OK, we don't usually post fan reviews after the official release of a film, but this is a different case. Warners set out to keep word of the quality of this film from the press and the public so I decided we needed to post alittle longer as a public service. This will be our last posting on this subject until Harry offical review when he returns from England tonight. I chose Chief Jawa's effort from dozens received because he's a regular on these pages and he actually saw the movie with Harry opening night in London.
Ok then, 'The Avengers'! Warner Bros summer flick based upon the coool 60's tv show has arrived. After many secrets being kept from us geeks and no press showings we were fearing the worst. Is that what we got? Well, kinda...
It started well for me, at least it did until the neat "swirly" opening credit sequence ended, well maybe that's being a tad too unfair. The begining is enjoyable actually, rather funny too, hehe, however it's a lot of what was seen in the trailer. :(
For me, The Avengers is too short, too silly and really has no sense whatsoever of where it is going. There is nothing here that really has you in awe and shouting; "whoaaaaaa, look at that!". Ok, ok, the mechanical bee chase is quite funky, but still, one decent set piece is not enough!
Is The Avengers a mvoie you will either love or hate? God I dunno, perhaps. What will fans of the show think? Well I am one of them fans, and I was un-impressed with the feature. I was expecting little from it to be honest. I could not help but be sucpicious of Warner's "no press screening" policy really, that to me is like slapping an "it's shit" sticker all over it. I'd still expected something from it thoush. I was hoping the set and costume design and the whole stylish look of the thing would be a redeeming feature...I was wrong.
The acting is, well it's not bad. Finnes is an acceptable Steed I guess, and Uma Thurman is not as bad as some have being saying, in fact she too is acceptable enough (she was just a pain in the arse in that *evil* Bat film of Summer 97). Connery is, heck, Connery is underused. He puts nothing into the role, not because he's a bad actor, good God no, Conenry is a God, but simply put, this movie is beneath him. 'The Avengers' is one hell of a short movie, I doubt Connery even gets 30 mins screentime! I'd sooooo wanted to see him hamm it up as the baddie, yet his character in this however is a lifeless fella with no motive.
The audience went into hysterics at least once in every scene at this Thursday Night Preview screening. It is a silly movie, ok, "but the tv series was kinda silly Chief" I hear you say, well yeah it was, but the tv series was "silly with style" as I like to put it. :) Yup, 'The Avengers' movie lacked style!
As many know this screening on Thursday the 13th of August was all part of our day in London with Harry. After the movie came to an end the BIG guy started speaking his mind, explaining how much more of a back story the screenplay had, it sounded great, and even had a big opening sequence! Why then, I ask, was this stuff not filmed/included Warner? I mean, you have a 90 minute movie here, the average summer movie run time has been over 2 hours, you had pleanty of time left to have built up on plot and character, but chose to ignore the option! BASTARDS!
Is that "any good points CJ?" I hear you mutter? Well, the bee chase is neat like I've said and Eddie Izzard just cracks me up, so seeing him (in a non-speking role) was a bit of a larf!
I also liked Joel McNeely's (composer of tv's Young Indy) score. What he's gone for here is kinda the thing Eric Serra did for the Goldeneye score back in 95. For me that kinda take didn't work on Bond though, but works for 'The Avengers'. He occasioanlly dashes the music cues with the original theme, something which the films original composer, Michael Kamen chose not to do. This subsequently forced the descision for him to be removed from the project. Harry felt it'd kick ass with a Queen soundtrack, like lash Gordon. hehe *sings* "STEED, ah ahhhhhhhh!"
During the screening there was a "true" fan in the row in front. He was dressed like John Steed, bowler hat, suit, umbrella, everything! He was not impressed by this at all obviously as he stormed out 20 minutes into it shaking his head. Is this a warning to the serious fans of the show out there? Well perhaps. I like the show, it was great fun, but I'm not like this Steed wannabe bloke. I'm not a serious fan, but I know they exist and I know many will not be happy with this!
The script kinda nudges toward a "lurve" relationship between Steed and Peel too, I didn't like that, and neither will many others. What is it, does Hollywood demand this in a movie now? Is it contractual? It goes no further then a kiss really, which I guess is not too bad however.
I say, maybe give it a chance I guess, heck I dunno. I didn't "hate" this movie, I just found it very, very boring indeed. I'd sit through it again too. I wouldn't want to, but if I had to I wouldn't bother putting up a fight.
'The Avengers' is NOT this years Batman & Robin, it is in fact no way near the league of that tripe (sorry Mr Schumacher, just speaking my mind dude). In my opinion you could do worse this summer (Godzilla/Lost In Space) but you could also do a hell of a lot better (Armageddon/Saving Private Ryan...etc).
The choice, as they say is yours... God help Warner if they expect movie-paying-folk to take this all seriously though.
Take Care all!
Chief Jawa (UK)
