skew_whiff (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
skew_whiff) wrote2012-04-30 06:45 pm
skew_whiff) wrote2012-04-30 06:45 pm
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Films what I have watched: The Avengers
So, I went to see the Avengers this weekend! And it was very good, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My non-spoilery thoughts are as follows: It was good, solid fun, which did a good job of carrying on the continuity from previous instalments in the shared universe while making it (reasonably) accessible to those who might not have seen all of it. The script does a really, really good job of fleshing out minor characters and making ones that might not be the easiest sell likable and compelling - I couldn't give the tiniest of fucks about any of the previous Hulk films, or really the character in general (at least in the comics), but everything about the set-up and the way Mark Ruffalo plays Bruce Banner works perfectly. Black Widow and Hawkeye are both excellent, and the script implies a lot of backstory between them without info-dumping all over the place. Agent Coulson, after having been in the background for years, unexpectedly gets a chance to shine.
The actual plot is not anything ground-breaking, but I've felt the same way about all the Marvel movieverse films that I've seen so far - they get away with it by being strong on character and doing a good job of actually making it feel like a comic brought to life without it being campy. I couldn't see a single weak point in the cast, but Tom Hiddleston does effortlessly out-do everyone else as usual.
Also, props to the costume designers for making Cap's suit cling to Chris Evans' backside like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth. It was slightly distracting, but certainly not in a bad way.
Okay, that's the stuff I can safely say. If you've seen it - or just don't mind spoilers - other thoughts and flailing around are under the cut.
- seriously, best. Hulk. Ever. I like that they had Bruce at a point where he'd worked through his angst a bit and was (mostly) settled, and that everyone's antsiness around him was a running joke.
Also, him and Tony being science bros was the cutest thing. Of all the things I was expecting to come out of this movie shipping (which wasn't anything, really, given that there's no Bucky this time round), it was totally not Tony/Bruce.
- talking of which, okay, now I finally understand why Robert Downey Jr. is such a big deal - that man has chemistry with everything in the room. I have got to go and watch the first Iron Man movie now.
- I was actually mildly disappointed in Cap, maybe because he didn't get enough screentime in my opinion, maybe because in the overarching plot arc he's still a bit fed-up at the temporal dislocation and I prefer him when he's in a good mood - but he had some wonderful moments. I'm pretty sure I clutched my face with glee when he seemed so delighted to have got that Wizard of Oz reference. I also for some reason really liked his "there's only one god, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't look like that"; I like it when superhero comics and movies acknowledge the straight-up weirdness of having mythological figures running around the place while conventional, modern religions still exist.
- unlike a lot of people, I'm not really attracted to Tom Hiddleston, not even when he's Loki, but I did appreciate that the film found another gratuitous excuse to dress him up in a nice dapper suit. I'm pretty sure I heard several sets of ovaries quietly burst into flames the moment he strolled down those steps.
- COULSOOOOON. ;_; I really should have expected this given it was scripted by Joss Whedon, and yet, once again, I fell hook, line and sinker for the old trick of "make 'em fall in love with the adorable sidekick and then kill him off at the end of the second act".
- The collective audience made the weirdest noise when Loki caught that arrow, somewhere between a gasp and a boo. It was amazing.
- Also, biggest laugh in the auditorium was when Hulk interrupted Loki's gloating by doing what he does best. It was a beautiful moment.
- I found it quite distracting that Tony never changed out of that Black Sabbath shirt. I'm told it's a running thing that Tony doesn't change his shirts, but still. He must've stunk.
Okay, spoilers over. I've no doubt forgotten a whole load here as well, but anyway. It was really good! I appear to have rediscovered some of my writing motivation! As soon as I move into somewhere where I can fit in a bookshelf, I'm totally buying more comics! Mission accomplished, Marvel.
...how long is it until Thor 2, again?
My non-spoilery thoughts are as follows: It was good, solid fun, which did a good job of carrying on the continuity from previous instalments in the shared universe while making it (reasonably) accessible to those who might not have seen all of it. The script does a really, really good job of fleshing out minor characters and making ones that might not be the easiest sell likable and compelling - I couldn't give the tiniest of fucks about any of the previous Hulk films, or really the character in general (at least in the comics), but everything about the set-up and the way Mark Ruffalo plays Bruce Banner works perfectly. Black Widow and Hawkeye are both excellent, and the script implies a lot of backstory between them without info-dumping all over the place. Agent Coulson, after having been in the background for years, unexpectedly gets a chance to shine.
The actual plot is not anything ground-breaking, but I've felt the same way about all the Marvel movieverse films that I've seen so far - they get away with it by being strong on character and doing a good job of actually making it feel like a comic brought to life without it being campy. I couldn't see a single weak point in the cast, but Tom Hiddleston does effortlessly out-do everyone else as usual.
Also, props to the costume designers for making Cap's suit cling to Chris Evans' backside like peanut butter to the roof of your mouth. It was slightly distracting, but certainly not in a bad way.
Okay, that's the stuff I can safely say. If you've seen it - or just don't mind spoilers - other thoughts and flailing around are under the cut.
- seriously, best. Hulk. Ever. I like that they had Bruce at a point where he'd worked through his angst a bit and was (mostly) settled, and that everyone's antsiness around him was a running joke.
Also, him and Tony being science bros was the cutest thing. Of all the things I was expecting to come out of this movie shipping (which wasn't anything, really, given that there's no Bucky this time round), it was totally not Tony/Bruce.
- talking of which, okay, now I finally understand why Robert Downey Jr. is such a big deal - that man has chemistry with everything in the room. I have got to go and watch the first Iron Man movie now.
- I was actually mildly disappointed in Cap, maybe because he didn't get enough screentime in my opinion, maybe because in the overarching plot arc he's still a bit fed-up at the temporal dislocation and I prefer him when he's in a good mood - but he had some wonderful moments. I'm pretty sure I clutched my face with glee when he seemed so delighted to have got that Wizard of Oz reference. I also for some reason really liked his "there's only one god, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't look like that"; I like it when superhero comics and movies acknowledge the straight-up weirdness of having mythological figures running around the place while conventional, modern religions still exist.
- unlike a lot of people, I'm not really attracted to Tom Hiddleston, not even when he's Loki, but I did appreciate that the film found another gratuitous excuse to dress him up in a nice dapper suit. I'm pretty sure I heard several sets of ovaries quietly burst into flames the moment he strolled down those steps.
- COULSOOOOON. ;_; I really should have expected this given it was scripted by Joss Whedon, and yet, once again, I fell hook, line and sinker for the old trick of "make 'em fall in love with the adorable sidekick and then kill him off at the end of the second act".
- The collective audience made the weirdest noise when Loki caught that arrow, somewhere between a gasp and a boo. It was amazing.
- Also, biggest laugh in the auditorium was when Hulk interrupted Loki's gloating by doing what he does best. It was a beautiful moment.
- I found it quite distracting that Tony never changed out of that Black Sabbath shirt. I'm told it's a running thing that Tony doesn't change his shirts, but still. He must've stunk.
Okay, spoilers over. I've no doubt forgotten a whole load here as well, but anyway. It was really good! I appear to have rediscovered some of my writing motivation! As soon as I move into somewhere where I can fit in a bookshelf, I'm totally buying more comics! Mission accomplished, Marvel.
...how long is it until Thor 2, again?