Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

rtambree wrote:

If you have everything and know everything and there's never any time limits and everything is perfect, then what the hell (pun intended) is there to do? A Charlie Sheen lifestyle... forever?

Biggest Jenga game....ever! Like we're talking like Burj Khalifa level shit here.

Acres upon acres of twister games.

Battleship... with real battleships!

Heaven has a certain infatuation for board games...just fyi. (The kerplunk set is kinda terrifying come to think of it)

Last edited by BigDamnArtist (2012-05-19 01:18:09)

ZangrethorDigital.ca

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Dorkman wrote:

But your objection to the idea of an evil guy's plan being to destroy everything is an issue I'm starting to have more and more with big fantasy stories I try to write or develop -- it's hard for me to get my head around what such a tyrant gets from "ruling" over a wasteland and a decimated people. Like, the Emperor in Star Wars. Why? I think it's just an ego thing when you get down to it -- the gratification of having power.

To be fair, we never actually saw the Emperor try and destroy much. He seemed pretty happy just ruling the universe. He got to power, and wanted to stay there. The Death Star was a big anti-terrorist weapon smile

As for the usual ruling over a wasteland, I agree. The better stories usually have the big bad evil simply bringing in a new order, perhaps even new people. Hitler wanted to depopulate Poland and Russia not to rule over empty land, but so he could move his people in. He also planned on tearing down Berlin and rebuilding it because, well, look at the place. The idea that you need to first create the rubble before you can rebuild your perfect society is an old one (and the motive behind Nero supposedly letting Rome burn)

I write stories! With words!
http://www.asstr.org/~Invid_Fan/

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153

Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Zarban wrote:

Tyrants have ruled over smoldering wastelands for thousands of years and still do in the filthy corners. North Korea is a starving hellhole. Parts of the Middle East are festering wounds. Parts of Africa are gangrenous ulcers. The Eastern Bloc was 31 flavors of human misery for 70 years. Medieval European monarchies were largely muckholes of disease and slaughter. Ancient empires were mostly slave-driven, human-sacrificing war economies.

But the tyrant (or over-achiever, I think many are simply misunderstood) destroys in service of building. Be it building towards an ideal, a philosophy, or pure achievement - it's essentially a creative act. The tyrant's people often serve to further the progress of the goal's attainment, their role is to become the building blocks of a better tomorrow.

Let's be honest, people are essentially cattle. Better to use them to achieve something great, whether by their labour, greed, or their insatiable need for "stuff". Using their otherwise small, meaningless lives to build an empire, country, or company is only logical.

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Dave wrote:

Let's be honest, people are essentially cattle. Better to use them to achieve something great, whether by their labour, greed, or their insatiable need for "stuff". Using their otherwise small, meaningless lives to build an empire, country, or company is only logical.

Well by that logic. Sauron does turn a horde of dissorganized, in-fighting, tribal orcs and goblins* into a polished image of an industrial society on the forefront of technology.

*I'm assuming here, but I think it's safe to say they didn't exactly have high ambitions

ZangrethorDigital.ca

Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

I suppose Civilization is a popular game and you're playing God. -ish. Except you wouldn't play Civilization in God-Mode i.e. where everything always ended up your way all the time. Otherwise you're basically left with Autocad.

I'm just trying to get into Loki's mind to figure out his motivation. If ants are to us what we are to Loki, then I can't really work out what he's trying to achieve. "Look Dad, here's my ant-farm I built myself - it's all mine."

But as Dorkman said, Loki could be just mad, so anything goes.

Last edited by avatar (2012-05-19 02:30:16)

not long to go now...

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

I always saw it more like Loki just had something to prove. Almost like he was convincing himself that humans were ants by conquering their world with ease (in theory). I think it does come down to an ego thing, where ultimately he is trying to prove he is far superior compared to everyone else. There are multiple examples throughout the film, one being his confidence in his ability to manipulate the avengers, and another being his inability to realize that black widow was trying to get information out of him in their 1 on 1 talk (it was pretty obvious she was faking, and I think it was meant to be obvious to show how Loki's ego was clouding his judgment).

The more I think about this movie, the more of a problem I have with the plot. Especially the part where the doctor programs in a failsafe into the machine he used to open the portal, as well as the fact that all the aliens just seemingly died after the mothership got destroyed.

Last edited by MrDudeMan (2012-05-19 05:56:00)

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

MrDudeMan wrote:

The more I think about this movie, the more of a problem I have with the plot. Especially the part where the doctor programs in a failsafe into the machine he used to open the portal, as well as the fact that all the aliens just seemingly died after the mothership got destroyed.

You read the abridged script too? tongue Which btw is awesome.

Not to completely change the subject, but I was reading an article and they made an off hand comment which kinda blew my mind with ideas.

So basically the story goes, Banner gets dosed with gamma radiation, and instead of killing him, it  turns him into giant green rage monster.

