My son and his pals dragged me (or was it vice versa?) to the multiplex to see the new Avengers blockbuster last weekend. And we all, in our different ways, loved it.
Normally, I’m not over-interested in movies with lots of explosions and action. But when it is all done with such panache, wit and story-telling, how can one resist? And the dialogue is choc-a-bloc with nods to pop culture at the most unexpected moments. One does not expect superheroes to be talking about Banksy and Eugene O’ Neil.
It’s all nonsense of course. But vastly enjoyable nonsense that does not take it self too seriously.
I’ve been a fan of Joss Whedon for a while. Space cowboy TV series Firefly was what converted me. And then of course there’s Buffy.
Anyone else share my enthusiasm?
http://www.dailydot.com/culture/joss-whedon-whedonverse-20-steps/
H.P. Saucecraft says
No.
Gatz says
Buffy, Yes, Firefly, No, that Doll House thing, No.
I’m on my second box-set binge of Buffy at the moment – The Light had never seen them and we’re up to Series 4, alternating a box of Buffy with a box of grim Scandi crime.
Out of love for Buffy I once borrowed Firefly from the library, and was hugely disappointed, primarily by the cut-out characters – the priest type, the cute young woman type, the more sophisticated courtesan type, the total void where the captain-bloke should have been. I lasted 4 episodes before taking it back. I found the set for 2 quid in a charity shop a week or two ago, so it will get another chance.
Big blockbuster movies aren’t my thing, but if I wanted to see one then Whedon’s name is what might swing it for me.
Bingo Little says
I was disappointed by Avengers 2.
Too many gags, a villain neutered by constant wise cracking (and nowhere near the Ultron of the comics), too little Hulk, and one of the worst “geniuses doing science together” montages in living memory.
The Hulkbuster sequence was awesome, but the rest was bland, poorly edited and chock full of product placement, the whole thing propped up only by RDJ’s charm.
I really liked the first one, but was underwhelmed this time out.
Kaisfatdad says
Never having read a comic with Ultron I mercifully did not have any preconceptions. I can see what you mean about his wise-cracking. But the again it was a pleasant contrast to all these super-evil baddies who take themselves too seriously.
The most interesting bit of “product” placement was that there a part of the story set in Seoul. The South Koreans must have been rather chuffed by that. Really putting them on the map. And why not?
Which African city was the Hulkbuster scene set in? Were they vague or did I just miss that?
Perhaps one day we’ll see a real smash them up action scene like this set in somewhere Bath, Manchester, Pinner or Brighton? That would be fun.
I was a little apprehensive but was definitely whelmed rather than underwhelmed.
Bingo Little says
Blockbuster movies have been leaning towards a more global setting for the last few years – the overseas audience is becoming an increasingly important target market for the studios. If you watch the most recent Fast & Furious movie it literally skips continent every ten minutes.
The product placement I was referring to was more along the lines of [incredibly mild spoiler] Quicksilver taking a break before heading into battle, strolling over to his wardrobe and pulling out a box-fresh pair of Adidas trainers, which the camera then lingers lovingly on for a second or two. It was properly glaring stuff, even by the standards of modern Hollywood.
paulwright says
Another Weedonite here.
Buffy and Angel first obviously. Mostly Buffy.
Firefly bears repeated watching. It is short. The Priest was a secret agent. The Captain is the Han Solo who shot first. The pretty young girl is a killing machine (if you mean River and not Kaylee the engineer). Ok the sophisticated courtesan is mostly that.
Dollhouse is possibly the bleakest programme ever to appear on mainstream tv.
His Much ado about Nothing is great fun, and shot in his house in a fortnight. Nice house.
I preferred the first Avengers to AoU, but it is great fun. There was a lot of product placement, but that is how you fund a film these days. Has to be said I was only expecting to be entertained, and it did that well enough that I shall watch it on the TV sometime.
drakeygirl says
I thought the first Avengers had as much Whedon in it as he could get away with, bearing in mind the big superhero franchise films all have to include huge final fight scenes that go on way too long. Although how the hell he got them to pass on “mewling quim” is one of the mysteries of our time.
I haven’t seen the second Avengers film yet, but I’m sure I will when it comes out on blu-ray. Apparently, there were lots of battles with the director and the studio bods over character scenes that had to be chopped for…lots of battles.
I do, however, want to put my hand up to sharing your Whedon enthusiasm, @kaisfatdad, even though I’ve not loved everything he’s done. I would say to @gatz that Firefly definitely has its moments (and is worth watching as a run-up to the splendid film Serenity, which neatly encapsulated many of the series’ attractions).
And there is, of course, only one correct response to the OP…
Buffy. Just Buffy
It was, and remains, monumentally good TV.
Twang says
We went a few weeks ago and TwangJr pronounced it “brilliant”, mind you if there is noise, maybe and destruction that is the expected verdict. I found it a bit hard to watch, especially the opening scene which I thought was a directorial trick where it would turn out we were watching someone playing a computer game….the CGI always puts me off, but I guess in a superhero movie there’s no choice. It is what it is. I preferred “Assemble” but hey. Good fun is what it’s about.
