Avengers Movie Thread

[JimN]

Box Office Shocker: 'Avengers' Opens to Record Shattering $200.3 Million

Joss Whedon's The Avengers has set a new bar in opening to a walloping $200.3 million at the domestic box office, the largest debut ever and kicking of summer 2012 in high style.

The Avengers -- marking a major victory for Disney and Marvel Studios -- easily dethroned Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which opened to $169.2 million last summer, then the largest number in history.

Overseas, where Avengers opened a week ago, the tentpole has earned $441.5 million for a stunning worldwide total of $641.8 million -- already surpassing the lifetime totals of Captain America: The First Avenger ($364 million), Thor ($449 million), Iron Man ($585 million) and Iron Man 2 ($624 million).

The 3D tentpole is now positioned to reach $1 billion in global grosses.

I hope Joss has one hell of a cool personal project he wants to film because right now, he should be able to write his own ticket.

[jdudley]

marvel really needs to release a new Infinity Guantlet hardcover ASAP. Brilliant thing about that after credits scene is that it could get some non-readers interested in learning more about this new villain--and that search will lead them to the Infinity Guantlet

[DGoodhart]

Loved it to death... full review right here.

[Farrell]

Box Office Shocker: 'Avengers' Opens to Record Shattering $200.3 Million

I hope Joss has one hell of a cool personal project he wants to film because right now, he should be able to write his own ticket.

I'd be surprised if he didn't have a whole bunch of 'em.  I'll take a look at whatever he does, but selfishly, I hope he can leverage this success into more Firefly somehow.

[JimN]

I'd be surprised if he didn't have a whole bunch of 'em.  I'll take a look at whatever he does, but selfishly, I hope he can leverage this success into more Firefly somehow.

LOL! I'd be okay with that, although I'd love to see more Dollhouse too. I had the feeling a lot of great ideas were probably left on the table when that series had to rapidly come to a close.

Ideally, it would be cool to see him wow us with something better than all of his past efforts!

[Farrell]

LOL! I'd be okay with that, although I'd love to see more Dollhouse too. I had the feeling a lot of great ideas were probably left on the table when that series had to rapidly come to a close.

Ideally, it would be cool to see him wow us with something better than all of his past efforts!

I've been contemplating Dollhouse.  It's on Netflix streaming.  I've heard it takes a while to get to the good stuff...you'd recommend it, Jim?

[DGoodhart]

I've been contemplating Dollhouse.  It's on Netflix streaming.  I've heard it takes a while to get to the good stuff...you'd recommend it, Jim?

Well, if Jim doesn't, I certainly will... I thought Dollhouse was just terrific!

[JimN]

I've been contemplating Dollhouse.  It's on Netflix streaming.  I've heard it takes a while to get to the good stuff...you'd recommend it, Jim?

Yes, I definitely recommend it but you may find the first 3 or 4 episodes somewhat painful, especially the episode involving a pop star. The series starts off feeling more like Fantasy Island than something that's going be really cool and it turns out that's because the network wanted some "stand alone" stories before the series delved too far into it's own mythology. However, as the show moved forward, I began to realize how unusual (for television) some of the themes and ideas it was exploring were and how rich the territory ahead could be.... it's not the greatest show ever or anything but I found it very entertaining and thought-provoking.

Give it a shot. I think you will ultimately feel rewarded.

PS.) Karma to Darren for recommending it too!

[evaD]

Just saw it with my boys. Loved it! I think that was one of the most fun superhero movies I have seen in a very long time.

[Farrell]

Well, if Jim doesn't, I certainly will... I thought Dollhouse was just terrific!

Give it a shot. I think you will ultimately feel rewarded.

Thanks, guys!

[Thermite (Iz Wilkison)]

... I hope he can leverage this success into more Firefly somehow.

From your mouth to God's ears...

[steve bryant]

Add me to Jim and Darren in recommending Dollhouse. Some of the early episodes are a chore to watch—the network meddling of the early shows seems very apparent by the time you reach the end of the series—but even those episodes are referenced and integrated in the later stories, as well.

When I compare Whedon and (in my mind) his closest peer, JJ Abrams, I see Joss as doing more character-driven material (Buffy, Angel, Firefly) and JJ producing more concept-driven stuff (Alias, Lost, Fringe). Dollhouse always felt like Joss doing his interpretation of a JJ show—the characters are all there and are all Joss, but the show's central conceit (and it's ramifications) seemed to spin in a long-form Abrams manner.

