate well which is why big effects movies do better internationally and a lot of comedy films do quite badly.

So Whedon did very well in getting those laughs working on a broad level.

[Dave Wallace]

My favourite scenes were Hulk's battering Loki, of course, and Loki trying his sceptre on Stark. "This usually works".

I'd forgotten about that one! That was great.

[Adam Balson]

On the Radio 5 film review with Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode they have a rule that any comedy should have at least 6 laugh out loud moments to be a success.

In my viewing of Avengers we got LOL moments from the audience on:

1. "Puny gods"
2. Cap giving instructions to the New York cop
3. The computer game on the helicarrier
4. Hulk punching Thor
5. "He's adopted"
6. A billionaire playboy genius philanthropist
7. I'm angry all the time

So it passed the comedy test while not being a comedy. Which isn't bad. I also laughed at the 'flying monkeys' and Cap getting the reference but I was alone there.

When I went to see it the audience were absolutely howling at the 'flying monkeys' but more him quietly saying 'I actually got that reference...' after. 'I'm angry all the time' got a few 'WOO! HELL YEAH's but not a single laugh and one of the biggest laugh's came from Loki's '...This usually works' and then Stark likening it to erectile dysfunction

I personally loved Stark constantly trying to make Banner Hulk out and when Cap gave Fury ten bucks.

[craggy]

I think the comedy will do a lot for the film's success. It was fun being around these characters, and seeing them interact. It wasn't lightweight, the film has some bits that a serious and dramatic, and action bits that make you go "woah!" but I can't think of an action film that's been this intentionally and enjoyably and just downright clean fun as this for years, maybe decades. All of the Marvel films have had bits and pieces, but with this one, Whedon and the cast revel in the silliness as much as they do the darkness and tension. It's something Joss perfected in Buffy, and has carried across to all of his other work, but this time he's had 4 other films to advertise his one, and millions of people are getting the chance to enjoy it too.

Now, everyone is talking about the comedy, but for sheer awe...the Helicarrier lifting off, and Loki's "send the rest" bits were probably two of the best. For great character stuff, The Black Widow gets a few bits and pieces, most notably her exchange with the de-programmed Hawkeye where she tells him that she knows exactly what it's like to undergo such a violation. They could make a whole Black Widow film and slot it in between shots of her looking at Clint in that scene.

[Arjan Dirkse]

most notably her exchange with the de-programmed Hawkeye where she tells him that she knows exactly what it's like to undergo such a violation.

Is that supposed to reference something from Iron Man 2, or her comics history? It seemed to come from nowhere. Or that line about Budapest? Is that supposed to mean anything to the audience? These things bothered me a little bit.

Overall, I liked it. Some of the banter was a bit unnecessary to me personally, and some of the actors were somewhat unconvincing, but it's not a big problem. I think the movie could have been even better if they'd allowed Iron Man to die in the end, or have his fate left uncertain with the possibility that he is a prisoner of Thanos or the Chitauri, but that's of course an impossibility with Iron Man 3 announced.

[craggy]

Is that supposed to reference something from Iron Man 2, or her comics history? It seemed to come from nowhere. Or that line about Budapest? Is that supposed to mean anything to the audience? These things bothered me a little bit.

budapest appears to simply be a thing thrown in there to show that these 2 have a history and have worked together in the past. the thing about being programmed, is, I assume, in relation to the Red Room program that made her The Black Widow: Soviet Super Spy that she was in the comics originally, and that's sort of covered in her talking about having once been a bad person and how Hawkeye saved her.

[Arjan Dirkse]

COULSON!

NOOOOOOOO!

Oh screw Coulson, I hated that dude. The only good scene he was in was his dying scene.

[Adam Balson]

Oh screw Coulson, I hated that dude. The only good scene he was in was his dying scene.

How dare you! He was a good man!

[Arjan Dirkse]

the thing about being programmed, is, I assume, in relation to the Red Room program that made her The Black Widow: Soviet Super Spy that she was in the comics originally, and that's sort of covered in her talking about having once been a bad person and how Hawkeye saved her.

Ah that's right, she did mention that earlier in the movie...was that when she was being interrogated in the beginning?

How dare you! He was a good man!

He was, but he was the kind of good man they put in movies so that you can secretly wish he gets killed by the bad man...

[John Mosby]

Widow relates most of tormented back-story in the mock-interrogation scene with Loki and references directly it with Hawkeye later - the opening scene in Russia is all about her getting info on an arms-trader.

Oh, by the way, international takings today - before US opens Thursday midnight.... is... whoooooooooooooooosh....$215million.

Pretty much guaranteed to be over half-a-billion international after the weekend!

[Arjan Dirkse]

Widow relates most of tormented back-story in the mock-interrogation scene with Loki and references directly it with Hawkeye later - the opening scene in Russia is all about her getting info on an arms-trader.

Ah yes that was it. That scene with Loki was great.

[Jacowboy (Jonathan)]

Well I chipped in for the record sales =P

And brought my mom to see it too, and she very much enjoyed it (except for Capt. America, for political reasons xD)...

But pretty much EVERYONE left the cinema with a grin on their faces after being absolutely amused for the duration. It is, not only awesome, but incredibly fun, and also very funny without the comedy getting jarring or out of place at any point.

Everyone laughed at the funny bits, everyone gasped at the amazing bits... I'd say Whedon did his job flawlessly because he created a movie that apparently ANYONE can enjoy... so that's quite a feat.

I won't go into the details as you've covered them all already, but I'll throw my bit and say that sadly I don't think that was an infinity gem... kinda big... but hey, why not =S

Also, I'm super excited that they succesfully introduced the whole "cosmic" side to the Marvel Universe... because now, well THANOS obviously... but I'm very very very hopeful of getting to watch a super awesome GOTG movie, and if we're lucky, Whedon will direct it... he would be awesome at making a Firefly-like flick but with Rocket Raccoon, Groot and Cosmo... how awesome would that be? ^^

So to sum it up... Awesome movie... may not be the best superhero movie or win an oscar, but it was a 100% pure good entertainment, and I don't ask for more. Now I'm really psyched at what the future movies will bring.

Oh and Batman's got a HUGE lot to live up to now

[garjones]

and when Cap gave Fury ten bucks.

Yes that got a chuckle too but I forgot about it.

[Jacowboy (Jonathan)]

Oh I also liked that they gave Hawkeye a "perfect pitch" kind of ability... it makes him a much more interesting character... at least that's a better skill than just shooting arrows. It worked very well in the movie too... I wonder if that'll translate into the books...