Okay, I know that the clues and teaser scenes in all those Marvel movies over the past few years have been intrusive and irritating, but nevertheless I admit that I'm totally sold on this Avengers scheme, now that the Joss Whedon (!) payoff movie is actually in production. (It had seemed like one of those Hollywood pipe dreams that don't actually come true.) When I was a kid, I vaguely hoped this kind of thing (essentially live-action "Super-Friends," minus the weirdo sidekicks) would happen, but those hopes faded as I got older and grew more aware of the realities of Hollywood.
In "Origins of Marvel Comics," Stan Lee wrote about the monetary value of bringing characters from one comic book series into another, since a popular property like Spider-Man could boost sales of a weaker title like "Fantastic Four" (especially if he appeared in the cover art). Which was great, and they did it constantly...but obviously it didn't cost anything to have Jack Kirby or Gene Colan draw Spidey rather than drawing somebody else. (They own the characters, the stories, the names, the logos, and even the drawings..so it's just India ink at a dollar a bottle, right? And a salary you're paying anyway.) But orchestrating the cinematic equivalent is vastly more difficult and expensive -- a long-term chain of steps that can fail if any of the intermediary fail (which is why they're on their third Hulk).
But wow, what a payoff! Look at the glorious multi-poster banner! Look at Johannsen and Downey, Jr. next to Evans and Hemsworth! (With Hopkins, Rourke, Paltrow, Bridges and, um, Loki looming in their pasts! And all-new weirdo sidekicks!) Yeah!
3 comments:
I’d like to point out that I posted this banner yesterday as well as the trailer for The Avengers last week and in both instances the posts were summarily ignored. I assumed that there was little interest from you guys about this. I agree with you, Jordan, the fact that this film is happening is the stuff of my childhood dreams. I never thought I would see a live-action Avengers in my lifetime.
I was talking to Octo the other day and I asked, “Does anyone on the blog even watch movies anymore?” With all the posts and nerd conversations we have here I’ve been surprised by the near complete lack of posts about movie reviews that the people on this blog have seen. For example, has anyone seen Super 8? I haven’t but I’d love to know what others think about it. I suppose I’m just as guilty. I’ve quietly watched all the superhero movies this summer but I too haven’t really said much. I wish we could have more discussions about movies. My quick take on the superhero movies this summer; X-Men: First Class (A), Captain America (B+), Thor (B-), and The Green Lantern (C-).
Next year we get The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Avengers, and Wolverine 2. I’m so glad that the era of the superhero film is finally upon us. I might have fun bashing trailers, etc., but mark my word, I watch all of these films with great enthusiasm.
I thought about reviewing HP7, but I feel like it's best to go into that movie without a prior impression, so I didn't. That's the only thing I've seen though!
JPX I told you I saw Super 8!
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