Kaisfatdad says
Weedon! Hurray!
“We are normal and we want our freedom……”
Ooops! Am I on the wrong thread?
Simonl says
Was a big fan of Buffy, mostly because it was a great comic book inspired series. Up until that point only Batman and Superman had successfully transferred to screen in my opinion, but we were about to get far more successful adaptions. But Buffy did it first. It is essentially the X-Men and a continuation of Stan Lee’s idea of having teenagers/young adults and their problems being as important as the ‘super’ aspect. I think it went on too long, but Buffy managed to mix all that up in a very unique way. And episodes such as the silent one still stand up as excellent tv.
Firefly is just the adventures of Han Solo. And that’s absolutely fine, it’s funny, it’s action packed, it’s a series of scoundrels up to no good. One of my favourite things of the 21st Century. It’s also casting a shadow across the Disney versions of Star Wars, which is good because the scoundrel pirate smuggler stuff was what was missing from the Star Wars prequels.
Take a look at Star Wars Rebels, which you might dismiss as a kids’ cartoon, but which is basically Firefly with lightsabers. Hopefully the new films may also take its influence on board.
Kaisfatdad says
Agree. Seen a couple of episodes of Star Wars Rebels and it looks rather fun. Aimed at a slightly younger audience than the Clone Wars series which could be rather dark.
Simonl says
SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s not as dark as Clone Wars, but hidden in the midst of the first series were several quite dark things going on. The big eyed Disney looking characters hid it well, but there were tortures and murders and a trap where the bait was a dead body. The next series which starts next month looks to be taking it much more dark places. Plus some of the characters in it and the next series may have been in Clone Wars….
Kaisfatdad says
Tortures and murders? Sounds very like Clone Wars then.
Sounds as though they are trying to have it both ways and appeal to both the younger and slightly older audience.
Rather a lot of that going on. Toyshops full of toys from films which are definitely not appropriate for younger children. Batman is the most extreme case . Three very violent, very adult films existing simultaneously with toys for kids of about five years old.
Kid Dynamite says
You would not believe the excitement in my house when Fulcrum’s identity was revealed…
Sniffity says
“Was a big fan of Buffy, mostly because it was a great comic book inspired series.”
Er, what comic book inspired it?
signed
Comics Pedant
Simonl says
Yup, no direct Buffy comic, but everything in it was pretty much the X Men no? Including a danger room, and Giles as Prof X. Although Xander was more the Peter Parker template. Willow even does a Dark Phoenix.
Kaisfatdad says
There are surely movies which are inspired by the feel of comic books without there actually being a comic book?
Not that I can think of one just now.
Bingo Little says
Well, the Matrix did a pretty good job of ripping off Grant Morrison’s Invisibles….
Simonl says
Luther, the Idris Elba thing is basically Batman. The Ruth Wilson character is Catwoman & The Joker in one.
The credits even look like Frank Miller’s Batman, the colours especially.
Poppy Succeeds says
Oh, *that* was what The Invisibles was about!
Kid Dynamite says
Joss Weedon wrote Alien Resurrection. For that, he will spend eternity with demons feasting on his innards and eagles eating his eyeballs, so it doesn’t really matter what I think of the rest of his work. The fact that his oeuvre contains some of the smuggest self satisfied rubbish to ever come out of the television and movie industries (which are not known for being short on smug self satisfaction) is neither here not there.
Kaisfatdad says
Reading between the lines, I suspect you are not too big a fan, Kid.
badger_king says
Buffy.
Angel.
You don’t need to go beyond that… although I may investigate the graphic novels he wrote for each of those, just to see if it ties up loose ends in plot.
Avengers Assemble was good… but I don’t yet have the yearning to own it and watch it over and over. As with the current glut of Marvel movies, they’re good to watch, but don’t really bear repeated viewings.
Black Type says
I think Joss’s problem has been having too many ideas/projects running at any one time, and in this context spreading himself too thinly by investing more of his creative energy on a newer and generally lower quality idea to the detriment of the older but superior one. This can certainly be felt through the progress of many if not all of his TV creations, which had a noticeable falling off in overall standards in later seasons even if there were always one or two Joss-centric episodes to encourage us to keep the faith.
I think what he consistently does well is to create complex and sometimes flawed characters who we nevertheless care about enough to continue watching when the other aspects of the show or film are less than stellar.
Kaisfatdad says
Excellent analysis Black T.
I can imagine (as mentioned above) that he spends a lot of time these days in power struggles with studio bosses to make the films he wants to make rather than the ones they want him to make.
I think he succeeded with Ultron for the most part.
I suspect he is rather good at directing actors. He does write some great dialogue for them.
And he casts well. Sarah Michelle Geller was not only a great action heroine but also a gifted comic actor. She was great fun in the two Scooby films as Daphne.
Locust says
Buffy; oh yes. Everything else; no. Superheroes? Yawn.
How many more superhero movies can Hollywood make before we all collectively projectile vomit at the sight of another masked actor wearing a tacky lycra suit?
Or is it just me…? One or two was fine, but now it’s getting ridiculous.