What can I say about The Avengers, which is well on its way to becoming one of the most successful - perhaps the most successful - movie ever made, at least in terms of box office receipts?
I have to admit that I liked it. The performances are winning, especially Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Mark Ruffalo as David Banner, aka The Hulk. The script is really good - it takes its subject seriously but not too seriously, it respects its audience, and it has moments of real wit and irony (for which we can thank Joss Whedon, who also brought us "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Firefly," which may have been his best work).
However, I have to admit that during the first hour or so, I found myself thinking about how silly it all was, and how strange it is that hundreds of millions of dollars get spent in the service of a superhero movie. At a certain point, I got past that, and I got swept away in the Imax-3D spectacle of it all. And there are some good lessons - offered lightly - about the importance of teamwork, and about how perhaps the greatest superpower of all is good character.
Maybe I'm just getting old. I prefer The Dark Knight kind of superhero movie, which is darker and seems to serve as a metaphor or social commentary. But I get that some people would argue that this creates a kind of self-importance that is inappropriate for a movie about a crime fighter who runs around in a mask and tights.
You'll have a good time at The Avengers, I expect. It is better than the average superhero movie, and even better than anyone has a right to expect. But I guess I'm just getting to the point where comic book movies have limited appeal.
I have two wonderful reds to recommend to you this week...
2007 Tolosa Pinot Noir, which has a light fruitiness and yet a kind of depth that makes it a wonderfully complex pinot. (It goes for about $28 a bottle.)
2006 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, which a terrifically bold cab, perfect with a steak and potatoes. (It goes for about $40 a bottle...I have to admit that it was given to me as a gift...)
Both great, if a little pricey. Enjoy!
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend, and I'll see you Monday.
Slainte!
I have to admit that I liked it. The performances are winning, especially Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Mark Ruffalo as David Banner, aka The Hulk. The script is really good - it takes its subject seriously but not too seriously, it respects its audience, and it has moments of real wit and irony (for which we can thank Joss Whedon, who also brought us "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Firefly," which may have been his best work).
However, I have to admit that during the first hour or so, I found myself thinking about how silly it all was, and how strange it is that hundreds of millions of dollars get spent in the service of a superhero movie. At a certain point, I got past that, and I got swept away in the Imax-3D spectacle of it all. And there are some good lessons - offered lightly - about the importance of teamwork, and about how perhaps the greatest superpower of all is good character.
Maybe I'm just getting old. I prefer The Dark Knight kind of superhero movie, which is darker and seems to serve as a metaphor or social commentary. But I get that some people would argue that this creates a kind of self-importance that is inappropriate for a movie about a crime fighter who runs around in a mask and tights.
You'll have a good time at The Avengers, I expect. It is better than the average superhero movie, and even better than anyone has a right to expect. But I guess I'm just getting to the point where comic book movies have limited appeal.
I have two wonderful reds to recommend to you this week...
2007 Tolosa Pinot Noir, which has a light fruitiness and yet a kind of depth that makes it a wonderfully complex pinot. (It goes for about $28 a bottle.)
2006 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, which a terrifically bold cab, perfect with a steak and potatoes. (It goes for about $40 a bottle...I have to admit that it was given to me as a gift...)
Both great, if a little pricey. Enjoy!
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend, and I'll see you Monday.
Slainte!
- KC's View:
