Avengers: Age of Ultron.

[jgsugden]

I think all of Phase II is being shown on Starz or Encore (I forget which) right now and all of Phase I is being shown on FX.  Netflix has a lot of them right now, too, I think.  

http://www.canistream.it/search/movie/captain%20america%20winter%20soldier

[Velorath]

Wait, I should watch Winter Soldier first? Hm, is that on Amazon Prime yet? Nope, TWENTY DOLLARS. This is why "we" haven't caught up yet. I'm not dropping a twenty to watch a streaming movie at home.

I finally got tired of waiting to see Days of Future Past and ponied up $6 to watch it a couple weeks ago. But $20? Nope.

We were talking about seeing the new Avengers at an IMAX since we'll be in a mall that has one this weekend. But meh, if I'm not going to get all the story bits because I missed everything between the last Avengers and now, fuck it. Iron Man 3? $20. Thor:tDW? $20. To watch the three movies involved (assuming there aren't more I don't know about?) for $60 at home before blowing $40 to watch the new one?

Nope.

If you're a casual enough fan that you skipped the last several movies, I don't think you should be really worrying about picking up every minor story bit in Avengers 2. The biggest plot point you missed is what happened to SHIELD in Cap 2.

[Sky]

It's only digital purchase. I wonder how much revenue they're losing by not having them up for rental on major streaming sites in the week or two leading up to this. I would've bit for $6, probably. Now I won't even see the new one in the theater and just wait until the new Star Wars comes out for my first IMAX experience. No big deal, but I was kind of looking forward to it. They'll all stream cheap or free eventually.

I got the SHIELD stuff by context because I watch the tv show (though I'm several episodes behind).

Actually the main reason I was getting excited was the leadup stuff happening in SHIELD the last few weeks.

[Nevermore]

If you've been watching Agents of SHIELD then I doubt there's anything in Cap II you'd need to see for Avengers II.

[DraconianOne]

It's only digital purchase. I wonder how much revenue they're losing by not having them up for rental on major streaming sites in the week or two leading up to this. I would've bit for $6, probably. Now I won't even see the new one in the theater and just wait until the new Star Wars comes out for my first IMAX experience. No big deal, but I was kind of looking forward to it. They'll all stream cheap or free eventually.

I got the SHIELD stuff by context because I watch the tv show (though I'm several episodes behind).

Actually the main reason I was getting excited was the leadup stuff happening in SHIELD the last few weeks.

In the UK, most of the marvel films are currently streaming on Netflix - can't speak for the US though. They seem to have a deal with Disney so if you don't already subscribe, you could maybe get a month free trial?

[Velorath]

I got the SHIELD stuff by context because I watch the tv show (though I'm several episodes behind).

Actually the main reason I was getting excited was the leadup stuff happening in SHIELD the last few weeks.

Then yeah, you should be ok to watch Age of Ultron. You missed Falcon being introduced in Cap 2 but he only has very brief appearances here, and Thor 2 and GOTG detailed the Infinity Gem stuff a bit more. I'd still recommend watching Cap 2 and GOTG if you haven't seen it because they're both good movies, but you don't need to see them before Age of Ultron.

[Sky]

I did see Guardians, that was on Amazon for $5 a while ago (currently not rentable, $20 to buy like the others). I guess Disney and Amazon are going through a thing right now.

[Lakov_Sanite]

Having watched the movie I can say I had fun but it was just so, bloated. Too many things going on made for a really diluted narrative and what could have been a great movie was just, ok.

[jgsugden]

There are rumors of an extended cut coming that dilutes the bloat, but I consider those rumors suspect given Whedon walking ...

And does anyone else feel that Whedon walking away from Marvel directing was heavily influences by how they handled Wright?

[Slyfeind]

I feel like Whedon and Wright are stepping away for the same reasons. They've been pretty upfront about it, how there's so much stuff they have to put in, so much to keep track of, and yeah you can tell your own story as long as Thanos and Falcon and Vision are there and they go to Wakanda at some point and and and....

[Mazakiel]

I did see Guardians, that was on Amazon for $5 a while ago (currently not rentable, $20 to buy like the others). I guess Disney and Amazon are going through a thing right now.

