The Avengers

[Marlow]

[no, this is not about Emma Peel; not that that wouldn't be way cool too!]

So this mega-block-buster is anticipated to be the next world-wide $BILLION film. Even the crustiest national reviewers are high on it. I'm seeing it tonight and as a closet (or not-so) fan-boy, I'm already putting it in my Top-10 films of the decade!!

[jeremyp]

You're a box office round heels Marlow. Vox populi and excellence rarely go together. Certainly not in the entertainment world where the barely post pubescents rule.

[Marlow]

You're a box office round heels Marlow. Vox populi and excellence rarely go together. Certainly not in the entertainment world where the barely post pubescents rule.

You err. Here's the American Film Institutes's (as high-brow as you get) 10 best of all-time. Many (most? ALL?!) of them were box-office hits.

1. CITIZEN KANE
2. CASABLANCA
3. THE GODFATHER
4. GONE WITH THE WIND
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ
7. THE GRADUATE
8. ON THE WATERFRONT
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

[Marlow]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW

Once one has made the cinematic distiction between film (art) and movies (entertainment), I think I can safely say this is THE best comic book movie ever made (which heretofore was Dark Knight Returns, so if you didn't like that, you may return to your regularly scheduled internet browsing). It has great humor (the Hulk gets the best scenes), non-stop action, state-of-the-art CGI, a plot that makes (some) sense and characters that are easily engageable. Best of all, it really is greater than the sum of it (mega-buck) parts. Its wry camp style makes it fun, funny and 'believable' - in the way that comic book fans understand. It will gross WELL over $1,000,000,000 world-wide, because it invites repeat screenings to catch all that is crammed into the frame (it reminds me of the LotR trilogy in that regard, though even I will admit LotR surpasses it in epic scope).

I'll go see it again, in a month or two, and yes, it will still be in your local megaplex well through the summer.

[donley2]

I don't know your definition of "well over" but the list of films that has grossed over 1.1 billion has exactly five entries. I think I will counter your optimism, with I bet you it doesn't gross more in the US or worldwide (in 2012) than Hunger Games does.

[jeremyp]

You're a box office round heels Marlow. Vox populi and excellence rarely go together. Certainly not in the entertainment world where the barely post pubescents rule.

You err. Here's the American Film Institutes's (as high-brow as you get) 10 best of all-time. Many (most? ALL?!) of them were box-office hits.

1. CITIZEN KANE
2. CASABLANCA
3. THE GODFATHER
4. GONE WITH THE WIND
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ
7. THE GRADUATE
8. ON THE WATERFRONT
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

I think only one (9) was made in last 20 years. Are you seriously equating today's box office receipts to high quality? Sure once in awhile a box office smash equates to a good movie, but todays boffo numbers equate with the average taste of the under 30 crowd.

[jeremyp]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW

Once one has made the cinematic distiction between film (art) and movies (entertainment), I think I can safely say this is THE best comic book movie ever made

Nuff said.

[Vault-emort]

I thought it dragged a little bit at the start but once it got going it was very enjoyable and the Hulk in this movie is light-years ahead of previous film versions. Might go back and see it in 3D too.

[Marlow]

I don't know your definition of "well over" but the list of films that has grossed over 1.1 billion has exactly five entries. I think I will counter your optimism, with I bet you it doesn't gross more in the US or worldwide (in 2012) than Hunger Games does.

Oooooh, that's a bet!! In its 6th week, Hunger Games is at $600 million: 370 domestic and 230 rest-of-world. Avengers will be well over 400M domestic by its 6th week and close (if not over) 400 more world-wide, as it closes in on the Big B.

[gh]

At one point I had the first 15-odd years of The Avengers (including #1, from September of '63) in my collection. Sold most of them after a divorce

Definitely missed the comics more than her.

[gh]

....
You err. Here's the American Film Institutes's (as high-brow as you get) 10 best of all-time. Many (most? ALL?!) of them were box-office hits.

1. CITIZEN KANE
2. CASABLANCA
3. THE GODFATHER
4. GONE WITH THE WIND
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ
7. THE GRADUATE
8. ON THE WATERFRONT
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

Actually, that's the ’97 version. Here's the ’07, with the last column showing where they rated 10 years before. The list is very fluid, certainly not graved in stone.

1 Citizen Kane 1941 1
2 The Godfather 1972 3
3 Casablanca 1942 2
4 Raging Bull 1980 24
5 Singin' in the Rain 1952 10
6 Gone with the Wind 1939 4
7 Lawrence of Arabia 1962 5
8 Schindler's List 1993 9
9 Vertigo 1958 61
10 The Wizard of Oz 1939 6

[scottmitchell74]

You're a box office round heels Marlow. Vox populi and excellence rarely go together. Certainly not in the entertainment world where the barely post pubescents rule.

That's kind of douchy comment. There's nothing wrong with soft-minded fun. Come join us unwashed masses sometime, you might like it.

