"The Avengers" (SPOILERS)

[ClarkKent_DC]

We've discussed when people plan to see The Avengers (here), but we haven't discussed the movie itself! So let's rectify that!

 

I went last night to a midnight 3-D showing, so I'll go first. Thus, I can't use my usual disclaimer that I'll post without reading what everyone else has posted, but what the hey.

 

To begin:

• I loved it. I loved everything about it. And so did the audience; I haven't been to too many movies where the action on the screen evinced cheers and spontaneous applause, but it happened several times with this one. A job well done!
• This is less "The Avengers" and more "The Ultimates," but I'm not complaining.
• I liked how the movie struck a balance; there are six members of the team -- you know who -- plus key supporting players Agent Coulson, Maria Hill and, of course, Nick Fury, as well as the villain, Loki, but the movie doesn't seem crowded. Some might argue that it's a bit too long; I almost always think that any given movie I'm watching could be a half-hour shorter. But this one feels right, because it had enough quiet moments to let the characters be.
• One of the best such moments was Tony Stark and Bruce Banner teaming up to track down Loki. It went like one would expect: Two brilliant minds admiring each other's prowess and striking up an easy rapport because they alone in the group understand all the technobabble they spout.
• Reinforced later when Iron Man has to fix the broken engine on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier (Hey! it's the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier!), and tells Captain America to look at the access panel -- and Cap doesn't have the foggiest notion of what it is he's looking at. That's one of my Scenes I Always Wanted to See in movies. Cap's not stupid, but c'mon -- who would know at a glance what all those wires and diodes mean?
• Another thing that was good was the humor. There was more of it than in most movies of this kind, and it was welcome, especially when it was low-key.
• Like when Steve Rogers gives Nick Fury a ten-spot.
• Tom Hiddleston as Loki was pitch-perfect.
• Funny thing: We establish early on that the Black Widow is Russian because she speaks it during her first scene: She's tied to a chair during an interrogation getting smacked around by thugs -- but believes she's in charge. Which she is, as she demonstrates moments later. But whenever she speaks English, she sounds like an American.
• On the other hand, Chris Hemsworth's Australian accent goes a long way to establish Thor as an otherworldly being.
• With all the strength on display from Thor, Iron Man and The Hulk, and the talent and skill displayed by Captain America and the Black Widow, Hawkeye really seems to be the odd man out. I have to admit, seeing a guy with a bow and arrow, in these circumstances, really does seem silly and hard to swallow. Not to mention: What do you do when you run out of arrows? How many arrows can a quiver hold, anyway? Thirty? Forty? Fifty at the most?
• The Black Widow's greatest power, however, seemed to be looking hot in a skintight leather catsuit. The audience cheered in approval.
• This being a Marvel story, how could we not have a moment where the heroes fight with each other and then team up? Cue Iron Man vs. Thor!
• I liked how they held back the first appearance of The Hulk. I never saw Ed Norton's movie, and I'm not familiar with Mark Ruffalo, but he did a great job conveying a man always trying to hold his rage in check and masking his fear of what happens if he doesn't with affected humbleness and humor.
• One reviewer's criticism I have to agree with: The first time Banner becomes The Hulk, he's a mindless beast out to get the Black Widow and smashing everything in sight, but at the end, he joins the battle totally doing what the Avengers want, with no explanation for how he can behave himself.
• Agent Coulson! He runs totally counter to the typical movie government agent; he is not flashy and flamboyant; he is not a grim martinet; he is not a jerk flaunting his authority. He is a genuinely good man, a true civil servant, efficient, diligent, and quite brave.
• What's Robin Scherbatsky doing here?
• One of the best moments: Loki faces off against The Hulk, shouting at him: " ENOUGH! You are, all of you, beneath me! I am a god, you dull creature, and I will not be bullied by a... " The Hulk's response is PRICELESS!
• It takes a true diehard comics fan to know who that was in the end-credits bit. Lucky for me I am one; I doubt any moviegoer who isn't would have the slightest idea what that scene is supposed to mean.

