I have a lot of apologizing to Joss Whedon to do, so let’s get started.
Joss Whedon, I’m sorry.
All weekend, I’ve been trying to articulate my thoughts on The Avengers, but it kept coming out as
- OHMYGODTHATWASAWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- HULKSMASH!!!!
- MUSTSEEAGAIN!!!!
I can’t say that I’ve been waiting my whole life for an Avengers movie (I really prefer the Justice League and DC in general), but I guess I kinda have been waiting my whole life for a movie like this. A superhero movie that isn’t dumbed down for the mundanes, isn’t weighed down by origin stories, and isn’t embarrassed by itself.
Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America: Fist Avenger all captured most of it on an individual basis for their title characters. My big worry with The Avengers (other than the usual worries about sucking too much) was that it was pretty much going to be Iron Man 3, with Hulk & Friends in supporting roles.
Joss Whedon, I’m sorry I forgot how well you do ensemble casts (I’m blaming Dollhouse for that bit of memory loss). Which brings me to…..
Joss Whedon, I’m sorry I let Dollhouse crack my confidence in your ability to do The Avengers. But, in my defense, Dollhouse was a terrible show.
Everything about The Avengers was perfect. From Black Widow’s interrogation to Iron Man and Captain America’s pissing contest to everything with the Hulk, it was perfect. It was snappy and funny in all the right places without ever delving into self-mockery or fan mockery. Like John Carter, The Avengers is a movie that knows what it is and relishes in it.
The Avengers is the most sincere comic book movie I’ve ever seen.
Hell, it’s the best comic book movie I’ve ever seen, period.
Joss Whedon, I’m sorry I doubted you. Hey, look! It’s Joss Whedon in a Pink Raygun t-shirt!
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Lisa Fary's earliest influences are Princess Leia, Rainbow Bright, Astronaut Barbie, and her 6th grade teacher, Ms. Palmer. She's angry that it's 2011 and she still doesn't have a hovercraft, but will accept a jetpack as consolation. That jetpack had better be pink with a rhinestone monogram. 
Dollhouse WAS terrible, wasn’t it? I just don’t think Joss could handle a show that hinged everything it was on the title actress. (No offense to Eliza Dushku, who I love, but Dollhouse might as well just been called ‘Eliza’ or something.)
That said, AGREE SO HARD with everything here. Whedon really balanced everything out well, so that every Avenger felt like they had equal screen time. I especially love what he did with the Hulk/Banner. Out of all of the Marvel superhero movies I feel like he gets the least love (due in part to that TERRIBLE Ang Lee movie, which the recent remake even had a hard time overcoming, despite being good) so I was glad Joss did WONDERFUL things with his character. And I love Captain America even more now. My beloved Capsicle.
I think due in part to Ang Lee, but maybe also due to our modern ideas of how feelings should look and our medicated culture. I run into so many kids at school who are on medication because they wouldn’t listen to their parents. If I don’t add a thousand smilies in an email at work, I’m seen as being unpleasant and may get a talking to about email etiquette. The Hulk is everything that is ugly and messy – and natural – about emotion and I think that scares the shit out of people these days. No one views anger as a thing that can be the source of positive power – it’s something to be eradicated.
You are so brootal. I love it!