[gh]

for a version from the washed masses (unlike the unwashed, they take time to vote with something other than a ticket stub), here's the IMDB leaders. 14 deep, cuz of ties at 8.8.

Rank Rating Title Votes
1. 9.2 The Shawshank Redemption (1994) 751,007
2. 9.2 The Godfather (1972) 559,943
3. 9.0 The Godfather: Part II (1974) 353,405
4. 8.9 Pulp Fiction (1994) 591,248
5. 8.9 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) 234,170
6. 8.9 12 Angry Men (1957) 184,362
7. 8.9 Schindler's List (1993) 395,172
8. 8.8 The Dark Knight (2008) 686,939
9. 8.8 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 529,039
10. 8.8 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) 318,239
11. 8.8 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 382,210
12. 8.8 Fight Club (1999) 570,966
13. 8.8 Seven Samurai (1954) 127,607
14. 8.8 Inception (2010) 542,442

[gh]

oh, and just to make 26,385 ecstatic, I'm happy to report that IMDB calculates its rankings not just by an average of the votes. They do this!

<<The formula for calculating the Top Rated 250 Titles gives a true Bayesian estimate:

weighted rating (WR) = (v ÷ (v+m)) × R + (m ÷ (v+m)) × C
where:
R = average for the movie (mean) = (Rating)
v = number of votes for the movie = (votes)
m = minimum votes required to be listed in the Top 250 (currently 3000)
C = the mean vote across the whole report (currently 6.9)>>

[Marlow]

IMDB ratings are no more high-brow than box office receipts. Like a true populist site, everyone - washed and unwashed - has an equal vote.

[jeremyp]

for a version from the washed masses (unlike the unwashed, they take time to vote with something other than a ticket stub), here's the IMDB leaders. 14 deep, cuz of ties at 8.8.

Rank Rating Title Votes
1. 9.2 The Shawshank Redemption (1994) 751,007
2. 9.2 The Godfather (1972) 559,943
3. 9.0 The Godfather: Part II (1974) 353,405
4. 8.9 Pulp Fiction (1994) 591,248
5. 8.9 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) 234,170
6. 8.9 12 Angry Men (1957) 184,362
7. 8.9 Schindler's List (1993) 395,172
8. 8.8 The Dark Knight (2008) 686,939
9. 8.8 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 529,039
10. 8.8 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) 318,239
11. 8.8 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 382,210
12. 8.8 Fight Club (1999) 570,966
13. 8.8 Seven Samurai (1954) 127,607
14. 8.8 Inception (2010) 542,442

God this is as bad as the vote for politicians. Actually it's topsy turvy. The young vote for the movies they love and the old vote for the politicians who have fooled them...again.

[gh]

IMDB ratings are no more high-brow than box office receipts. Like a true populist site, everyone - washed and unwashed - has an equal vote.

On the surface, your take is correct, but the sheer task of having the intellect to find this best of movie sites, to register and to take the time to place a vote makes it far less "populist" than the mere buying of a ticket (particularly given that every second ticket buyer may well have been dragged there simply in the hope of getting laid).

I would call this a pretty decent view of vox populi; certainly not remotely comparable to ticket sales, even if not the opinion of "informed" movie goers.

[Marlow]

I don't know your definition of "well over" but the list of films that has grossed over 1.1 billion has exactly five entries. I think I will counter your optimism, with I bet you it doesn't gross more in the US or worldwide (in 2012) than Hunger Games does.

Oooooh, that's a bet!! In its 6th week, Hunger Games is at $600 million: 370 domestic and 230 rest-of-world. Avengers will be well over 400M domestic by its 6th week and close (if not over) 400 more world-wide, as it closes in on the Big B.

Well, that was easy. Avengers passed Hunger Games in its first domestic weekend. World-wide sales:

Avengers $641M
H Games $613M

What'd I win, Johnny?

[Daisy]

Well, that was easy. Avengers passed Hunger Games in its first domestic weekend.

Wow, I'm stunned. This for a movie that I doubt I'll even watch on video. I guess it depends on whether you grow up with these characters or not.

[gh]

The SF Chron reviewer gave it the highest possible rating. And said that it's one worth sitting through the closing credits for because of a good Easter egg.

[Conor Dary]

Well, that was easy. Avengers passed Hunger Games in its first domestic weekend.

Wow, I'm stunned. This for a movie that I doubt I'll even watch on video. I guess it depends on whether you grow up with these characters or not.

Ditto with that. When I heard about this film I thought it was another remake of the UK tv series.

I will take Diana Rigg anytime over these guys.

[Marlow]

The SF Chron reviewer gave it the highest possible rating. And said that it's one worth sitting through the closing credits for because of a good Easter egg.

You'll have to know a whole lot about the Marvel Universe to understand it. It's just the profile of the (Super) Bad Guy coming in the sequel. It actually took me a moment to recognize him (though he is the logical choice).

