The Avengers The Avengers Critics Reviews Thread - Part 3

[Xeno]

Yeah, even the chosen blurb establishes the jist of Scott's issue with the movie - it's that it's a comic book movie that, for him, despite a few bright spots, is too much of a corporatized, static machine.

I kind of feel he's in the minority though. But I do get the feeling that if any reader doesn't go see Avengers based on his review, they probably weren't keen on seeing it anyway.

It's amazing that one negative review in a sea of positives can bring down the RT score a lot. Already at 93%.

Scott's negative review brought the score down by a full percentage point. A dozen positive ones didn't budge the meter. Yet another reason for me to hate math.

 

[Suzanne78]

Regarding AO Scotts review what is "cynical" about the superhero genre?

That for all its apolitical posturing and breezy pseudo-antiestablishment attitude, ultimately all CBMs are massive corporatized money magnets that the public will mindlessly throw money at and flock to, like a herd of needy sheep. And CBM filmmakers are painstakingly aware of this.

I'm pretty sure that's the gist of the cynicism behind CBMs... according to Scott.

 

[Suzanne78]

Scott's negative review brought the score down by a full percentage point. A dozen positive ones didn't budge the meter. Yet another reason for me to hate math.

There really has to be a better way to aggregate scores of so many reviews.

 

[Xeno]

Another of those "Critics agree..." ads ran on the Today Show this morning. It very cleverly wove together dialog and action from the film.


The ad started off with Fury saying, "Gentlemen, it's time." After the announcer intoned, "Critics everywhere agree Avengers is a must-see movie event for everyone," Tony Stark said, "How about that?" Various one-word raves filled the screen. Then the words "The best superhero movie of all time," float in the air, only to be smashed into a ball of flames by a leaping Hulk. The spot ends with Natasha saying, "It'll be fun."


Terrific ad, brilliantly crafted. I can't recall ever seeing a better use of blurbs.

 

[Suzanne78]

Another of those "Critics agree..." ads ran on the Today Show this morning. It very cleverly wove together dialog and action from the film.


The ad started off with Fury saying, "Gentlemen, it's time." After the announcer intoned, "Critics everywhere agree Avengers is a must-see movie event for everyone," Tony Stark said, "How about that?" Various one-word raves filled the screen. Then the words "The best superhero movie of all time," float in the air, only to be smashed into a ball of flames by a leaping Hulk. The spot ends with Natasha saying, "It'll be fun."


Terrific ad, brilliantly crafted. I can't recall ever seeing a better use of blurbs.

Sweet!

 

[Mjölnir]

It's amazing that one negative review in a sea of positives can bring down the RT score a lot. Already at 93%.

93% is a veritable sea of positive. Percentage values is as accurate of a way to display the ratio of positive and negative reviews as you can hope to find.

I think the problem lies in that some people aren't valuing the percentage correctly and think it's worse than it is.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

That for all its apolitical posturing and breezy pseudo-antiestablishment attitude, ultimately all CBMs are massive corporatized money magnets that the public will mindlessly throw money at and flock to, like a herd of needy sheep. And CBM filmmakers are painstakingly aware of this.

I'm pretty sure that's the gist of the cynicism behind CBMs... according to Scott.

That's ridiculous. All blockbuster are made for a profit. Why single out the superhero genre? Avengers is no different from any other "franchise" or sequel.

Does he attack all franchises and sequels or just CBMs?

and people don't mindlessly throw money at any CBM. Ghost Rider 2 is a perfect example since it bombed.

 

[Xeno]

Minneapolis Star tribune: 'Avengers' is fanboy heaven (3.5/4)

'The Avengers' is an irresistible, action-packed machine, chock-a-block with Marvel superheroes. Smart, too.

It's crackling good entertainment, ideal for its target audience, but it's more. "The Avengers" is a challenge to Hollywood's other Boys of Summer to aim their aspirations higher. This film is stylish, intelligent and, one hopes, influential on the next generation of superhero movies; it should leave a lasting legacy.

A very good review, but there are hints of spoilers so be forewarned.

 

[El Payaso]

Everybody keeps using that damned word! Don't they know that heroing is dark, serious business? There's just too much humor and action in this flick. Whedon needed to make his jokes unfunny, dress all of the characters in black leather, cut back the effects shots and limit the action to a couple of low-budget looking sequences where no one used their powers in order to save money.

Thor: "Dost thou know what happens to a Chitauri that gets struck by lightning?"

Chitauri soldier: "Skraaa?"

Thor: "Nothing. That **** costs money."

He's ahead of you.

 

[Suzanne78]

That's ridiculous. All blockbuster are made for a profit. Why single out the superhero genre? Avengers is no different from any other "franchise" or sequel.

Does he attack all franchises and sequels or just CBMs?

and people don't mindlessly throw money at any CBM. Ghost Rider 2 is a perfect example since it bombed.

Actually I think it's pretty anti-CBM, or at least anti-Marvel Studio's CBMs, judging by the first paragraph. And every time someone brings up the "Why more CBMs???" I always counter with, "Why more romantic comedies? Fantasy movies? Overwrought Nicholas Sparks adaptations????"

Que sera sera...

 

[marcvader]

We need to keep things in perspective, a 93% is awesome. Anything over 90%, to me atleast, is positively an amazing reception for a CBM. lol, that's a heap of positive reviews people.