But...if we assume that this universe also contains mutants...as we're supposed too. What's to say Banner wasn't a mutant, whose powers were either revealed or mutated as a side effect of massive quantities of gamma radiation. Would partly explain at least why it seems nothing on the face of 3 planets can kill him. Also might explain his ability to grow and shrink at whim (The dude at the meeting of the punk mutants from X3 anyone?...actually come to think of it there's a lot of mutants whose power depends on some sort of mass creation out of thin air system...Mystique for one)

I know it has basically zero relevance to anything that actually exists in canon so far....but I thought that sounded like a freaking amazing idea and I wanted to share.

The article btw is here, but it's really barely worth the read: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/55828

Last edited by BigDamnArtist (2012-05-19 06:12:21)

ZangrethorDigital.ca

Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

BigDamnArtist wrote:

But...if we assume that this universe also contains mutants...as we're supposed too. What's to say Banner wasn't a mutant, whose powers were either revealed or mutated as a side effect of massive quantities of gamma radiation.

...

I know it has basically zero relevance to anything that actually exists in canon so far....but I thought that sounded like a freaking amazing idea and I wanted to share.

That's hinted at pretty strongly in the Ang Lee film. There's the scene in the prologue where the crying baby shows some streaks of green, indicating the Hulk already exists in there and is just unable to manifest.

As I recall Nick Nolte's Daddy Banner character also says something to indicate he was deliberately trying to cultivate Bruce to some end, although both Nolte and the film are somewhat incoherent overall.

Lee's HULK could still be considered part of the film canon, since INCREDIBLE HULK was a follow-up and not a reboot.

Last edited by Dorkman (2012-05-19 07:05:55)

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

MrDudeMan wrote:

The more I think about this movie, the more of a problem I have with the plot. Especially the part where the doctor programs in a failsafe into the machine he used to open the portal, as well as the fact that all the aliens just seemingly died after the mothership got destroyed.

Joss Whedon is obviously a big Phantom Menace fan.

not long to go now...

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

After watching the movie again yesterday with my family, I think I understand the Banner/Hulk relationship now and why the Hulk seems more compliant at the end of the film. (I also realized how good the 3D was. I had only seen the 2D version before this)

I think that the more Banner resists the Hulk, the more the Hulk rages and is uncontroled. However, once Banner willingly gives in to the Hulk at the end, the more control he ends up having. He told Cap that the trick was he was always angry. I think that means that he's always angry with himself, at who he is; and he's truly angry at what the Hulk has done to his life.

Throughout the movie Banner is acting like Adam Sandler in Anger Management. Constantly angry but fighting to stay in control and putting on a front of pleasantness. Trying to convince himself and others that he's not angry. The pent up anger causes him to explode when it reaches critical mass. Where as, like Adam Sandlers character, once he embraces the anger, it reveals itself in more controlled and constructive ways. I think one of the key comments is at the end of his and Starks conversation where Banner says "You may not enjoy it when it happens." and Stark responds, "You may find that you do." And when you see the Hulk at the end of the movie, he just seems to be having fun. "Hulk... Smash" and the Hulk smiles and tears things up. He punches Thor in jest. He plays rag doll with Loki and quips at the end "Puny god." He's just having fun being the Hulk.

Just a thought.

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

^I like this explanation.

"The Doctor is Submarining through our brains." --Teague

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

I'll include this here as this is a popular Avengers thread at the moment. The DVD/Blu will be released in September (August for France) with the following extras-

AVENGERS 4-Disc BD Combo Pack, 2-Disc BD Combo Pack and 2-Disc DVD Combo Pack Special Features:
• AUDIO COMMENTARY BY DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON
• MARVEL ONE-SHOT: ITEM 47
• SECOND SCREEN
• GAG REEL
• DELETED SCENES
- Alternate Opening - Maria Hill Interrogation
- Extended Scene - Loki & Barton Strategize
- Steve Rogers - Man Out of Time
- Nick Fury & World Security Council
- Extended Viaduct Fight - Raw Footage
- Fury & Hill Discuss the World Security Council
- Extended Scene - Banner and Security Guard
- Alternate Ending - Maria Hill Interrogation
• FEATURETTES
A Visual Journey
- Assembling the Ultimate Team
• SOUNDGARDEN MUSIC VIDEO - "Live to Rise"

AVENGERS DVD Special Features:
• AUDIO COMMENTARY BY DIRECTOR JOSS WHEDON
• FEATURETTES
- Assembling the Ultimate Team

Release Dates
United States: September 25th
United Kingdom/Ireland: September 17th
Germany: September 30th
France: August 25th

I know what I'm asking for, for my birthday in October. Full details and photos here- http://collider.com/the-avengers-blu-ra … ls/167342/

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

http://www.coronacomingattractions.com/sites/default/files/news/avengers_done_as_pixar.jpg

---------------------------------------------
I would never lie. I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation.

Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Thanks for listing the special features. It's a pity the deleted scenes haven't been merged into the movie (e.g. LOTR EE). Some directors don't like to do this, some do.

Here's Charlie Brooker's (of the Guardian in Britain) review of seeing Avengers...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree … experience

not long to go now...