 

Such great lines:

• "I'm interviewing this arms dealer and he's giving me everything."
• "I'm going to put you on hold."
• "I'm always angry."
• Captain America to Tony Stark: "Big man in a suit of armor. Take that off, what are you?" Stark's answer:  "Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist." Captain America's rejoinder: "I know guys with none of that worth ten of you."
• "You and I remember Budapest very differently."
• "I recognize the Council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid-ass decision, I've elected to ignore it."
• "... and Hulk: SMASH!"
• Thor: "Have a care how you speak. Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard. And he is my brother." The Black Widow: "He killed eighty people in two days." Thor: " ... He's adopted."
• Loki: "I have an army." Tony Stark: "We have a Hulk."
• " 'Phil'? His first name is 'Agent.' "

Thems for starters ... 

[Doctor Hmmm?]

Finally -- FINALLY -- got to see this today.  I didn't [swoon] love [/swoon] it, but I sure as heck liked it alot, for all of the reasons others have mentioned above.

True to her word, The Lovely and Talented went with me, and agreed that she enjoyed it (especially the humor).  Given that she's a complete non-geek and remarkably intelligent and perceptive (despite her notable lack of taste in spouses), that's a very good sign.

Smile of the Day:  After the show, we were walking through the mall (to which the theater is attached).  As we walked past the food court, she glanced at the menu for a Lebanese place, nudged me and said "We should get some shawarma."

[Emerkeith Davyjack]

...Now that MIB III has surpassed it at the turnstiles ( Okay , I suppose there's rather few movie the-ay-ters - in the New York City subway system , perhaps ????? - with turnstiles ) , will any media note that MIB IS a Marvel property ?????????

[Wandering Sensei: Moderator Man]

I have seen the movie twice but still haven't seen the chicken schwarma scene at the end. I have to wonder if that whole scene didn't boost the sales of chicken schwarma.

Doctor Hmmm? said:

Finally -- FINALLY -- got to see this today.  I didn't [swoon] love [/swoon] it, but I sure as heck liked it alot, for all of the reasons others have mentioned above.

True to her word, The Lovely and Talented went with me, and agreed that she enjoyed it (especially the humor).  Given that she's a complete non-geek and remarkably intelligent and perceptive (despite her notable lack of taste in spouses), that's a very good sign.

Smile of the Day:  After the show, we were walking through the mall (to which the theater is attached).  As we walked past the food court, she glanced at the menu for a Lebanese place, nudged me and said "We should get some shawarma."

[Captain Comics]

Press Release

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS NAMED ‘BEST FILM, TELEVISION, CELEBRITY OR ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM OF THE YEAR’

AT 2013 LIMA LICENSING EXCELLENCE AWARDS

 

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Line Also Honored As LEGO Named `Best Character or Toy Brand Licensee of the Year’ for its Marvel Collection

 

LAS VEGAS – JUNE 19, 2013 – It was a heroic win at the 2013 LIMA Licensing Excellence Awards for Marvel Entertainment, LLC as its Marvel’s The Avengers walked away with “Best Film, Television, Celebrity or Entertainment Program of the Year.” The prestigious award recognizes the entertainment property that has had the most profound impact on the licensing community in retail and the general market place. This award follows a series of accolades for Marvel in the past several months marked by a “Best Boy’s Toy” award for Marvel and Hasbro’s Web Shooting Spider-Man at the U.K. Toy Fair and a nomination for Marvel’s The Avengers as “Property of the Year” at the Toy Industry Association’s 2013 American International Toy Fair.

 

“This award is a great honor and confirms the fact that The Avengers’ complex blend of characters create an exciting brand opportunity across all licensing platforms,” said Paul Gitter, senior vice president, licensing, Marvel at Disney Consumer Products. “This was a banner year for the Marvel team and it’s not even over yet.”

 

In addition to the program of the year win, Marvel was also honored in the licensed toy award category as LEGO was named “Best Character or Toy Brand Licensee” for its Marvel Super Heroes collection.  The LIMA Licensing Excellence Awards are the licensing industry’s most prestigious recognition of creativity and performance.