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charloweenAvengers aka Avengers Assemble aka Marvel Avengers Assemble = happy-making
Everyone gets to snark, everyone gets moments of angst, everyone gets to look cool; I's a happy me.
My colleague (whose thesis is on 3D films) makes the point that 3D gives CG effects a kind of presence that you don't get with non-stereoscopic projection. Ten years ago this film couldn't have been made: the effects might've just been possible, but the industry comfort level probably wouldn't have been. Certain non-spoilery sequences would've been more about showing off the animation, rather than letting the animation bits serve the storytelling. And with 3D, the illusion of weight and depth helps integrate the elements and make it look cool.
And there was acting and pretty costumes and deadpan snark... and okay, some of the cynical quips didn't land quite right, and sure, it would've been nice if the female characters had spent any time together. And Whedon loves his close-ups (betraying all that time spent in TV), which thankfully isn't as claustrophobic as Peter Jackson's style because Whedon mixes things up with a medium shot or two.
Years ago I said I wouldn't believe that Whedon was directing an Avengers movie until I was sitting in the theatre, ticket in hand, watching the credits roll. (Let's face it: not an unreasonable statement.) And it's neat to see which of these Hollywood A-listers can spit out a Whedon!quip and have it land soundly.
Also (is this a spoiler? I mean, he's in the trailer): LOKI! Loki Loki Loki Loki. Loki. I enjoy how Hiddleston's glee at playing Loki spills over as Loki's glee at being Loki. And how he can mince around in a golden horned helmet and not look too ridiculous. Also (definitely a spoiler): that cuffs-and-gag thing at the end was a bit... kinky? The cuffs, sure. I'm down with restraining a prisoner for transport. But while I know Loki's voice is dangerous, he doesn't use it in this film. He has that spear/sceptre dodad to enslave people (object, not voice), the Hannibal Lecter scene with Black Widow ends without his clear victory, and the German crowd seems to be reacting to a threat of violence rather than verbal coercion. So why did Thor gag him? I ask you.
Also-also, while I'm hiding under this cut tag: Mark Ruffalo, and that scene where Banner confesses a suicide attempt? Yes. And the bit with Stark figuring out where Loki's going to set up his evil portal? Also yes, but in a different way.
I want to see it again, because there were lots of good moments I clocked but don't recall because I was carried away in waves of popcorn-munching glee. And to look for ~themes~ or whatever.
Even though I have (shame, shame) seen all the previous Marvel films in this cycle (how did that happen? I didn't, like, mean to) I don't think that's necessary for enjoying this one. I like how the film presumes its audience can follow muttered quips and fast dialogue. I like how it can throw in humanizing side jokes. I like a big dorky film about superheroes that knows it's a big dorky film about superheroes and doesn't feel the need to apologize.
Everyone gets to snark, everyone gets moments of angst, everyone gets to look cool; I's a happy me.
My colleague (whose thesis is on 3D films) makes the point that 3D gives CG effects a kind of presence that you don't get with non-stereoscopic projection. Ten years ago this film couldn't have been made: the effects might've just been possible, but the industry comfort level probably wouldn't have been. Certain non-spoilery sequences would've been more about showing off the animation, rather than letting the animation bits serve the storytelling. And with 3D, the illusion of weight and depth helps integrate the elements and make it look cool.
And there was acting and pretty costumes and deadpan snark... and okay, some of the cynical quips didn't land quite right, and sure, it would've been nice if the female characters had spent any time together. And Whedon loves his close-ups (betraying all that time spent in TV), which thankfully isn't as claustrophobic as Peter Jackson's style because Whedon mixes things up with a medium shot or two.
Years ago I said I wouldn't believe that Whedon was directing an Avengers movie until I was sitting in the theatre, ticket in hand, watching the credits roll. (Let's face it: not an unreasonable statement.) And it's neat to see which of these Hollywood A-listers can spit out a Whedon!quip and have it land soundly.
Also (is this a spoiler? I mean, he's in the trailer): LOKI! Loki Loki Loki Loki. Loki. I enjoy how Hiddleston's glee at playing Loki spills over as Loki's glee at being Loki. And how he can mince around in a golden horned helmet and not look too ridiculous. Also (definitely a spoiler): that cuffs-and-gag thing at the end was a bit... kinky? The cuffs, sure. I'm down with restraining a prisoner for transport. But while I know Loki's voice is dangerous, he doesn't use it in this film. He has that spear/sceptre dodad to enslave people (object, not voice), the Hannibal Lecter scene with Black Widow ends without his clear victory, and the German crowd seems to be reacting to a threat of violence rather than verbal coercion. So why did Thor gag him? I ask you.
Also-also, while I'm hiding under this cut tag: Mark Ruffalo, and that scene where Banner confesses a suicide attempt? Yes. And the bit with Stark figuring out where Loki's going to set up his evil portal? Also yes, but in a different way.
I want to see it again, because there were lots of good moments I clocked but don't recall because I was carried away in waves of popcorn-munching glee. And to look for ~themes~ or whatever.
Even though I have (shame, shame) seen all the previous Marvel films in this cycle (how did that happen? I didn't, like, mean to) I don't think that's necessary for enjoying this one. I like how the film presumes its audience can follow muttered quips and fast dialogue. I like how it can throw in humanizing side jokes. I like a big dorky film about superheroes that knows it's a big dorky film about superheroes and doesn't feel the need to apologize.