Sorry to blether on, but it's good stuff! Power through the early stuff and be rewarded! And even though the show was given enough time to have a satisfying conclusion, I can't help but wonder how awesome it would have been to watch it build and develop over 5–7 years.

[JimN]

Sorry to blether on, but it's good stuff! Power through the early stuff and be rewarded! And even though the show was given enough time to have a satisfying conclusion, I can't help but wonder how awesome it would have been to watch it build and develop over 5–7 years.

The answer is it would have been very awesome. 

[Farrell]

Sorry to blether on, but it's good stuff! Power through the early stuff and be rewarded!

Not at all!  I appreciate the feedback.  I know what it's like to love criminally unwatched shows and to want to share them with others.  You guys have definitely convinced me to watch it.  I promise I'll stick with it for more than a few episodes.

[leafinsectman (Dan)]

Damn, this thread nearly doubled since I last posted. Good to see everyone loving it! I want to see more 'ragdolling'

The end scene mad me rolling.

International release didn't show this so at least I have even more to look forward to with the bluray.

And in my opinion, the best character in the movie was Hulk.

You know this! Loki was damn good in it too. It seems like he had just as much screen time that the other heroes.

But how 'bout Pepper dressed down in those little cutoff jeans shorts. Yum.

That was a total surprise for me...

...since I didn't know she was in the movie. I thought I heard something about her not being in it. Good to see that she is and looking hawt

It felt like Iron Man 2.5 and it was nice to see a bit of continuity. I guess it also felt like Cap 1.5, Thor 1.5, Hulk whatever number.

I get my DCBS box shipped weekly to the tattoo shop every Friday. But, since I played hookey yesterday, I had this waiting on me when I got there this morning.

Man, this was so fun to go through after the movie. Beautiful concept art. Had a little OHOTMU feel to it. Some cool production stuff. For me, totally worth the pricetag. I might even go back and pick up some of the other movie art books now.

SUPER JEALOUS!

[leafinsectman (Dan)]

infinity guantlet trades are gonna be selling like hot cakes after that mid credit scene. Heard one guy asking his buddy: "who is that?" and then the buddy said, "thanos. You need to read the infinity guantlet, dude." this really is a comic book movie that could get people interested in the comics. I have to imagine that that teaser will get some viewers to at least research the comics

marvel really needs to release a new Infinity Guantlet hardcover ASAP. Brilliant thing about that after credits scene is that it could get some non-readers interested in learning more about this new villain--and that search will lead them to the Infinity Guantlet

I really hope Marvel made plans to make that stuff easily accessible.

I still have the first printing of the trade from back in the day but I'm hoping for an Infinity Saga omnibus or at least something that collects Thanos Quest 1-2, Infinity Gauntlet 1-6 and Warlock & the Infinity Watch 1 (best event epilogue issue ever).

One more thing:

I really got excited when I realized that hooded figure was about to turn and reveal himself as Thanos. That was ultra-cool for us comics fans, although it also made me think "Forget Avengers 2! I want the next Marvel blockbuster to be an adaptation of Starlin's Warlock, complete with Gamora, Pip the Troll, the Magus and ol' purple jaw himself.

I had a feeling it was him but it blew my brains out when I saw...

...the chin! Holy shit, I'd love that stuff to be based on Starlin's work. I don't see it happening but a guy can dream

Box Office Shocker: 'Avengers' Opens to Record Shattering $200.3 Million

I hope Joss has one hell of a cool personal project he wants to film because right now, he should be able to write his own ticket.

HOLY FREAKING CRAP! Maybe they'd let him continue Firefly now? Or Serenity 2: Serenity Now?

[JoeyN]

HOLY FREAKING CRAP! Maybe they'd let him continue Firefly now? Or Serenity 2: Serenity Now?

I would not be surprised if Marvel locks him up in some sort of picture deal very quickly. Even if it's to direct more avengers, and write more stuff.

[leafinsectman (Dan)]

I would not be surprised if Marvel locks him up in some sort of picture deal very quickly. Even if it's to direct more avengers, and write more stuff.

I read somewhere that he had fun doing it and wants to do more. I'd love to see more Avengers from him. I always look forward to the second movie in a series because they've set up the origin story, they can go nuts now and blow the doors wide open. It doesn't always mean that the second movie is always brilliant but it seems to happen more often than not or at least better than the first (just some of my faves: X2, Spidey 2, Bat-Nolan 2).

