MOVIES MOVIES MOVIES! ACK!

[milly balgeary]

Things I noticed about the Avengers:

*Singlehandedly saved the movie industry. You can barely get into a showing.

*The movie simply starts out bad. It starts out worse than Daredevil and Elektra.

*It's a movie that somehow gets better and better, and it's damn funny.

*You can't criticize The Avengers like a normal movie, because, really, this is the first one based on comic book characters that seems, well, like a comic book. Sure, Nick Fury is fucking stupid, and it's stupid when Black Cat keeps putting stub nosed pistols at alien motherfuckers, but whatev... it would be stupid in the comics too.

*The Avengers is the light to the shadow of the Watchmen movie. Yet, just like the Watchmen movie is, in the end, despite its ironies and contrast with heroics, despite itself, heroic -- the Avengers is a satire, despite itself.

*The music was so terrible. I don't know what the fuck!!!?

*Great movie.

[dieblucasdie]

ha, yeah, my wife and I definitely both lol'd at ScarJo and her pistols during that final battle.

I also totally concur that this is the first comic book movie that really felt like a comic book (with the possible exception of the first Spiderman movie, where the comic-book feel wasn't always a good thing). I mean, I still like Dark Knight, and maybe the first Iron Man movie better, but Avengers probably wins on the pure 13 year-old-glee level.

And yeah, you forget by the end of the movie, but all the stuff before the first Black Widow scene is comically bad. Oh, Agent Robin Sparkles.

[milly balgeary]

ha, yeah, my wife and I definitely both lol'd at ScarJo and her pistols during that final battle.

I also totally concur that this is the first comic book movie that really felt like a comic book (with the possible exception of the first Spiderman movie, where the comic-book feel wasn't always a good thing). I mean, I still like Dark Knight, and maybe the first Iron Man movie better, but Avengers probably wins on the pure 13 year-old-glee level.

And yeah, you forget by the end of the movie, but all the stuff before the first Black Widow scene is comically bad. Oh, Agent Robin Sparkles.

What was up with that one section where Cap'n America (UGH) goes to a warehouse full of civilians who are being held captive by the aliens? When did the aliens start kidnapping groups of people? It turned out to be some sort of bomb, but I thought one of the aliens was talking on the new HTC Evo II.. I thought this shit was an advertisement!!
Also
HAHAH, that shit with Loki when he comes through the blue trinitron glow power source of the universe, and he escapes on the back of a ....utility truck??! This cat can clearly level an entire city, and he's riding in the back of a utility truck like a blue collar worker on his way to his next roofin' job. I LOL'd the fuck!

[milly balgeary]

OMG and raise your hands if you are so tired of Stan Lee showing up in these movies in cameo roles that are supposed to elicit a chuckle from a knowing audience? I just want to punch that fucker. This shit is NOT that creative, Stan. I'm sorry but Captain America is re-tardo. He doesn't even particularly seem like a creative guy. Just an oily motherfucker!!! I am being a dick. Sorry Stan!

[dieblucasdie]

Yeah, like I suggested upthread, I thought the way Captain America was integrated into that whole final battle was weird. Like, they knew they had to have a situation crazy enough where the combined forces of Hulk, Thor, and Iron Man would seem plausibly outmatched. But then, what do you do with Captain America? So they did this thing where he co-ordinated on the ground, and looked out for the little guy while the real badasses duked it out overheard. It was forced and schmaltzy, but it did seem comic-book-ey. You could almost picture the panels during the "Why should I listen to you?" gag.

I felt like Black Widow's big moment in that battle was similarly dumb (even though I thought ScarJo was surprisingly kinda great, overall). Black Widow, unlike everyone else in this movie, you will die if you plummet from the sky; maybe just have Iron Man carry you up? Or tell someone else your plan?

re: Stan Lee, yeah, it's de rigueur and dumb, but sticking him in the middle of that montage was less annoying than usual.

[Greg Nog]

Yeah, like I suggested upthread, I thought the way Captain America was integrated into that whole final battle was weird. Like, they knew they had to have a situation crazy enough where the combined forces of Hulk, Thor, and Iron Man would seem plausibly outmatched. But then, what do you do with Captain America?

Honestly, I liked Cap enough from his own movie that he could've just played Settlers of Cataan for an hour and a half and I woulda been like, "Wow, whatta stand-up guy, he's really givin' it his all."  If anything, I think the biggest fault in Avengers was that (especially compared to Banner/Hulk) Cap didn't have enough "But I'm just a Little Guy" moments.

I thought ScarJo was surprisingly kinda great, overall

There are not enough syllables in the English language for me to disagree with this. I kept thinking of pollo's line about Silk Spectre in Watchmen; if I recall correctly, something like, "I'm reasonably sure she didn't know she was in a movie."

[Ignatius]

Bully

Jesus, that was brutal.

I would step in and watch the first few minutes of this at every screening, but I knew very well that I wouldn't be able to sit through the whole thing. I know it's not the saddest of all things, but damn, it sucks even to think about it.

[milly balgeary]

Yeah, like I suggested upthread, I thought the way Captain America was integrated into that whole final battle was weird. Like, they knew they had to have a situation crazy enough where the combined forces of Hulk, Thor, and Iron Man would seem plausibly outmatched. But then, what do you do with Captain America? So they did this thing where he co-ordinated on the ground, and looked out for the little guy while the real badasses duked it out overheard. It was forced and schmaltzy, but it did seem comic-book-ey. You could almost picture the panels during the "Why should I listen to you?" gag.

