The Avengers Critics Reviews Thread - Part 2

[Liam_H]

People that prefer one over the other or just the one enjoy letting people know it.

[Suzanne78]

Originally Posted by Webfoot Hero

That's why I don't get the whole Avengers vs TDKR feud. While both are CBMs, they are seem to be completely different in so many ways that you can't really compare to each other all that easily.

Co-sign. And watching the back and forth from either side stresses me out, harshes my buzz for either movie.

Anyways, well sucks that the Slate reviewers were mixed. I'm anxious about NY Times. I'd love for Dhargis to get it over Scott because she gives fair shake to this type of movie. I remember a media writer for NYT raved about the movie on Twitter after that first screening Poni Boy went to. Sadly, I can't remember his name and I don't think he's a critic.

At least TA has the majority of positives from the Top Critics.

[Webfoot Hero]

Originally Posted by Suzanne78

Co-sign. And watching the back and forth from either side stresses me out.

Basically anytime I see it going on, I just roll my eyes at the back and forth since it's just so petty and I bet that most comic book fans and general audience members will see both. Right now, I'd consider myself more of a Marvel/Avengers fan due to the fact I love the fun tones that they have. I like the Nolan Batman movies because they are so well acted and have the feel of a gritty crime drama, which I love, but with recognizable comic book characters filling them.

[xeno000]

Originally Posted by Suzanne78

Co-sign. And watching the back and forth from either side stresses me out, harshes my buzz for either movie.

Anyways, well sucks that the Slate reviewers were mixed. I'm anxious about NY Times. I'd love for Dhargis to get it over Scott because she gives fair shake to this type of movie. I remember a media writer for NYT raved about the movie on Twitter after that first screening Poni Boy went to. Sadly, I can't remember his name and I don't think he's a critic.

At least TA has the majority of positives from the Top Critics.

Dargis is an odd reviewer. When she doesn't like a particular movie but can't really come up with a good rationale for criticizing it, she reverts to merely giving a summary of the film rather than an actual review. She will run down plot points and character beats without giving the reader her analysis of them. That leads to empty but seemingly neutral reviews for genre films like the Harry Potter series (I believe she did the same with LOTR). Those reviews gave one the strange feeling of having read a whole lot of nothing.


The best thing that ever happened to the LA Times entertainment desk was Dargis' defection to the NY Times. The quality of its movie reviews went up considerable once she left and Turan was cemented as their lead critic.

[Suzanne78]

Originally Posted by xeno000

Dargis is an odd reviewer. When she doesn't like a particular movie but can't really come up with a good rationale for criticizing it, she reverts to merely giving a summary of the film rather than an actual review. She will run down plot points and character beats without giving the reader her analysis of them. That leads to empty but seemingly neutral reviews for genre films like the Harry Potter series (I believe she did the same with LOTR). Those reviews gave one the strange feeling of having read a whole lot of nothing.


The best thing that ever happened to the LA Times entertainment desk was Dargis' defection to the NY Times. The quality of its movie reviews went up considerable once she left and Turan was cemented as their lead critic.

Oh wow. I guess i don't follow the reviews as closely as others here, b/c I never caught these traits in her writings.

[BigThor]

Originally Posted by Avenger

Hey, if burgers are still on the menu, I'll take one with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and ketchup and mustard. Please and thank you!

Coming right up from Chef BigThor!

[bonzob2000]

I think Dargis is a perfectly strong critic. I like all the current NY Times critics, actually.

[Chewy]

It clawed its way back up to 94%. It needs something like 20 straight freshes to get back to 95%.

[spider-neil]

Originally Posted by Chewy

It clawed its way back up to 94%. It needs something like 20 straight freshes to get back to 95%.

as a comparison

94%
TDK
IM

93%
SM2

89%
SM

88%
X2

87%
X-men: first class

85%
batman begins

[First Avenger]

I'd be happy if it stays at 94%.

[spider-neil]

those rotten tomato scores are pretty spot on with regards to the movies quality.

[bonzob2000]

Originally Posted by spider-neil

those rotten tomato scores are pretty spot on with regards to the movies quality.

Yeah, those are definitely the upper tier of superhero flicks. Slot in X2 between TDK and Iron Man, then flip Iron Man and Spidey 2, and you'd have my exact ranking, not including Avengers (haven't decided where to put it yet).

[spider-neil]

Originally Posted by bonzob2000

Yeah, those are definitely the upper tier of superhero flicks. Slot in X2 between TDK and Iron Man, then flip Iron Man and Spidey 2, and you'd have my exact ranking, not including Avengers (haven't decided where to put it yet).

they are my top 4 as well. definately the movies I would show a non comic book fan in the attempt to 'convert' them.