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

avatar wrote:

Thanks for listing the special features. It's a pity the deleted scenes haven't been merged into the movie (e.g. LOTR EE). Some directors don't like to do this, some do.

Here's Charlie Brooker's (of the Guardian in Britain) review of seeing Avengers...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree … experience


I guarantee that this is the first of many different home video releases for this title. Keep in mind that Marvel is doing a 10 disc set with all of the films that led up to Avengers as well. You may get different bonus features on that as well.

Those who would trade liberties for securities, deserve neither liberties, nor securities.
-Benjamin Franklin

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166

Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Dorkman wrote:
rtambree wrote:

Fair enough. He likened humans to ants. How much pleasure would you get if an ant colony bowed down to you?

That Yahweh guy gets off on it pretty hard from what I hear.

But your objection to the idea of an evil guy's plan being to destroy everything is an issue I'm starting to have more and more with big fantasy stories I try to write or develop -- it's hard for me to get my head around what such a tyrant gets from "ruling" over a wasteland and a decimated people.


I always am fascinated with characters who have a "rule or be ruled," mentality.  They know the world is viscous, and that the only true way to defend yourself from it is to be in power and crush your enemies before they even realize they are your enemies.

Eddie Doty

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

avatar wrote:

I suppose Civilization is a popular game and you're playing God. -ish. Except you wouldn't play Civilization in God-Mode i.e. where everything always ended up your way all the time. Otherwise you're basically left with Autocad.

I'm just trying to get into Loki's mind to figure out his motivation. If ants are to us what we are to Loki, then I can't really work out what he's trying to achieve. "Look Dad, here's my ant-farm I built myself - it's all mine."

But as Dorkman said, Loki could be just mad, so anything goes.

I don't think Loki is mad in the sense we understand madness. Mad is often irrational or disjointed in their thinking-note I am not talking psychotic, because I think Loki is more along the psychotic line.

I think Loki is trying to spite Thor in taking over Earth, or Midegard, first. His motivation is revenge-pure and simple. The pain he feels at being "cast out" as he sees it, from Asgard gives him the right to take from whatever he wants and he wants Thor to suffer, and make him feel the pain of losing a world like Loki sees that he lost rule of Asgard. Since Thor cares about Earth, he will take that from him.

I can draw a basic parallel to Satan's tale in "Paradise Lost." Loki is similar to Satan in that he was cast out and ended up on Earth, and filled with wrath, unleashes it on humanity, requiring Odin's intervention who sends Thor, his son.

Of course, in Marvel's Asgardian mythos, Loki is the brother of Thor, but Jesus is the only son of YHWH, so parallels must end somewhere. Any analogy will break at some point.

If you want to seem some weird comic god on god battling, check out #4 at this link: http://www.cracked.com/article_18785_6- … pened.html

Also, this:
http://atestingpattern.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/thor-jesus1.jpg

God loves you!

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Really great article about Tony and Banner's relationship in the movie.

http://theumbrellaseller.tumblr.com/pos … qus_thread

Last edited by BigDamnArtist (2012-05-23 07:34:31)

ZangrethorDigital.ca

Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

http://www.geekologie.com/2012/05/22/avengers-drinks.jpg

---------------------------------------------
I would never lie. I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation.

Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Of course the real hero of the film is Mark Ruffalo's agent for getting him third billing considering he was making his debut to the franchise. big_smile

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Is the cocktail for Hawkeye a glass of water because he's so lame?

not long to go now...

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Hawkeye's cocktail is a poison arrow served in a tumbler with an arrow swizzle stick. It's got a little vodka, so it goes well with a black widow....

I don't see an Iron Man cocktail. OH YEAH DRINK STRAIGHT SCOTCH FROM A TIN CAN UNTIL YOU PASS OUT AND PEE YOUR PANTS.

edit: STOP PICKING ON HAWKEYE HE"S THE SENSITIVE ONE!

Last edited by Zarban (2012-05-23 22:02:45)

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

Zarban's House of Commentaries

173

Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Zarban wrote:

edit: STOP PICKING ON HAWKEYE HE"S THE SENSITIVE ONE!

http://www.stuffistumbledupon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Batman-Aquaman-Tuna-Sandwich_thumb.jpg

EDIT: Dammit Zarban, what kind of ninja-edit sorcerery was this O_O

Last edited by Lamer (2012-05-23 22:03:01)

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Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

Hawkeye is a highly trained super spy and silent assassin with a million ways to stop or kill you or steal your secrets before you even know it! Plus he's totally boning Black Widow!

STOP ACTING LIKE HAWKEYE IS AQUAMAN! HE DOENS'T HAVE SEX WITH CARP!

Last edited by Zarban (2012-05-23 22:06:09)

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

Zarban's House of Commentaries

Re: #31 - Chat: The Avengers

The DiF dudes were right in their commentary. One of invincible inflatable punching-doll Avengers had to die to raise the stakes for them, reveal vulnerability, and lower the character-count, and Hawkeye is the most expendable with his lame bow-and-arrow. The Dark Ages are over, bro. We've been using guns since the 15th century at least.

not long to go now...

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