 

[ElMariachi]

A 90% is a difficult score to achieve. Even getting an 80%+ for a movie like this is an uphill battle. Many critics went in this movie looking to tear it to pieces. Thats a real handicap that movies like Moneyball, The Artist, and even TDK dont have. Avengers fully embraces being a comic movie and some people hate that.

 

[Xeno]

This takes the cake for the most brainless review yet. The woman who wrote it comes across like the main character in Clueless, or maybe Patsy Walker in her pre-Hellcat days.

MSNBC.com: Drama! Action! Sex appeal! 'The Avengers' will have everyone drooling

Superhero meets ultra-hunk in Disney’s blockbuster action film, "The Avengers," and the good news is both men and women will have lots to gape over when the big screen comic thriller opens Friday.


For the theatrical adaptation of Marvel’s original work, director Joss Whedon recruited not only the greatest crusaders ever to fight off the obscure forces of other-worldly evil, he also assembled the most handsome cast in Hollywood, reeling in Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson to portray the team of heroes. The story takes on good versus evil with varying arches of gray, and the actors embody their multi-dimensional roles not only with sincerity, but lots of va-va-voom.

[...]

Furthermore, there’s sex appeal to satiate every gawker’s taste, whether it’s the musky, Australian brawn of Hemsworth; the clean-cut all-American classic of Evans; the geeky, disheveled charm of Ruffalo; or the sophisticated, sardonic wit of Downey. Even Hiddleston, as the exiled Nordic god, provides a brooding edge that taps into that whole bad boy scenario for those who prefer the dark side of masculinity. No matter what the intrigue, female audiences around the world will have their fill of lascivious amore.

[...]

There are many reasons to see “The Avengers,” but, if nothing else, go to enjoy the eye candy along with some Raisinets. The film not only lives up to expectations as a spectacular, dynamic blockbuster, it’s also the perfect score for date night.

The woman has a point, The Avengers is bursting with sexy guys whom women (and some men) can drool over. She even gave props to Nick Fury's "mature" appeal. And I'll be honest, the guys are eye-candy. But is this the criteria on which we judge our superhero films? (It doesn't hurt, though. )

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

We need to keep things in perspective, a 93% is awesome. Anything over 90%, to me atleast, is positively an amazing reception for a CBM. lol, that's a heap of positive reviews people.

I want it to match or beat Iron Man (94%).

 

[Xeno]

He's ahead of you.

You did notice that I parodied the one bad joke Whedon wrote for X-Men, right?

 

[Iceman]

138 reviews, 129 Fresh, 9 Rotten
93% 8/10

It's amazing really. I thought Avengers would be the kind of film that would get a fair number of negative reviews even if it was done well. I expected a lot of critics to see the words superhero teamup and their faces to automatically drop.

 

[Pond]

You did notice that I parodied the one bad joke Whedon wrote for X-Men, right?

I dont think the joke is the problem as much as the delivery, really. Its a kind of joke that was used much in Buffy and worked very well when delivered in a way diferent way.

I can imagine many great jokes on Buffy delivered with that earnest intent being completelly unfunny: in fact i dont have to imagine, just listen to some bad dubbing.

 

[thalidomide]

Avengers fully embraces being a comic movie and some people hate that.

I agree

 

[Xeno]

This publication is on RT, believe it or not.

Illinois Times:The Avengers, a rousing success

Epic in scope and audacious in its execution, The Avengers is a product (make no mistake – it’s more product than film) that lives up to every promise Marvel Studios has made since they launched their ambitious plan to bring their signature heroes together on the big screen when 2006’s Iron Man debuted. Though the movie stumbles a bit out of the gate, director Joss Whedon rights this ship quickly, delivering a grand entertainment that will not only satisfy longtime devotees of the Marvel characters but the newly initiated as well.

 

[T"Challa]

I'm waiting on rex reed..he's gonna pummel this movie for no reason..lol

 

[El Payaso]

With all due respect... what if it gets down to 80% or 60%? What exactly? What will we be unable to do or say in favour of Avengers?

You did notice that I parodied the one bad joke Whedon wrote for X-Men, right?

And your parody, sir, glorifies the memory of that joke.

I dont think the joke is the problem as much as the delivery, really. Its a kind of joke that was used much in Buffy and worked very well when delivered in a way diferent way.

I can imagine many great jokes on Buffy delivered with that earnest intent being completelly unfunny: in fact i dont have to imagine, just listen to some bad dubbing.

While that might be true - that the delivery was lukewarm - Storm's line about frogs is not the brightest star in the comedy heaven no matter if you get Laurence Olivier to deliver it.

 

[Xeno]

I dont think the joke is the problem as much as the delivery, really. Its a kind of joke that was used much in Buffy and worked very well when delivered in a way diferent way.

I can imagine many great jokes on Buffy delivered with that earnest intent being completelly unfunny: in fact i dont have to imagine, just listen to some bad dubbing.

I can't imagine any way that line could have been read that would have made it funny. Furthermore, Storm has never been a wisecracking character and Berry played her true to her comic book form.

 

[Iceman]

The 'Do you know what happens to a toad when it gets struck by lightning' part was meant to be said seriously the way it was. It was supposed to set up a grand answer. The joke is that the next part was supposed to be said really quickly and dismissively like nah we got nothing...'Ahhh the same thing as everything else'. The joke is all in that 2nd part but the director/actress didn't know. That can happen when you're reading the script not looking for a comedic line and the guy who wrote it isn't around to tell you.

 

[T"Challa]

and we're back to 94%

 

[terry78]

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120502/REVIEWS/120509997

Ebert dug it of course. Not shocked.