avengers!
Happy Free Comic Book Day!
So, last night, Awesome Husband and I and a group of friends--after spending the afternoon building robots (it was someone's birthday, okay, she wanted to) and eating cupcakes--went to see The Avengers. Which is stupendous. You should go see it. Now. I'll wait.
Anyway, here're some of my thoughts, in the order it occurs to me to write them down. Spoilers, so, don't read if you don't want to know!
1. YES.
2. Very distinctive Joss dialogue. (Thor, about Loki: "He's adopted.")
3. Joss also knows when NOT to employ dialogue. The silent beats are brilliantly effective.
4. I kind of want more Hawkeye backstory. I realize that's not the point of this movie, but there're still a lot of unanswered questions there.
5. Excellent subtle character development, WITHOUT any use of overly obvious signposts ("look, he's learned to be a team player!") to indicate this. Characters grow and evolve from their first meeting to their final battle, and that's simply shown by their actions, as we see them become a team.
6. Also, really lovely attention to everyone's essential characteristics: Steve is a natural leader and someone who will always jump in and try to save the civilians first; Tony is the flippant and flamboyant one but will also sacrifice himself, unhesitatingly, when he sees that it's necessary; Clint is quietly competent; Bruce is self-deprecating and yet has a spot-on sense of contained power...and all of them are equally compelling personalities.
7. Back to that final battle: I love the way that they really all are integral parts of the team. Everyone has something to do that matters for the ultimate outcome. And that sounds simple, but it isn't, and it's important.
8. AGENT COULSON WHY OH GOD THIS IS LIKE WASH ALL OVER AGAIN THANK YOU JOSS.
9. ...except I'm pretty sure he's not really dead. We never saw the body, and Nick Fury is a manipulative bastard.
10. Phil Coulson is the most endearing fanboy ever. (To Steve: "I watched you when you were sleeping...I mean I was present while you were unconscious...I mean it's an honor to finally meet you...")
11. Stay for the second bonus scene. Might be my favorite scene in the entire film.
12. We know how I feel about the Steve/Tony, and there's definitely some of that, but I'm conflicted, because I also quite like Pepper and seeing those domestic glimpses of her with Tony, even though they're short.
11. I want a little more Loki backstory. How/why did he enter into this arrangement in the first place? Maybe we'll find out in a sequel?
12. We only get Jane Foster mentioned in dialogue. Hmm. That's okay, she annoyed me in Thor. But there aren't many of the love interests in this film. Which is actually sort of refreshing; it's not about that.
13. The 3-D probably isn't necessary. Oh well.
14. Mark Ruffalo is an excellent Bruce Banner, honestly. I wasn't sure, and then he started talking, and he's perfect. I love every line of dialogue between him and Tony Stark, basically.
15. I want to go see this movie again. More times.
So, last night, Awesome Husband and I and a group of friends--after spending the afternoon building robots (it was someone's birthday, okay, she wanted to) and eating cupcakes--went to see The Avengers. Which is stupendous. You should go see it. Now. I'll wait.
Anyway, here're some of my thoughts, in the order it occurs to me to write them down. Spoilers, so, don't read if you don't want to know!
1. YES.
2. Very distinctive Joss dialogue. (Thor, about Loki: "He's adopted.")
3. Joss also knows when NOT to employ dialogue. The silent beats are brilliantly effective.
4. I kind of want more Hawkeye backstory. I realize that's not the point of this movie, but there're still a lot of unanswered questions there.
5. Excellent subtle character development, WITHOUT any use of overly obvious signposts ("look, he's learned to be a team player!") to indicate this. Characters grow and evolve from their first meeting to their final battle, and that's simply shown by their actions, as we see them become a team.
6. Also, really lovely attention to everyone's essential characteristics: Steve is a natural leader and someone who will always jump in and try to save the civilians first; Tony is the flippant and flamboyant one but will also sacrifice himself, unhesitatingly, when he sees that it's necessary; Clint is quietly competent; Bruce is self-deprecating and yet has a spot-on sense of contained power...and all of them are equally compelling personalities.
7. Back to that final battle: I love the way that they really all are integral parts of the team. Everyone has something to do that matters for the ultimate outcome. And that sounds simple, but it isn't, and it's important.
8. AGENT COULSON WHY OH GOD THIS IS LIKE WASH ALL OVER AGAIN THANK YOU JOSS.
9. ...except I'm pretty sure he's not really dead. We never saw the body, and Nick Fury is a manipulative bastard.
10. Phil Coulson is the most endearing fanboy ever. (To Steve: "I watched you when you were sleeping...I mean I was present while you were unconscious...I mean it's an honor to finally meet you...")
11. Stay for the second bonus scene. Might be my favorite scene in the entire film.
12. We know how I feel about the Steve/Tony, and there's definitely some of that, but I'm conflicted, because I also quite like Pepper and seeing those domestic glimpses of her with Tony, even though they're short.
11. I want a little more Loki backstory. How/why did he enter into this arrangement in the first place? Maybe we'll find out in a sequel?
12. We only get Jane Foster mentioned in dialogue. Hmm. That's okay, she annoyed me in Thor. But there aren't many of the love interests in this film. Which is actually sort of refreshing; it's not about that.
13. The 3-D probably isn't necessary. Oh well.
14. Mark Ruffalo is an excellent Bruce Banner, honestly. I wasn't sure, and then he started talking, and he's perfect. I love every line of dialogue between him and Tony Stark, basically.
15. I want to go see this movie again. More times.