AVENGERS: Grade, Reviews, Discuss, DVD & Sequel **SPOILERS**

I don't know about a Wolverine/Cap connection. I do remember a story from the 80s or very early 90s about Nick Fury and Natasha both using a serum that was similar to Cap's serum, and needing to take a new dose every couple decades.

Anyway...

I gave it an A+, not meaning that it was perfect; I get an A+ with anything over 90%.

One thing that bugged me a few scenes were the Glocks used by SHIELD agents, particular scenes were Fury about to try to shoot down a fighter jet with a handgun, and anytime Natasha was shooting at anything. In the comics SHIELD always used some kind of lightweight blaster and you could imagine it being as powerful as the plot required. It was just too unlikely that Natasha was shooting Chitari down with a 9mm, these troops were supposed to be taking over the friggin planet, you should need more than a handgun. Something at least bigger looking with a bang like a .44 magnum, leave it to the viewer to imagine how much more powerful it was than a typical cop's gun.

The other thing was the filming of Cap's moves, it was much better done in his own movie, the CGI/cinematography in Avengers didn't convey his abilities nearly as well. Thinking of the scene where he is chasing down the spy just after Erskine was killed for example, it wasn't just the muscles, his moves really conveyed the idea of a superhero. In Avengers it came across a lot more blandly.

Thor need a better "moment", he was a generic Thor, compared to the other characterizations. Not that he needed another 15 minutes or anything, but just a couple of shots that gave him some feelings. Like keep the Jane Foster situation the same, but show him gazing silently at her picture for an extra second, let us imagine what he is thinking, and then move on.

The scenes in the beginning with Loki appearing and stealing the Cube were weak. In theory, SHIELD protected the installation from assault from outside, and the chaotic breakout from with should have been unplanned for, that's why it should have worked. That makes sense, it just wasn't really shown that well. The car chase was overdone, and if you were going to do it, give it more tension and suspense. Like the copter gets hit, Fury jumps, it was over too fast without really feeling that Fury was ever in that much danger. We needed to see and feel his stress in that moment.

Meanwhile, the way the end fight flowed from battle to battle without cuts, but just panning from one hero to the next was inspired, I loved that. I loved the Hulk and every scene Ruffalo was in, I won't repeat everything everyone else wrote, but I too want more Hulk. I'm not actually sure it would come across the same way in solo movie, because a lot of the best scenes were Banner playing against Stark, or Hulk playing against the other heroes, hopefully there would be supporting characters in a Hulk film that give Ruffalo someone to match against in the same ways.

Downey stole every scene that Ruffalo didn't, his encounter with Loki in the Stark tower was beautifully set up and executed. Loki/Hiddleston was superb throughout and will be hard to follow. The unspoken backstory with Widow and Hawkeye has left me wanting THAT movie.

I like the idea above of Coulson becoming Vision. Or being the first LMD. Which reminds me, I knew who the real fans were in the audience, the ones that got Tony's LMD reference.

 

I'm pretty sure they already teased the bad guy for Avengers 2.

This guy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanos

 

That was my biggest disappointment. Going in, Thor was the one I wanted to see the most. I really enjoy his solo movie and loved Chris Hemsworth in it. So to see him reduced to what he was in this movie was kind of disappointing.

 

Maybe there's more Thor on the DVD/BD, I've heard there's gonna be up to 30 min extended material.

Also, "Thor 2" late next year!

 

Yeah I'm pumped for the next round of movies from the MCU. Cap 2, Thor 2, Iron Man 3, and hopefully Ant Man. Should be exciting, all leading into Avengers 2.

 

I think someone asked about Whedonisms in the movie, I've got one...the space scenes were mostly silent, like in Firefly.

 

"Like sands through... "

I can't wait

 

Nah, save him for Avengers 3

 

The Avengers

My Grade: A+

----------------------------

For the last several years the movie arm of Marvel Comics has been building a cohesive world with the comic book characters they still have movie rights too making a gamble that those movies would prove successful with audiences enough to make a superhero team-up movie. It's really probably one of the biggest gambles a movie studio has undertaken further compounded by the fact the movie was put in the hands of an unproven movie writer and director (in spite of his legions of followers through his work on TV.)

Pretty literally four years in the making Marvel's The Avengers hit screens internationally last week and then in America this week and the pay off so far has been huge in terms of critical acclaim and revenue.

