The Avengers (SPOILERS BEWARE0

[Mouseferatu]

How was Loki influencing everyone? He doesn't (apparently) cast spells in this incarnation.

Via the scepter. (The "glowstick of fate," or however Stark put it.) They made a pretty big deal of focusing on its increasing glow as the argument heated up, and Banner even grabbed it up at one point without realizing it. Given that Loki's entire reason for being there was to stir up trouble, but he only actually spoke to a couple of them, it's pretty clear he wasn't relying on charisma--or Charisma-based skills --alone.

 

[jonesy]

Via the scepter. (The "glowstick of fate," or however Stark put it.) They made a pretty big deal of focusing on its increasing glow as the argument heated up, and Banner even grabbed it up at one point without realizing it. Given that Loki's entire reason for being there was to stir up trouble, but he only actually spoke to a couple of them, it's pretty clear he wasn't relying on charisma--or Charisma-based skills --alone.

Plus the whole thing with the weapon being able to switch peoples allegiances (Hawkeye and Selvig).

 

[Plane Sailing]

Yeah, it was geat. I would have liked it better if instead of empty bluster, Loki was actually blasting Hulk, making the auidence think for a moment that he was turning the tables back in his favor. THEN he gets abruptly smashed.

I would have hated that. It would have been such a traditional movie trope that I've seen dozens of times before.

For my money the way they did it was perfect. Fast; shocking; funny. A perfect antidote to hubris.

 

[Felon]

I would have hated that. It would have been such a traditional movie trope that I've seen dozens of times before..

It's a trope you've seen a dozen times either way. Changing bluster to blaster doesn't change the dialogue or the resulting beatdown. The difference is only a slight variation that incorporates a genuine threat to go along with all the dire "I'm a god" boasts. Seems like a much bigger payoff to me than reducing the film's arch-villain to the equivalent of a snooty pantywaist maitre'd waiting to take a pie in the face.

 

[IronWolf]

It's the same trope you've seen a dozen times either way. Changing bluster to blaster doesn't change the dialogue or the result. The difference is only a slight variation that incorporates a genuine threat to go along with all the big "I'm a god" boasts. Seems like a much bigger payoff to me than reducing the film's arch-villain to the equivalent of a snooty pantywaist maitre d waiting to take a pie in the face.

I tend to agree with PlaneSailing on this one. I was expecting the scene to play out as you wanted it. Instead Loki starts getting thrashed just as he finishes his verbal spiel. Played out really well for me.

Not trying to change your mind, just agreeing with PlaneSailing that I thought the scene worked great.

 

[Felon]

Oh, I luaghed mightily at the scene as well, I just have that rare trait that allows for appreciation and criticism to co-exist. I felt that adding a touch of menace instead of just impotent shouting, makes it more of a secne from an action movie rather than a Three Stooges short (indignant head waiter getting pie in the face an all). Plane's reaction seems a little overwrought, since adding that touch of menance would not have radically changed the setup or undermined the payoff.

 

[Umbran]

Seems like a much bigger payoff to me than reducing the film's arch-villain to the equivalent of a snooty pantywaist maitre'd waiting to take a pie in the face.

But... Loki *is* a snooty patywaist maitre'd. He's a whiny emo god-child with jealousy and daddy issues! He just happens to have magical power and a brain the size of a planet to back him up.

Remember, the Norse and Greek gods are traditionally only superhuman in terms of their power - their morals, ethics, wisdom and interpersonal skills are entirely *human*.

 

[Felon]

But... Loki *is* a snooty patywaist maitre'd. He's a whiny emo god-child with jealousy and daddy issues! He just happens to have magical power and a brain the size of a planet to back him up.

Well, that's the basic wrinkle with the character right there. That's the impression the movie bestows. He's very watered down, basically not much to write home about without his scepter thing. Can't be both powerful and a pantywaist. Which should an arch-villain be?

I'd better not see that with Thanos, or there will be an emo hissy-fit of titanic proportions (pun intended!).

Then again, I guess if they're true to Thanos' character, the Avengers will basically be dead meat.

 

[hopeless]

Nope

They didn't have that at my uk (cineworld) showing - I stayed through to the closing of the curtains just in case there was an extra, but no dice. Unless it was on the 3d print and not the 2d for some reason (I saw it in 2d)

Watched the 3d version didn't see that either, was it left out for the US premiere?

 

[billd91]

Here's an interesting interview with Whedon:
Joss Whedon's Batman, How Black Widow Nearly Got The Axe & 15 More Revelations

Thankfully, Black Widow didn't get the axe. Though the Wasp wasn't a heavy hitter and wasn't always a positive contributor in the early Avengers comics, I think it's important to emphasize that there have pretty much always been women in the Avengers. Ditching out of that for the movies would have been a wrong move.