By the Birds of ‘Play

As proud nerds with vaginas and raging superhero fangirls, Kestrel and Diamond Dove stood outside in the bitter cold, under the threat of rain, for seven hours this weekend to secure their seats at a preview screening for this summer’s most highly anticipated movie, The Avengers. 

Swag bags were swung around, trivia contests were attacked with a fervor… and Diamond Dove came out of it with a battery powered, “lightning” shooting Mjolnir. (Which Kestrel promptly, upon getting home, began firing at DD’s dog, ironically also named Thor). Then they brought out Joss Whedon saying, “Hooray for Justice League— oh, oh that was embarrassing—”, Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson), Chris Hemsworth (Thor Odinson), and Tom Hiddleston (Loki Laufeyson). They all waved, bowed, blew kisses, saluted the audience, and, much to the dismay of all those assembled, did not take off their shirts. 

Then the movie began. 

Let me take a moment now to say that we’re not fans of 3D films. Not even a little, to be honest. And with eyes already tired from a lack of sleep the night before, and watching the sun rise, and a frozen headache, the 3D was a strain— but, surprisingly, a very slight one. There are some 3D films that will give me a migraine twenty minutes in to it… this was not one of them. It was surprisingly smooth for the entire ride, and what a ride it was! 

This is some of the best CG I have seen in films to date, and everything recent is put to shame by the fluidity and believablity of the Avengers. I will be very surprised if they do not win some form of award for it. Speaking of CGI: The Hulk. Finally, FINALLY, there is a Hulk well worth celebrating. And you will. Mark Ruffalo does an excellent job with Banner, and it makes his transition into a giant green rage monster all the more believable for it. 

No matter who you are a fan of, you will find a good amount of screen time with them, and everyone is Bad Ass. Really— for an introduction to the group’s dynamics, the do a damn good job of treating them as seperate people— but equally good of a job showing how they work together. 

Loki’s dialogue— or at least his many monologues, feel like they were written by some guy who writes handbooks for training submissives. I can’t help but feel bad for the actor, who will probably have to deal with his many fans insisting that they would WILLINGLY kneel for him. I’m a little annoyed, a day after the fact, about the role reversal between he and Thor, in regards to their attitudes about ruling, but what the hell. Falling through the branches of the world tree can change a guy, I guess. 

Speaking of Thor, I feel as though there was an extreme shift with his character that we missed out on between movies, some sort of understanding in regards to his brother that was reached, but we didn’t get to see, and it was a little jarring.

Cap came off a bit of a stick in the mud, being 100% focused on the mission, the way the character is supposed to be in tense situations. I would like to see more of him buddying up with the crew, in the future. (I also hear that Evans has a six movie deal, so there will be a LOT of future to look forward to)

Coulson is wonderful, business as usual, and hilarious to boot, with a charming fan boy side that we haven’t seen, up until now, with his fanbeams aimed for Cap’s star spangled awkwardness. 

Maria Hill is capable, quick, smart, and interesting, which is a challenge when standing in the shadow of the ever brilliant Samuel Jackson as Nick Fury, but something that she pulled off very well.

Renner as Hawkeye was really, truly wonderful, surprisingly strong in a role that we don’t get to see a whole hell of lot of, personality wise. But what we do see of him still leaves you punching the air to combat the sheer force of his badassery. And one of the greatest lines in the film is aimed at him. I hope it gets a meme.

I feel like Natasha was given a slightly bigger helping of ~feelings~ than everyone else, but it wasn’t, I think, enough to overshadow the character.

Pepper Potts proves that she can, in fact, sit with us, as one of the Birds’ favorite Mean Girls references rolls off her tongue in the background of one of the movie’s early scenes— see if you can spot it!

Tony is wonderful, and his banter and references and quippy one liners are the best kind of reminder that what you are watching is a Whedon film. The laughter rolls. 

Unfortunately, so do the tears, as Whedon once again proves that he can’t make a single movie without killing off one of the fan-favorite characters. 

But it’s okay. 

This is Marvel. 

People can come back, right? 

Right?

…guys?

The pacing is quick, smart, and the dialogue is witty, humorous, and layered. For as brief as the characterizations could have been, to get through all the action in the film, you completely understand where everyone is coming from. The chemestry on cast is just truly amazing to the point of being miraculous, considering the names involved with the project— though to be honest, Whedon is King of group dynamics, so we can’t truly be THAT surprised. 

All in all it is supremely satisfying, well worth the wait, and the Birds are already planning trips to see it at least half a dozen more times this summer.

As a final note, the last scene (detached from the movie, but before the credits), was one HELL of a teaser— and we heard rumors that there was a stinger filmed the night before our screening, so while there was nothing AFTER our credits, there might just be, come May 4th. Tom’s red hair and goatee at the Avengers Premiere, two days before the preview screening, and his black hair and clean shaven face at the screening support this. We’ll be excited to see what it is… May the Fourth be with us all, and soon! 

Signing out,

xoxo Diamond Dove and Kestrel

nerdswithvaginas:

Nerds With Vaginas and Birds of ‘Play

Phoenix as Mary Jane Watson