In my experience, that's how Amazon treats most new release type stuff, at least the big movies.  It'll be rentable for a bit, and then it switches to full price and never goes back to being something you can rent.  Some new releases are purchase only until a few weeks have passed, so you have to constantly check back to make sure it doesn't slide back into purchase only before you get a chance to watch. 

It's one of the few frustrations I have with their digital offerings. 

[Pennilenko]

Saw this just now. It was great. I got every thing I wanted from it, lots of super heroes kicking ass.

[Lakov_Sanite]

It might be one of the best live action comic books out there, though I'd argue that doesn't translate into a movie as well.  Still for what it is, it does a good job but I'd watch a 180min directors cut in a heartbeat if they could just expand on stuff and let the movie breathe.

[eldaec]

Can't see any reason Whedon would choose to stay - he's done the job, not likely to be any different next time.

He's been involved for most the last five years. That's a long time for a property that will never be his own, and for someone who cpuld probably get funding to do anything he likes at this point.

[Tannhauser]

Saw this just now. It was great. I got every thing I wanted from it, lots of super heroes kicking ass.

Just saw it myself and I concur.  Great action scenes, one-liners and surprises.  I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed the Scarlet Witch.  It did feel slightly bloated, but hey summer popcorn movie fun.  Kitchen sink ahoy!   So glad I dodged most of the spoilers.

[Evildrider]

[Velorath]

There are rumors of an extended cut coming that dilutes the bloat, but I consider those rumors suspect given Whedon walking ...

And does anyone else feel that Whedon walking away from Marvel directing was heavily influences by how they handled Wright?

Whedon has done a lot of interviews lately and while he seems to be quite grateful to Marvel, he has been fairly open about some of the downsides. There was the quote from a week or so back about having made more money doing Dr. Horrible than he made doing the first Avengers movie, because Marvel hires directors without a lot of big hits to their names and don't pay them a lot. It also sounded like he maybe wasn't allowed to work on Agents of Shield to the extent that he would have liked and was more or less told that the movies needed to be his focus. And yeah, five years of working on other peoples' properties probably gets old for a guy like him.

I feel the same way as I did after Nolan finished up the Batman movies. It's great to see these guys do their takes on these iconic characters, but at some point you want them to get back to doing original stuff.

[HaemishM]

I stopped reading this when it released in Europe (damn you smelly Euros with your liberalism and healthcare and getting Avengers movies before me!) as I didn't want to spoiler myself.

My boss/buddy just took our 3-man department out to see this.

FUCK. YES.

I liked this one a whole lot better than the first one and I really loved the first one. This one had a lot more screen time and story for EVERY character, even the new ones, without feeling overstuffed or badly paced. Ultron/Spader was fucking fantastic and yes, he stole every scene he was in. The addition of Andy Serkis as


was a fantastic future story seed.


Unless you hate fun/super hero movies, go fucking see this.

[Raguel]

Two big spoilers there.  Don't touch.

I just got through watching the movie. Loved that.  

As a whole I liked the movie, but I didn't love it. I feel pretty much the same way I felt about DoFP though so take it for what it's worth.

[Rendakor]

Most of the Marvel films are gone from the US Netflix, and I am sad.

[Evil Elvis]

Saw it this evening.

The early reviews seemed mixed, so I went in with low expectations.  Turned out to be a fairly good Marvel movie.

Pacing is off, probably due to some obvious cuts in story to trim down the run time, and I started to get action fatigue at the last battle.  Still, the action was top notch, had good character development, and some funny one-liners.  Hopefully they release an extended cut on DVD.

I'd rate it:
CA2 = GotG > A:A > IM1 > A:AoU > T2 > CA1 > everything else

[Fordel]

I've heard people say that the DVD release will have like an extra hour+ of footage apparently, but that may just be internet being internet.

[Lakov_Sanite]

I've heard people say that the DVD release will have like an extra hour+ of footage apparently, but that may just be internet being internet.

It wouldn't surprise me. There was a LOT left on the cutting floor and you can really see jit when watching, lots of little threads of dialogue never explored and scenes that should have gone on a lot longer but cut short for expediency. Still, it's a good movie but man it felt rushed.

