Spoiler-Free Q&A From Advanced Screening Of The Avengers

So I saw The Avengers last night at an advanced screening and while our full-on official [from local Avengers fan, Geoff Arbuckle] review is coming soon I couldn’t help but answer some quick spoiler-free questions.

So, is all the hype true? Are people excited to see this movie?

I showed up an hour early and the line was already wrapping around the building. Half the crowd was wearing Marvel t-shirts and the other half was a mix between business guys in suits, bikers, and full on families. The extra security could barely hold down the fort.

Extra security?

Yeah, I’d call the two metal detectors and guards checking people’s bags extra security. No cell phones or electronics allowed, typical of an advanced screening but this security was beefier than I’d ever seen at a theater.

3D or regular ol’ fashion 2D?

3D.

Did it make a difference?

Yes. For good and for bad. There were actions scenes where the 3D really did make the experience better and other scenes where there was either so much going on that it made things a little blurry or it was so dark that it make making out the details a little difficult.

So skip the 3D?

No. See it in 3D and 2D. You’ll want to see this twice.

So it was good?

We’ve got a full blown review coming but if you’ve enjoyed the previous “shared universe” Marvel movies I can’t image you not enjoying this.

Was it at least worth it? All the hype?

I just suggested you seeing it twice.

Touché. Ok, then what about the trailers? Did they give away all the good parts?

Definitely not. In fact I was really surprised at how much was kept from the trailers given how many different ones there were plus all the TV spots. All the moments I cheered and clapped for were not in the trailers.

You cheered and clapped?

I said to see it twice.

Oh yeah. What about The Dark Knight Returns? There seems to be a bit of a battle going on for who’s going to “win” this summer between the two competing publisher’s movies.

I suspected it going in, and after seeing it it’s even more true – outside of the publisher’s the source material is derived from and both being superhero flicks these two don’t really compete with each other. The Avengers is a live action comic book while the Dark Knight trilogy are great movies featuring comic book characters. The Batman movies are grounded mystery thrillers walking as close to reality as a superhero film can, The Avengers is all out superhero on supervillain action. I mean during The Dark Knight The Joker’s makeup was rubbing off half the time, we could see more human actor than psycho comic villain, very symbolic of how close to reality the movie attempted to be. While The Avengers relies heavily on visual eye candy and witty one-liners. And I think Captain America might sleep with that suit on.

Who do you think will bring in more money?

If that’s what matters, and I don’t think I would have said this two months ago but it might be The Avengers. Not because it’s going to be greater than the Dark Knight Rises necessarily (these things are subjective) but because it appeals to such a wider audience. I saw dad’s with their 7-year old kids and mother-daughter combos in line for this, and despite the intense action it has almost no “gore” and there is hardly any sexual references at all (aside from some interesting shots of Scarlett Johansson). It’s the most family friendly Marvel movie to date.

“Family friendly?”

Don’t worry, it’s still everything you were hoping it to be. The other non-”family friendly” folks were having just as much fun.

So it was good?

Stop asking. Review coming soon.

Was it fun?

More fun than I expected.

Did Stan Lee make his cameo?

Yup. And it may have been his most subtle cameo yet. The crowd cheered when he showed up.

Should I stick around after the credits?

Nope. They’ve done scenes after the credits to every one of these “shared universe” Marvel movies but don’t do it here for some reason.

Are you being sarcastic?

You’ll have to find out.

I think your being sarcastic.

You’ll have to find out.

So I should go see this?

Yes.

How many times?

At least twice.

“LOL” the new Miley Cyrus movie comes out this weekend. She plays a girl called Lola. Should I see that?

Hulk…

Smash?

Yes.

Tags: Avengers Movie Comic Book Movies