I think this is why I'm not as super excited by Age of Ultron as I have been by other Marvel films. It just looks like they've thrown in everything that everyone wants in a Marvel film. Sure, I know I'll enjoy it, but only in the same way that I enjoy other Joss Whedon products. Enjoyment, but a weird awareness that I've been dished out exactly what they know I will enjoy.
Compare this to my two actual favourite Marvel films, Winter Soldier and GotG. Winter Soldier took the risk of having a more mature tone, and GotG took risks in being less mature. Different kinds of risks, but more rewarding cinema.
Age of Ultron looks... safe. Entertaining, but safe. There will be Whedonesque Banter. There always is.
It's (obviously) a matter of taste. I've been a fan of Whedon's writing since Buffy. I find it smart, literate, and oftentimes hilarious. His plots are sometimes a little predictable, but these are comic book movies and I don't find that a drawback. Your mileage may vary, of course, and I suppose I'll tire of it eventually, but right now all I expect is a massively entertaining movie. Whedon is, I think, capable of deep content, but if that's what I wanted I wouldn't be looking at a movie about a group of superheroes battling an AI robot.
Yes, I hate it when my favorite restaurant brings me exactly what I ordered, exactly the way I like it prepared by masters of their craft. What a nightmare! You expect me to sit here and enjoy this? You can always eat at Denny's, i.e. wait for the next DC disaster to be disappointed in new and different ways.
Clever response, anonymous, but no, this is not actually what I ordered. Just what was served up to me.
It's more like going into a restaurant and them saying, 'Hey, we know you around here, and we know you always enjoy this particular dish. So here it is! Exactly the way we know you always like it'. And I eat it because I know that this is true. But afterwards, I just forget about it.
And while I have often ordered other things off the menu and been disappointed and wished I had just had my regular instead, sometimes I have been pleasantly surprised. Either way is more memorable though, and isn't richness in life about doing more memorable things?
Diane: "Oh. Look. Sudden fatal peril. That's, like, bad, right? I'm gonna stand here and, like, blather near-sardonic understatements instead of reacting like a human."
But that's not even the case here. These are people complaining about anticipating something is going to be what they want. Whedon knocked it out of the park with the first Avengers film. The sequel is looking great. People who have seen the movie already have nothing but good things to say. Yet still there's a group of people determined to cry with a loaf of bread under their arm.
We're at a point where talented film makers are taking source material that we love, and they love, and making really cool stuff. Quit bitching and enjoy the ride.
I think this is why I'm not as super excited by Age of Ultron as I have been by other Marvel films. It just looks like they've thrown in everything that everyone wants in a Marvel film. Sure, I know I'll enjoy it, but only in the same way that I enjoy other Joss Whedon products. Enjoyment, but a weird awareness that I've been dished out exactly what they know I will enjoy.
ReplyDeleteCompare this to my two actual favourite Marvel films, Winter Soldier and GotG. Winter Soldier took the risk of having a more mature tone, and GotG took risks in being less mature. Different kinds of risks, but more rewarding cinema.
DeleteAge of Ultron looks... safe. Entertaining, but safe. There will be Whedonesque Banter. There always is.
"There will be Whedonesque banter. There always is."
DeleteAnd you've just hit on why I'm not as super-excited by Age of Ultron as I have been by other Marvel films.
It's (obviously) a matter of taste. I've been a fan of Whedon's writing since Buffy. I find it smart, literate, and oftentimes hilarious. His plots are sometimes a little predictable, but these are comic book movies and I don't find that a drawback. Your mileage may vary, of course, and I suppose I'll tire of it eventually, but right now all I expect is a massively entertaining movie. Whedon is, I think, capable of deep content, but if that's what I wanted I wouldn't be looking at a movie about a group of superheroes battling an AI robot.
DeleteYes, I hate it when my favorite restaurant brings me exactly what I ordered, exactly the way I like it prepared by masters of their craft. What a nightmare! You expect me to sit here and enjoy this? You can always eat at Denny's, i.e. wait for the next DC disaster to be disappointed in new and different ways.
DeleteClever response, anonymous, but no, this is not actually what I ordered. Just what was served up to me.
DeleteIt's more like going into a restaurant and them saying, 'Hey, we know you around here, and we know you always enjoy this particular dish. So here it is! Exactly the way we know you always like it'. And I eat it because I know that this is true. But afterwards, I just forget about it.
And while I have often ordered other things off the menu and been disappointed and wished I had just had my regular instead, sometimes I have been pleasantly surprised. Either way is more memorable though, and isn't richness in life about doing more memorable things?
Diane: "Oh. Look. Sudden fatal peril. That's, like, bad, right? I'm gonna stand here and, like, blather near-sardonic understatements instead of reacting like a human."
DeleteIts pretty sad when we're to the point that we're complaining about people making stuff that we're going to like.
ReplyDeleteThe anticipation is often better than the thing you're anticipating.
DeleteBut that's not even the case here. These are people complaining about anticipating something is going to be what they want. Whedon knocked it out of the park with the first Avengers film. The sequel is looking great. People who have seen the movie already have nothing but good things to say. Yet still there's a group of people determined to cry with a loaf of bread under their arm.
DeleteWe're at a point where talented film makers are taking source material that we love, and they love, and making really cool stuff. Quit bitching and enjoy the ride.