[WayAbvPar]

Just got back. Really enjoyed it. Had a few slow moments, but was very entertaining. I have been a Spader fanboy since the Steff days, so this was right in my wheelhouse. LOVED him. I don't know all the lore and whatnot, so I was mostly lost when the girl twin was doing her thing. She seemed to have quite the range of deus ex machina powers, however. Could watch Hulk and Iron Man do their thing forever, and even CA had a personality this time around. If you liked any of the Marvel movies I think you would have to work very hard to come out of this utterly disappointed.

[MahrinSkel]

Scarlet Witch's 'probability manipulation' powers have generally always been a deus ex machina, providing exactly the effects desired by the writers, even when those showed no obvious relationship to probability (or seemed like they were just telekinesis, mind control, or whatever else).

Going to have to wait another week or so before I can watch this. May need to stop checking this thread.

--Dave

[Riggswolfe]

I saw this and went in with mixed expectations. I too enjoyed the heck out of it. I particularly enjoyed that each character got their moment to shine. Hawkeye even had some good lines and good character development this time. Still, Spader stole the show. That said, in the final battle:

[Lakov_Sanite]

I saw this and went in with mixed expectations. I too enjoyed the heck out of it. I particularly enjoyed that each character got their moment to shine. Hawkeye even had some good lines and good character development this time. Still, Spader stole the show. That said, in the final battle:

Without spoiling, that is one of the scenes I was talking about when I said that it felt like there was more dialogue that got cut.  It really seemed like there should be more back and forth between the two at that moment.

[NowhereMan]

I saw this in a regular cinema screen and I feel like it would really benefit from being on Imax or similar. I really enjoyed it but it felt like it should have been more epic, at one point the speakers were falling apart trying to supply appropriate bass. Stupid South East Asian cinemas.

Also there were one or two moments of fun obvious censorship, I think at least:
A really fun movie though, top-notch popcorn fodder all really well done. If you at all enjoyed the first Avengers or just fun then check it out.

[Merusk]

So much going on it left my head spinning. I agree it needed a bit of time to breathe, but that's the trend in action movies these days. Start out at 11 and keep accelerating until the end.

It felt very rushed because of it and I was looking for more:

Also there were one or two moments of fun obvious censorship, I think at least:

You missed a line:

Two big spoilers there.  Don't touch.

Agreed, that was just so well done and so well delivered it killed me. Not enough reaction in my theater to it, IMO.

[Velorath]

The focus on Hawkeye was because this is the third movie he appears in and he hasn't had any characterization so far. He had a couple lines of dialogue in Thor and was mind controlled through most of Avengers. They kinda needed to do something with his character.

[Threash]

Rather than making it so you have to watch the previous stuff so you can keep up they've actually gone the complete opposite way.  Nothing that happened before matters.  Last we saw Tony he blew up all his suits and retired, not a single fuck was given about any of that. We know for a fact he is not going to stay retired after this one either.  Oh, shield got dismantled you say? not when it matters, here they are right on time. Didn't Thor get stuck in Asgard without a way to come back after the first or second movie? it was never mentioned again either.  You could have watched this movie without even watching Avengers 1, you can't say that about most sequels.  People are confusing "i didn't get a few injokes/easter eggs" with "i couldn't follow the plot".

[Samwise]

Didn't Thor get stuck in Asgard without a way to come back after the first or second movie? it was never mentioned again either. 

I'll have you know that Odin had to use a LOT of dark energy to send Thor back for Avengers 1.

[Khaldun]

I was stunned at how great the Vision turned out to be. Really lovely updating of the character. Improves on his comics history by quite a lot.

[Tannhauser]

I was stunned at how great the Vision turned out to be. Really lovely updating of the character. Improves on his comics history by quite a lot.

[Ironwood]

Also Wakanda chick getting naked.

Remember: the "GotG" had Gamorra topless from the back; that scene never appeared in the movie.

Yeah.  Why the hell do they keep having trailers with naked chicks that then do not appear ?  It's like being married all over again.