Mendelson's Memos: For those who wish to rant: The Avengers spoilers thread...

Thursday, May 3, 2012

For those who wish to rant: The Avengers spoilers thread...

It's just about 11:00pm, meaning that folks on the east coast will soon be getting out of the midnight screenings of The Avengers. Anyway, I've never done this before, but I'm officially opening the floor to those who comment regularly. I'm guessing 90% of my readers will have seen The Avengers by Sunday evening, so this is the spot to discuss the film in all its spoiler-filled glory over what may be a record-setting weekend. I may come back in the morning and add a few spoiler-y thoughts, but for now, it's your turn. Obviously if nobody comments I won't do this kind of thing again, so please don't be shy. What worked, what didn't? How was the theatrical experience, in terms of projection quality and the crowds? Anyone in costume? Any anecdotes? You get the idea. And with that, I hope you all had a good time and I'm off to bed...

Scott Mendelson

13 comments:

Tehani said...: The only thing I have to say is HA! For once the Aussies got to see a film FIRST! (came out here last Wednesday on 25 April) :) Was good though. Hulk, smash. :); May 4, 2012 at 12:39 AM
Christian Grundner said...: Seen it twice in 3D so far (in Austria) and will make the drive to Slovakia next week to see it in 2D. I really liked how clear the backgrounds were in 3D but in the action sequences I prefer 2D. There were no costumed people in the premiere I´ve been to but there were a few toys like a plastic Mjölnir in the audience behind us.

My question: Does Hulk speak? What does he say? About half the people I polled so far think he didn´t talk at all - just grunt.; May 4, 2012 at 12:55 AM
Liam_Ho said...: Did you miss it? The only notable line I remember from The Hulk himself was "Puny God" after throwing Loki around like a ragdoll.; May 4, 2012 at 1:35 AM
Unknown said...: Give me about 10hrs and I'll be back...; May 4, 2012 at 7:13 AM
Liam_Ho said...: They cut a whole scenes that dealt with Cap being in the present time, which was what the movie was going to originally focus a bit on. However it was too out of place and took the focus away from the whole team up aspect.

If you didn't enjoy the humor, then you don't like Whedon's work? Because a lot of the humor felt like his. While RDJ is doing his own Tony Stark thing.; May 4, 2012 at 9:53 AM
ACOD said...: Avengers delivered. I really enjoyed myself. The Galga joke was the hardest I have laughed in the theater in a few years.; May 4, 2012 at 4:00 PM
Erlend Lunde Holbek said...: Loved it. Huge Whedon fan, and his sense of dialogue and character really worked in this context.
Would have liked to see more Captain America in the stylistic bag, but I'm still more than pleased that the comedy from Iron Man, the villain and sense of threat from Thor and the tense, nervous energy of Incredible Hulk all survived in a very consistent common universe.
The second act feels kind of forced, but just like in The Hunger Games, when the narrative doesn't quite flow, the individual scenes still work.
The action scenes had scale and character, and I could follow them all logically and geographically.
We got a Joss Whedon death. One that was quick and relatively unsentimental and was never excused. That's very nice.
As someone who enjoyed both (!) previous Hulk movies, I still won't hesitate to say that the Ruffalo incarnation is the best one yet because he so clearly doesn't belong on this team and the film plays that up. Also shockingly good performance by Scarlett Johansson.
This is everything I hoped for from this movie. It's not very dark or grounded, and it's not fundementally cinematic, but I could easily see myself rewatching this many, many times.; May 4, 2012 at 8:54 PM
Scott Mendelson said...: I was lucky enough to see it at a press screening in LA the very night it opened in Australia. So in a way, I was seeing it on opening night.; May 5, 2012 at 6:46 AM
Scott Mendelson said...: I'm pretty sure Captain America is doing the Winter Soldier storyline while Iron Man 3 is doing Extremis. Both are well-regarded comic book arcs that lend themselves to smaller character drama with an 'out' to go bigger if the suits demand it. I would argue the opposite actually, that The Avengers was mostly irrelevant in the grand scheme of the Marvel movie universe, save for Coulson's death and what appears to be Tony Stark's engagement to Pepper Potts in the very last scene. I imagine the films will soldier on with the periodic 'time-out' in the form of an Avengers movie.; May 5, 2012 at 6:49 AM
Scott Mendelson said...: I laughed at the set-up, but wished they hadn't literally shown the guy playing the video game. It was funnier when merely implied (small criticism, I know).; May 5, 2012 at 6:50 AM
Scott Mendelson said...: Johansson is (I've theorized) like Anthony Hopkins, someone who is considered a 'very serious actor' who nonetheless is more-at-home in genre fare and pulp fiction as opposed to more prestigious dramas. Minority opinion - I thought she was at her funniest (and hottest) in The Spirit.; May 5, 2012 at 6:51 AM
ACOD said...: Its a two part joke, set up and payoff. When Stark first says it, I thought he was pointing to Cap, and I chuckled because it was absurd and Cap wouldn't know what Galga was, let alone ever be distracted. Then the scene ends and they show it was one of the background guys. I thought that made the joke. And I just like the premise that this guy is working for Shield and there are all these superheroes in the room discussing an alien invasion, and the guy at his console is bored playing Galga.; May 5, 2012 at 7:22 AM
corysims said...: Funny you mention Extremis because I don't read comics but before the first Iron Man picture hit, I read that one and fell in love with it. After seeing the first film, the characterization of that storyline and plot felt like a natural fit for Iron Man 2...in terms of Tony being a full blown futurist..."test pilot of the future" so I was hoping and praying that Iron Man 2 would go more Extremis.

I'm glad their doing some of it but I just feel, after Avengers and seeing everyone together, it just feels pointless to go back. Logically, I can't get past the notion that Tony should call his friends when he gets in deep shit....

I might think differently once I see the trailer to Iron Man 3 this December....; May 5, 2012 at 8:36 AM