[thalidomide]

oookkkaaaayy.... so any reviews yet?

[xeno000]

Seattle Times: 'The Avengers': Superhero flick is a blast (3.5/4)

Just like romantic comedies, comic-book movies pretty much all have the same plot; something along the lines of "impressive physical specimen saves the world from some appalling fate." And, like rom-coms, there's a world of variation within that basic plot, and a wide range of quality. "The Avengers," written and directed by Joss Whedon (creator of TV's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Firefly"), is pretty much exactly what you might expect, which is to say that an entire crew of impressive physical specimens save the world from an appalling fate. But it's a first-class production all around, from the acting to the 3-D special effects to the touches of wit throughout. It delivers, in grand style, the thing we demand most from a comic-book movie: fun.

[...]

On a big screen (I saw the film in IMAX 3D) it's all-encompassing and a kick. This crew, likely to unite for a sequel someday, can save my city anytime.

Many more reviews will be published today in advance of the US premiere tomorrow. RT hasn't added many reviews that I've seen around the Internet, slow as they are to update.


ETA: Ebert's review has shown up in the list but not on the front page. The top critics score stands at 88%.

[J.Howlett]

Originally Posted by spider-neil

as a comparison

94%
TDK
IM

93%
SM2

89%
SM

88%
X2

87%
X-men: first class

85%
batman begins

Take out Spider-Man, add Lee's Hulk, and give a special mention to Superman The Movie and Watchmen, and I'd agree with the ratings.....

[xeno000]

Roger Moore, McClatchy Tribune: Fun 'Avengers' is almost too much of a good thing (3/4)

How was this going to work?

All those Marvel superheroes, many of them with their own action franchises, packed into one epic, save-humanity-adventure.

How will the retro patriotism of Captain America mesh with the flippant cynicism of Iron Man? Could the brooding Hulk bond with the regal brawn of Thor?

How could anybody balance the inter-connection of back stories, the clash of personalities, the need for shared screen time, the utter necessity of building up a villain capable of putting fear in this fearsome foursome and then some?

But it works, because Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") brought his A-game to "The Avengers." It works because he never loses sight of the fragile humanity of the characters, even in their special effects brawls. It works because somebody finally got The Hulk's blend of rage, guilt and bull-in-a-chandelier-shop fun right.

[...]

But Whedon has managed a feat akin to last summer's "Thor," finding the fun in what should be, by any rights, an exhausted genre. "Avengers" isn't deep (yes, we really should all work together) and it doesn't reinvent the comic-book movie. But it is fun, and if it's an indicator of the season of cinema to follow, this summer is going to be epic.

Moore is another top critic weighing in with a Fresh review, whenever RT's editors get around to adding it. I'm happy to see that he gets it, despite the fact that he seems to think the movie is too long.


It's amusing that so many critics are itching to declare the superhero genre dead, while other over-worked genres aren't considered tapped out (gross-out comedies and rom-coms spring readily to mind).

[Oberon sexton]

Wait....James Bond liked it?!?
Everyone better get around the movie now!

[xeno000]

NY1 Movie Review: "The Avengers" (3/4)


Neil Rosen gives an overall good review, but says there were some areas in which the film disappoints. However, he can only cite his feeling that some characters weren't given enough screen time. Still, it's positive.

[xeno000]

Originally Posted by Oberon sexton

Wait....James Bond liked it?!?
Everyone better get around the movie now!

Moore's name always throw me when I first see it.

[xeno000]

Thread Manager is lurking.

[spider-neil]

Originally Posted by xeno000

Roger Moore, McClatchy Tribune: Fun 'Avengers' is almost too much of a good thing (3/4)





Moore is another top critic weighing in with a Fresh review, whenever RT's editors get around to adding it. I'm happy to see that he gets it, despite the fact that he seems to think the movie is too long.


It's amusing that so many critics are itching to declare the superhero genre dead, while other over-worked genres aren't considered tapped out (gross-out comedies and rom-coms spring readily to mind).

rom coms don't have marketing campaigns that you can't escape.
superhero movies simple get more exposure so it feels like there is a superhero movie at the theatre every week.

jan - chronicle
feb - ghost rider
march -
april -
may - avengers
june -
july - spider-man/batman

to the average movie goer confronted with hugh advertising campaigns it feel like there is a superhero movie every other month

[thalidomide]

Thread managah!

[xeno000]

The vile creature is upon us. Thread closing in 5...4...3...2...1...

[Thread Manager]

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