The movie teams up Iron Man (billionaire playboy industrialist Tony Stark wearing a powered suit of armor), Thor (an alien regarded on Earth as the Norse God of Thunder), Captain America (a World War II enhanced super soldier), The Hulk (a green, rampaging, monster) along with two, normal, humans Hawkeye (bow and arrow specialist soldier/assassin) and Black Widow (elite assassin) in order to take down an alien once regarded as the Norse God of Mischief Loki who has managed to acquire and harness the power of the Tesseract (an alien device of enormous power used by Red Skull in "Captain America" in his run for the world in that movie.)

A few weeks ago in our build-up thread I countered some complaints that the movie looked "generic" or "paint by the numbers" from the trailers by saying that we all pretty much know how the movie is going to play out and posted my theory on how it would go. An incredible threat faces the Earth, the various heroes are assembled to fight it but the various egos and specialties of the heroes causes more in-fighting that successes but an event causes them to rally together and come out victorious.

And, well, that's pretty much what happens. But what makes the movie so great is how all of those tropes are played out by the characters and the actors who play them and the way these actors work off one another. Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Bruce Banner (The Hulk) immediately connect by both being brilliant scientists, Tony's ego clashes with the solid soldier in Captain America and Thor is often regarded as untrustworthy since his adopted brother from Asgard is the one causing all of the trouble. The way these very different characters clash with one another and eventually find a way to work together is an amazing journey that leads to one hell of thrilling and satisfying show down as everyone brings their own talents to the party.

If there's one "complaint" it's that the mortal, non-super soldier, non indestructible, non powered suit wearing Hawkeye and Black Widow are hard to believe they survive the fight at during the movie's climax. While they certainly hold their own very well considering the odds (and what) they are up against it's hard to believe they'd survive when even a Norse God was struggling.

No matter, the movie is tons of fun and it's probably best helped by Producer, Writer and Director Joss Wheedon who brings his own unique style to this movie in a way only he can. No but him could make six very different people interact the way they do in this movie. This movie is also filled with plenty of Joss-isms and the witty banter and dialogue he can be known for.

Go see this movie. It's a MUST see. It's a must see several times. I've already plans to go see it again in 3D (just regular 2D this time out.) The movie will have you laughing, cheering and hooting. Great special effects and really just a great, great time. This movie is what Summer movies are supposed to be all about. Any "complaints" I'd have about this movie are negated by sheer awesomeness. I really have no reason to not give this movie a top grade.

There's a mid-credits bonus scene (after the "animated credits" but before the scrolling credits) as well as a post-credits bonus scene so stick in your seat.

A+ all the way.

 

Too late he's been teased.

 

I loved the movie and can't add anything that hasn't already been said. But I do have a comment/question about the Hulk though.

To me there seemed to be a disconnect between the way they portrayed the Hulk in his first appearance in the film compared to his second appearance. In the first appearance, he appeared to be an out-of-control monster, pissed off at everyone and everything in his path and could not be reasoned with.

In the second appearance, he seemed to be a rational person willing to follow orders and seemingly completely under control of Banner.

That just totally confused me. So what am I missing?

 

I know it's faithful to the comics, but that helmet/headdress of Loki's looked kinda dumb.

 

Well lets see

- We have Nathan Fillion cross promoting "Castle" and "The Avengers"



-Natham Fillion has worked with Joss Whedon in "Buffy" and "Serenity"

-Fillion has been rumored as a candidate for Hank Pym"


I wouldn't be surprised if he does get cast.

 

OK I saw it...I'm of two minds...its a great, fun action flick, seeing those heroes all at once leaping from my childhood comic book page was thrilling at times, but on a critical level it wasn't a great movie. So I'm left to wonder whether I should bother even being critical of such a movie...? Eh I think I'll let it go for the most part. A+ for fun, B- overall.

RAMA

 

Nathan could be great fun as Hank. I wonder who would be his Janet?

 

At the end of The Incredible Hulk, they seemed to be implying that Banner was learning how to take control of the Hulk.

 

He was being influenced by Loki.

From the moment Loki made eye contact with him the seeds were planted. You then saw Banner rub his eyes, that wasn't just eye strain. But just in case to reinforce and sell that we had the Black Widow interrogation of Loki where he reveals that play to her. Loki was keeping Banner from being in the same control you saw at the close of the film.

 

Moreana Baccarin? What too much?

 

Just a little. For some reason I was thinking of the Ultimate Wasp which meant a little more Asian. I guess they could go anyway they wanted be it 616 or Ultimate.

 

Kate Micucci?