[the other mike]

I would not be surprised if Marvel locks him up in some sort of picture deal very quickly. Even if it's to direct more avengers, and write more stuff.

i agree. lock 'im down as director or producer or sheperd, the way DC/warner has chris nolan. he doesn't even need to be directly involved. i'm sure his input in general would be invaluable. as it is, whedon would actually know the material and be an fan of the medium (whereas nolan was not fan, prior to batman begins).




-mike

[leafinsectman (Dan)]

I really like this interpretation of the Bruce/Tony relationship in the movie.

Spoilers.
http://ashleeta.tumblr.com/post/22504851188/pastelchainsaw-theumbrellaseller-hemsworthss

There are no words to describe my feelings about this relationship. But I’m going to try.

First of all, their parallels. Both geniuses, top of their field. Both suffered an accident that physically changed them, forever, and not in a wholesome Spider-Man kind of way. Both try to do what they can to help others despite their own issues; Banner heals people, Tony works on developing clean energy. And both struggle, in their own way, with duality; Tony and Iron Man, Bruce and the Hulk. Two identities, one body. Only difference is Iron Man’s bad side is Tony.

I mentioned somewhere that Tony sees a bit of himself in Banner because they both have a monster inside them that they can’t control, a creature that springs fully formed from the id, the base impulses and the nasty stuff at the back of the mind. Bruce’s is a giant green rage monster. Tony’s trashed a party in Iron Man 2. Banner has a control over his that Tony hasn’t quite achieved yet; don’t think I didn’t notice Tony pouring himself a whiskey when confronting Loki. Tony is envious, fascinated, and most of all, impressed by Bruce’s control.

So he doesn’t walk on eggshells around Bruce like the others, because that’s not what Bruce needs. Tony sees Bruce’s restraint, sees the quiet, brilliant man making self-deprecating jokes in the corner of the room, sees the way people look at him like he’s going to snap any second, and thinks “nope”. Tony does what no-one else aboard that Helicarrier does. He trusts him. He makes jokes and jabs him and teases him and above all, treats him exactly how he would treat anyone else— he has a great regard for Bruce’s brilliance, and tells him so, but he doesn’t try to ignore the Hulk in the room. When he says “wow, you’ve really got a handle on this, haven’t you?” he’s not saying “gosh, it’s incredible you haven’t snapped yet and killed everyone on board” he’s saying “I know you have a handle on this, you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t, so I’m gonna poke you with this sharp object to prove it”. And you can see Bruce relax, and smile, and trust him back.

But then Tony goes even further, and invites Bruce to come to his R&D department. I’m pretty sure the two of them drive off together in Tony’s car at the end of the movie to do just that. And, okay, sure, Bruce is smart, but Tony’s tech is his baby. How many people get invitations to come and see his work? He invites Bruce because he recognises his brilliance, yes, but there’s another reason. He’s inviting Bruce to come down and work with him after this is over. He’s giving Bruce something to do next, a purpose, an alternative to disappearing into the ether to be alone with his monster. Tony knows from experience that being alone with your issues doesn’t end well, so for what’s only the third time in his life he extends the hand of friendship to a guy he’s known barely an hour.

And then, he tells Bruce to let the beast loose. Not just because they need him to fight, but because it will help him. If Bruce can take this thing that he sees as a curse and turn it into a gift, well, that’s going to lift him out of a very dark place. I’m not saying Tony knew about Bruce’s attempted suicide, but I think he had a suspicion that Bruce had been, in his words, “low”. So he encourages Bruce to take all that crap and pain and the Other Guy and use him to help people; after all, that’s what he did.

And it pays off. Nobody— nobody— thinks Bruce is going to turn up for that final battle. You can see the look on Natasha and Steve’s faces when Tony asks if Bruce turned up yet. They’ve counted Bruce out. Guy’s a mess, right? He’s too volatile. Doesn’t play well with others. He could never work as part of a team. No-one thinks he’ll come through when it matters. Except Tony. He has faith in him, and that faith is rewarded. It’s no wonder the Hulk is the one to catch Tony. Tony’s the one who helped let him out. He’s just returning the favor.

I really want to see more of this relationship. I'd love to see a Marvel team up movie featuring Iron Man and Hulk. I'd also like to add that this description of Bruce...

"Guy’s a mess, right? He’s too volatile. Doesn’t play well with others. He could never work as part of a team. No-one thinks he’ll come through when it matters."

...also fits well for Tony. That's why they're bros