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Reviews and New Featurette Show Strength of Marvel’s The Avengers

Marvel’s The Avengers isn’t due to open in the USA until May 4th, but it’s already open in a few countries around the world. That means various movie reviewers have decided to break the embargo (after all the internet unites the world) and publish their reviews. Guess what? They’re almost all positive

“As creatively variable and predictably formulaic as the Marvel films have been, this one will not only make the core geek audience feel like it’s died and gone to Asgard but has so much going for it that many non-fans will be disarmed and charmed. This is effects-driven, mass appeal summer fare par excellence, that sought-after rare bird that hits all the quadrants, as marketing mavens like to say.” – Todd McCarthy, THR

“As written and directed by the ever genre-savvy Whedon, it’s a clean-burning, six-cylinder entertainment that exudes discipline in every particular, from the script’s balance of sincerity and self-effacing humor to the well-integrated visual effects to the keen sense of proportion that governs the ensemble. Whenever the possibility of boredom or excess rears its head, Whedon finds an elegant solution.” – Justin Chang, Variety

“This might be why Whedon has succeeded with The Avengers; he’s focused on the humanity of the characters. For example: Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johannsen as Hawkeye and Black Widow respectively, both bring more depth than anything thought possible to two characters who could have been peripheral, but here become just as pivotal as The Hulk, Cap, Stark or Thor.” – Paul Veerhoven, The Vine

“As a lifelong comic book fan, I walked into The Avengers with the highest hopes and deepest fears. A little over two hours later, as the credits began to roll, I turned to the friend sitting next to me, smiled and exclaimed, “They actually did it!” What Whedon and Marvel have created here is not just extraordinary, but one of the most entertaining and satisfying comic book movies yet.” – Eric Eisenberg, Cinemablend

A special new featurette from The Avengers below the jump:

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Nikki Finke on Rich Ross’ Ouster

Like everyone in Hollywood, Nikki Finke has her own agenda. But even so, her insight into why Rich Ross was pushed out of the Walt Disney Studios President role is worth reading. Finke lays a lot of the blame at the feet of Disney CEO… Read More »Nikki Finke on Rich Ross’ Ouster

Disney Studio Chief Rich Ross Resigns

Rich Ross has resigned from his post as Walt Disney Studios Chair. After being promoted from his job running The Disney Channel, Ross has experienced a rocky road with full of strained relationships with many Hollywood insiders, not to mention others inside the Mouse House.… Read More »Disney Studio Chief Rich Ross Resigns

ABC’s Revenge – Behind the Look

Jill Ohanneson, costume designer for ABC’s hit show Revenge, takes us with her for a day as she goes clothes shopping for the show! I love that sort of inside baseball about how our entertainment is made. I hope ABC and Disney continue to make… Read More »ABC’s Revenge – Behind the Look

The Muppets Disappoints

The Muppets, the seventh film bringing Jim Henson’s The Muppets to the silver screen, is receiving tremendous critical and popular acclaim. It currently holds a 97% rating, “Certified Fresh,” on Rotten Tomatoes, gets 4.5 stars out of 5 from the viewing public, and even claimed a very glowing review here on this very blog.

I’m afraid it falls to me to be a dissenting voice. *Warning Spoilers*

We’ve seen this movie before. It’s essentially The Muppet Movie all over again. Another film it shares tremendous similarity with is The Country Bears. Any commonality with Bears is not a good thing as far as the box office goes. Someone pick up the phone and let Disney Studios know that ‘We’re getting the band back together’ has been done… a lot. I’m tired of this silly old plot and it would have been nice to see something else instead.

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