Assembly achieved

[tardis_stowaway]

I saw The Avengers this weekend.  This is the obligatory squee post:

SQUEEEEE! 

That's how you do an ensemble action film, folks.  Exactly like that.



-Can we have a Black Widow movie?  Pretty please?  Preferably with Hawkeye in it too, so I can decide if I ship them or just want an intense friendship?  I knew absolutely zero about either Natasha or Clint going in, not having read the comics, but this movie managed to give me all sorts of feelings about Natasha's blood-stained ledger and Clint's recovery from mind control. The combination of stone-cold badassery and hidden emotional vulnerability is a sure way to win my affection.  Also, I am glad that the only woman on the team got interesting character development that didn't just consist of having boobs. 

-I also have lots of unexpected feelings about Tony and Bruce as SCIENCE BROS.  Yes, good.  Science is fun, and it's great for a nerdy person to find someone who speaks their language fluently.  I kind of love that it's two of the characters who are real bruisers in their fighting modes who are also the tech geeks of the outfit.  Also, I think Tony's irreverent teasing was good for Bruce, who really didn't need everyone acting nervous and treating him like his emotional control was made of glass.

-Joss Whedon's lines and Robert Downey Jr.'s delivery are a match made in heaven.

-I really like Pepper Potts and wish she had more screentime. Tony's failed call to her ripped at my heart.

-I appreciated the way Loki here is definitely evil, but in his head he still has reasons for his actions, even if those reasons are adolescent brattiness about slights supposedly done to him. 

-I rolled my eyes at Thor and Iron Man fighting each other while ignoring Loki.  (Not at the writing, at the characters...that seemed like a dumbass posturing they would very much do.)  I call testosterone poisoning.

-The effects looked great, the fights were exciting and clear to follow, and in general the movie looked awesome.

-I find Captain America to be terribly white bread and dull, but his happiness at catching the flying monkey reference was hilarious and adorable.

-ENVER GJOKAJ WAS IN A FEW SECONDS OF THE MOVIE!  Yay!  Apparently Alexis Denisoff was an unrecognizable alien, I hear.  I am actually rather shocked that Joss managed a project with so few of his regulars.  Actually, I think it might be a fun exercise to make an alternate cast for the movie using actors who have previously appeared in Whedon projects.  Anyone have ideas? Nathan Fillion for Tony Stark?

-Damn, the entire cast of this movie is ridiculously attractive. 

-Overall, I am just super impressed with how the movie managed to handle the large ensemble cast, giving every one character development and moments to shine, while still keeping the plot zipping along with action and excitement. 



-I hope the success of this project gives Joss the clout to do whatever he wants most for his next project.

Comments

[redjaywrites.livejournal.com]

Nathan Fillion as Tony.
Summer Glau as Black Widow.
Enver Gjokaj as Clint.
Mark Shephard as Hulk.
Sean Maher as Thor.
Neil Patrick Harris as Steve.
Gina Torres Tom Lenk as Loki.
Alan Tudyk as Coulson.
Adam Baldwin as Fury.
Felicia Day as Pepper.
Anthony Stewart Head as Erik.

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

Oooh, interesting! I really like a lot of these, especially Enver as Clint. (I like Enver Gjokaj as anything, really.) Mark Shepherd initially surprised me, but the more I think of it the more I like it.

However, now that I've considered, I think my choice for Nick Fury is Gina Torres.

[mysticalchild_isis]

The original comicverse story of how Hawkeye joined the Avengers revolves around Black Widow (was a Soviet spy at the time. It was the 60s), and later, she joins up with them, too. But I agree that they should do a prequel movie with this origin story. It would be awesome.

Joss Whedon's lines and Robert Downey Jr.'s delivery are a match made in heaven.

Seriously. There should be more. Much more.

Did you not see Captain America? Because Steve is awesome and lovely, but he's kind of in angsty, angry "I lost my world and everyone in it" mode for Avengers.

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

I did see Captain America. I thought it was one of the weaker movies in this franchise. Steve's angst at losing his world was one of the more interesting things about him, but not enough. I know you're fond of him, but lacking all comic knowledge I just can't seem to give a more than half a damn about him. Sorry! Different strokes for different folks and all that. I think the flag-waving name is a turnoff for me.

[mysticalchild_isis]

Oh no, totally valid, I just wanted to be sure it wasn't just based on Avengers. And yeah, the comics add a lot of love. (if it helps, he's really not a flag waving type.).

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

Supposedly there are plans for a Black Widow movie. *fingers crossed*

Add to Enver Gjokaj and Alexis Denisof the blonde waitress who got all misty about Captain America on TV -- she was a guest star in Dollhouse (playing the girl who got downloaded as Caroline in "Omega"). And, hey, do Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner count as Whedon's people now? Hemsworth was in "Cabin in the Woods", and Renner guest starred as a psychotic vampire on "Angel". :D

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

Supposedly there are plans for a Black Widow movie. *fingers crossed*

Oooh! I will join you in crossing fingers, knocking on wood, etc.

Ah, I thought that waitress looked a bit familiar. Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner totally now count, though I think an actor needs to hit three Whedon projects to really be in the top tier.

[sahiya.livejournal.com]

I agree, it was loads of fun. Mostly I want Joss to do the next Avengers movie.

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

It would certainly be a great thing for the Avengers franchise to keep Joss involved, though I admit I love him best as a creator of television. Whatever he does on any size screen, I will see it.

[timemachineyeah.livejournal.com]

"ENVER GJOKAJ WAS IN A FEW SECONDS OF THE MOVIE!"

I flailed all by myself in the theater in a really open and noticeable manner and more than one person near me was confused by it, lol.

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

I flailed all by myself in the theater in a really open and noticeable manner and more than one person near me was confused by it, lol.

Ha, yeah. I think the work friend I went with was baffled by my sudden "oooooh!" sound.

[dark-aegis.livejournal.com]

I adored that movie so very much (have seen it twice already :))

I still believe that Fury is a manipulative b*st*rd and Phil Coulson is still alive (he's one of my favourite characters). The one liners were great (and "Puny God" is one of the best lines ever).

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

I adored that movie so very much (have seen it twice already :))


Yay! Good for you. I hope to see it again in the next week.

Fury is very much a manipulative bastard; that's part of why he's awesome. I am torn on Phil Coulson still being alive. On the one hand, he is awesome, and I want him in more movies. On the other hand, that death looked pretty permanent, and I'm generally not a fan of cheap retconning away of deaths that should have been permanent. Also, Whedon has killed characters I love in everything else he's done, and I sort of feel that Avengers ought to be included.