I liked how the Hulkbuster Armor deployment was called Veronica.

Hulk's old girlfriend is Betty Ross. Veronica. Betty and Veronica. Archie comics anyone? A very Whedonesque joke there.

 

Saw it last weekend, and needed some time to digest.

Walking out, I liked, a hell of a lot. Was it as good as the first one? I'm of two minds. It lacked the "Slam-Bang-Pow" excitement of the first one, but I think that feeling was rooted in the sheer novelty.

This one, however, was more nuanced. With all the 'come-together' feelings out of the way, the team actually was a team, and knew how to work it. This meant that we could have more interactions and character growth... and that's what I wanted. We've been with these characters for ten freaking movies now. I want to see them talk to each other and goof around and be people. Otherwise, I stop relating. (Side note - this is my main reason for being Marvel instead of DC, but that's a debate for another day.)

There have been complaints that it didn't live up to the first one, that the humor was too overt, that the story was hacked up. All of those have some validity.

The first one was damn good, and a tough act to follow. I think most of that feeling comes from it not being quite the same experience as the first, even though it ostensibly follows the same plot. Thing is, I wanted something different, and I got it.

The jokes? Fuck it, bring'em on. I want more. If you didn't enjoy the humor, then you probably don't enjoy watching Norse people get knocked out of frame, either, and then I simply can't help you.

Hacked up? ... Well, yes. Thor seemed to be the one who mostly suffered for this, and I for one want to see the missing 20 minutes. But got the feeling Bruce had a scene or two missing, as well. Not sure why.

Anyway, Hawkeye is my new hero. Surrounded by 'gods', this is a grounded, human guy doing his best and using his one real obvious talent. Except, as we see, he doesn't have just one talent. Because he's actually got his own shit together, he can see that everyone else doesn't. (I would have liked a scene where he called them out on it rather than everyone having private epiphanies.) He's also the new official King of Keeping Secrets, and that's awesome.

So, yeah. Liked it, will watch again.

EDIT: Just read that second review, and yeah, I ended up skimming the last bit. The guy's either got a bug up his ass or was purposely told to write a negative review. A few of his points are easily countered by anyone who actually watched the movie, a few others feel forced. His argument that there is no character development needs amore thorough answer, which the other review provides quite well. And his feeling that Black Widow is defined by her inability to have children is simply stupid: that emotional beat isn't about kids, it's about choice, and the fact that the choice was taken away from her, leaving her less than a person.

 

I didn't like it. I especially didn't like the twins. And I really really didn't like Quicksilver's death. If anyone wants to see a movie about an AI finding out it's life choices go see Ex Machina. I can't recommend it enough.

 

Somehow I don't think the people who made Avengers and those who made Ex Machina were going for the same sort of AI theme.