I felt like Black Widow's big moment in that battle was similarly dumb (even though I thought ScarJo was surprisingly kinda great, overall). Black Widow, unlike everyone else in this movie, you will die if you plummet from the sky; maybe just have Iron Man carry you up? Or tell someone else your plan?

re: Stan Lee, yeah, it's de rigueur and dumb, but sticking him in the middle of that montage was less annoying than usual.

I never did figure out how she got back to the ground to get Loki's staff, when the doctor woke up from his Loki Imprint and pointed out that using the staff, one could breach the barrier and knock that unholy Regata engine offline.

[edison]

I can't remember what the consensus re: Wes Anderson is here - if there is any - but I saw Moonrise Kingdom yesterday and it bored me out of my mind. I liked Fantastic Mr Fox a whole lot (and the Life Aquatic before that), but I'm still trying to come up with reasons for why this even exists. I thought was actually turned out to be the main plot was some kind of initial diversion but then had to resign myself that that was it. And I am still a bit mystified.

[Trousers and Pat]

I thought about going to see it last night but it was sold out. The synopsis I read sounded totally uninteresting though... is that all there is to it?

I went to see new Hong Sang Soo, The Day He Arrives instead and loved it loved it.
The failed film director character is back again and somehow even more awkward and pathetic than usual.

[edison]

Yeah, will see the Hong Sang Soo this weekend, I can't wait!

[davy]

I didn't like The Life Aquatic at all, but I got a kick out of Darjeeling Limited and loved Fantastic Mr. Fox.

I don't get the feeling that many people cared much for Darjeeling Limited.

[elpollodiablo]

Shit was pretty bad.

[edison]

Yeah, I didn't care for the Darjeeling Limited either, and Moonrise Kingdom has similar flaws, but worse.

[davy]

Yeah, I guess part of the appeal for me is that it wasn't another Life Aquatic. I really disliked that movie a lot.

[elpollodiablo]

Basically I'm just bored of Anderson's whole schtick--the color palette, the mod rock, the deadpan irony, the overcomposed shots. I liked the Fantastic Mr. Fox a lot because, while it still relied on a lot of those things, it was different enough to be interesting. And really cute.

[Good Intentions]

The Life Aquatic is the last Wes Anderson movie I saw, but I rather liked it, especially on repeat viewing. Extremely dry and wry humour in that one, and, as usual with Anderson, beautifully shot. He certainly does have a schtick, which I can see wearing thin, and on account of that I never bothered to see The Darjeeling Ltd after it got panned.

Rushmore, as I mention every so often, hits closer to home for me than I like to admit. And I don't think anybody can really deny that The Royal Tenenbaums is an extraordinary film.

[edison]

Basically I'm just bored of Anderson's whole schtick--the color palette, the mod rock, the deadpan irony, the overcomposed shots. I liked the Fantastic Mr. Fox a lot because, while it still relied on a lot of those things, it was different enough to be interesting. And really cute.

That pretty much sums up my feelings, yes. Plus it was funny! I don't think I laughed a single time during Moonrise Kingdom. The Life Aquatic remains my favorite, although I don't know how well it would hold up if I were to see it again.

[auto-da-fey]

I saw a preview for the new one and thought "haha, some pathetic asshole has really gone for the most cliched Wes Anderson style imaginable." Then Bill Murray showed up and I was like, "oh."

I'd say I can't imagine circumstances under which I'd ever see this film, but a peer reviewer just forced me to watch the wretched fucking Howl, so never say never.

But basically, never.

[auto-da-fey]

oh also did anyone see Another Earth? I recall thinking it looked unbearably bad from the preview, but then I just saw The Sound of My Voice, from the same writer/star, and thought it was pretty good (a super-low-budget sorta-SF story about a cult in Los Angeles; fell apart at the end, but pretty gripping throughout), so now I'm curious.

[YojimboMonkey]

The Life Aquatic is the last Wes Anderson movie I saw, but I rather liked it, especially on repeat viewing. Extremely dry and wry humour in that one, and, as usual with Anderson, beautifully shot.

Not to mention the excellent Seu Jorge covers of David Bowie songs.

[dumbfish]

In 2001, many of us would have said that Anderson and M. Night Shyamalan were slam dunks for long and interesting careers.  Right now, Vegas would have Anderson at 2-1 against, and Shyamalan off the board.

[dumbfish]

Another Earth had interesting ideas, heavy atmosphere, and solid performances. Good movie.

[auto-da-fey]

oh man, on which, I just saw The Happening (and can't even claim anyone forced me; guess I just had a yay-Philly moment), and I was astounded at how terrible it was. Like, I expected banal Hollywood tropes, but this was almost Ed Wood-with-a-big-budget level madness; directorial decisions that made no sense, from random slo-mo injections to editing-by-sledgehammer, and it's like someone went out of their way to make Zooey Deschanel and Marky Mark, two quite attractive people, look as unpleasant as possible. I also suspect someone clobbered them on the head before each shot, because they both had this dazed look on their faces all the way through that, under other circumstances, might be read as deliberate destabilization but here just plays as terribly off.

also, did the famous Shyamalan "twist" even count as a twist? that was just plain dumb.


x-posted: thanks dumbfish, basically all I needed--to the top of the queue it goes!

[jebreject]

In 2001, many of us would have said that Anderson and M. Night Shyamalan were slam dunks for long and interesting careers.  Right now, Vegas would have Anderson at 2-1 against, and Shyamalan off the board.

I never would have said that about Shyamalan.