[Marlow]

I will take Diana Rigg anytime over these guys.

I think that Scarlett Johansson in her catsuit will help soothe you psychic pain . . .. She's the American Sophia Loren (minus the smolder); she has curves in places where other women don't even have places.

[Master Po]

I will take Diana Rigg anytime over these guys.

I think that Scarlett Johansson in her catsuit will help soothe you psychic pain . . .. She's the American Sophia Loren (minus the smolder); she has curves in places where other women don't even have places.

Well stated, marlow. That noted, and with all respect and admiration and awestruckness w Scarlet J., I am w conor on this one. Something about Diana Rigg, imo.

[Cooter Brown]

If the Hulk's encounter with Loki doesn't bring a smile to your face, you have no soul.

[donley2]

Well, that was easy. Avengers passed Hunger Games in its first domestic weekend. World-wide sales:

Avengers $641M
H Games $613M

What'd I win, Johnny?

Bragging rights (of course). I was mainly messing with you, but I must admit I am a bit surprised by just how good that opening weekend was. My wife and son both liked it a lot.

[Flumpy]

I was unlikely to ever see this film in the first place but now that it's got Marlow's ringing endorsement I'll know to avoid it like the plague.

[Marlow]

I was unlikely to ever see this film in the first place but now that it's got Marlow's ringing endorsement I'll know to avoid it like the plague.

ILU2 . . .
I'm positive you'd hate it for too many reasons to even count . . .

P.S. I really liked Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (both versions) and The King's Speech, so feel free to avoid those also!!

[SQUACKEE]

Hey Marlow, what did you think of Water for Elephants? I love it! I saw in the paper it got 2 stars??!!! Gotta be at least 3!

[Marlow]

Hey Marlow, what did you think of Water for Elephants? I love it! I saw in the paper it got 2 stars??!!! Gotta be at least 3!

Not my cup of tea, but yes, it was well made and engaging. I'd recommend it as a Chick-Flick that a guy could tolerate.

[SQUACKEE]

Hey Marlow, what did you think of Water for Elephants? I love it! I saw in the paper it got 2 stars??!!! Gotta be at least 3!

Not my cup of tea, but yes, it was well made and engaging. I'd recommend it as a Chick-Flick that a guy could tolerate.

The only thing chicky aboot it was the love story, other then that it was a bleak world, werking a Cirus in 1931, you know you have just been laid off when they throw you from the train in the middle of the night in the middle of nowwhere, smack dab in the great depression!

[Marlow]

The only thing chicky aboot it was the love story, other then that it was a bleak world, werking a Cirus in 1931, you know you have just been laid off when they throw you from the train in the middle of the night in the middle of nowwhere, smack dab in the great depression!

My criterion for being a Chick-Flick is variable, but generally has to do with: is more more about the 'feelings' of the characters or is it about what they do (the 'action', per se, but not necessarily action in the sense of action-adventure). Is it more about what they DO or is it about how they feel? WFE seemed more emotion-based than action-based.

[SQUACKEE]

more emotion-based than action-based.

I must be in touch with my femy side cause the above is my recipe for a great action film!

[Marlow]

more emotion-based than action-based.

I must be in touch with my femy side cause the above is my recipe for a great action film!

You WUSS!
Man Card "Film Requirements"
1. Lots of things blow up real good
2. No mooshy stuff
3. Any discussion of 'feelings' must end up in a car chase or awesome fight scene.
4. There must be a macho hero who is the 'only guy who who can save us', but he's a 'loose cannon', and will get the snot beat out of him in the first hour, but defeat all baddies (in a satisfyingly bone-crunching sort of way) in the end, after which he WILL get the girl, but all hanky-panky must be implied as the end-credits roll.

See:
Bond,
Bourne,
or any character played by Van Damme, Norris, Seagal, the Rock, Statham, Willis, etc., etc.

[jeremyp]

more emotion-based than action-based.

I must be in touch with my femy side cause the above is my recipe for a great action film!

You WUSS!
Man Card "Film Requirements"
1. Lots of things blow up real good
2. No mooshy stuff
3. Any discussion of 'feelings' must end up in a car chase or awesome fight scene.
4. There must be a macho hero who is the 'only guy who who can save us', but he's a 'loose cannon', and will get the snot beat out of him in the first hour, but defeat all baddies (in a satisfyingly bone-crunching sort of way) in the end, after which he WILL get the girl, but all hanky-panky must be implied as the end-credits roll.

See:
Bond,
Bourne,
or any character played by Van Damme, Norris, Seagal, the Rock, Statham, Willis, etc., etc.

No to mention: no words of more than 2 syllables; women who can beat the snot out of the Hulk; no development of characters; humans capable of being thrown 300' against a wall and survive; humans able to recover from 6-8 bullet wounds in five minutes and look whole!