snowflake challenge, day eleven

[xylodemon]

Day 11

Ask for recs

(I'm doing this challenge a little different than is probably intended, but I've never followed directions very well, so.)

The thing is, I'm kind of interested in the Avengers fandom.

I don't even know, guys. I mean, superhero stories/movies have never really been my thing, but something about this particular set up is pulling at me a little. It seems like it's an incredibly active fandom, which I like. I've noticed it's also seduced a few people whose writing I really, really miss -- musesfool and angelgazing, I'm looking at you!

I watched Thor when it first came out. Twice. I won't lie: this was partially motivated by the wall-to-wall eye candy. However, I'm a total sucker for Norse Mythology, so I probably would've seen it at least once, even if everyone involved had been moderately ugly.

So. What other movies do I need to rent/buy? Captain America? Also Iron Man I and Iron Man II? Is there a primer somewhere I should be reading?

Comments

[musesfool]

I really liked Captain America - it has a lot of eye candy and also a great BFF relationship with Steve and Bucky, as well as a nicely played het romance, and it isn't horribly jingoistic the way I was afraid it might be. Plus, Steve and Bucky! *points to icon* ♥

The first Iron Man is probably the best of all the Avengers movies? the second is...not a good movie, but I guess it's important for introducing Natasha and the Avengers initiative.

And obviously Thor introduces Thor and Loki and gives Hawkeye a brief cameo.

I haven't watched any of the Hulk movies, so I think you're good there if you have basic knowledge of who the Hulk is - Bruce Banner, gamma rays, you wouldn't like him when he's angry etc.

The fandom is heavily tilted towards Steve/Tony as the otp, which I... loathe? But there if there is a primer out there, it probably has that slant to it.

[xylodemon]

I had plans to see Captain America when it first came out, but my son is fourteen now, and has better things to do than hang out with his mother, so.

I may have to rent it this weekend, because this Bucky person intrigues me.

The fandom is heavily tilted towards Steve/Tony as the otp, which I... loathe?

I hate that. One of the biggest reasons I'm not into the NCIS fandom is that it seems to be tilted towards pairings I have no interest in at all.

Heh

[jazzypom]

I do ship Steve/Tony, like fedex but I can see why people wouldn't. But in the Avengers fandom over in AO3 they do have tags, because I know that Darcy/Loki is a popular pairing, as well as Coulson and Clint (I... don't get that one, but okay). There's a lot of Bucky/Steve as well, so you cannae go wrong with that. I think postcardmystery over in LJ has Steve/Bucky and rarepair fic for your very needs. AO3 has lots of stuff too.

[angelgazing]

Bwahahahahaha.

I mean.

Captain America and both Iron Man movies are a must. The first Iron Man is really the best of them all, but despite it being RDJ, and him being, you know, ALL KINDS OF AWESOME, it didn't really spark me as far as fandom goes. But, again, RDJ. Hitting things. While dirty and wearing a wifebeater. I'm just saying.

I kind of knew it'd be a fandom for me once I got around to watching the others, just because a lot of the people who write stories I love were already big into it? I just, you know, maybe didn't really gather how much.

THOR! I love Thor. I love the movie, I love the character, I love that he is basically a 6'4" golden retriever with amazing abs. And I love Loki! And Darcy! And the three minutes we've seen of Clint! Basically if I had the skill, I'd write it a love song. *sighs*

For me, Captain America is all about BUCKY. Like, I know other things happen, and I'm sure they're probably important. But BUCKY. Fandom as a whole is leaning pretty hard toward Steve/Tony, but I can't seem to get over how that movie is basically two hours of me feeling all the Bucky feels.

I could give you all kinds of reasons why I ship the way I ship, (and Sebastian Stan's mouth is probably only on the list two or three times) but I think you need to see them first, before I ruin everything with my talk about why Bucky is the Best Friend Ever. Just. Snark! Banter! Name calling! BFFs! BUCKY. <3

[xylodemon]

I love RDJ like burning. The whole hitting things while dirty and wearing a wifebeater is just bonus.

I love that he is basically a 6'4" golden retriever with amazing abs.

OMG SO TRUE. My favorite part of Thor -- aside from the eye candy -- was that Thor was just really EAGER and EXCITED. ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I really must rent these movies now. I am curious to learn more about this Bucky person.

They really did Bucky a solid in the movies (really)

[jazzypom]

In the comics he came off as Steve's sidekick, a boy soldier off to war, that sort of thing. But I thought that in the movies, the relationship between Bucky and Steve was sweet - like brothers from different mothers sort of sweet.

Captain America is a movie that got a lot of things right, and I'm surprised at myself for thinking that.

[angelgazing]

HA. I went into Iron Man thinking, oh, Robert Downey Jr. he's so-- HOLY SHIT. LOOK AT HIS SHOULDERS. /o\ (His shoulder in that movie are a thing of BEAUTY. I cannot even.)


Ahaha in my personal headcanon, everything Thor says is IN ALL CAPS. BECAUSE THE EXCITEMENT. AND THE VOLUME.

I love him. ♥

This is Bucky. This is Bucky saving Steve's ass, in a different way. This is the way Bucky looks at Steve.

In conclusion: ♥BUCKY♥

As a comics fan, movies are whole other beasts

[jazzypom]

To be fair to the movies, they've been cast well (with a few exceptions), the leads are telegenic, and the movies draw from the comic lore in the best ways, but when they have to change, it's for the better. For instance, I liked the Steve and Bucky friendship in the movie (in the comics, it's a relationship more along the lines of odd - Bucky is a child soldier to Steve's Captain America) because it came across as more authentic and real. I can understand why people would ship Steve/Bucky based on the movie, but based on the comics around that time? I tend to go... uuuh.

To be honest, Iron Man is a good get, because that's the comic movie that started the Avengers series. Iron Man II isn't as fast moving as one, because they had to get the set up in there, but it's worth it for Fury and Natasha's expanding leads, and Tony Stark's tortured relationship with his father (the movies got that right). I've never watched The Incredible Hulk because I don't like the character, and I don't think I've missed anything. Captain America is a good movie, filled with heart. As not an American, I went into it expecting to roll my eyes with the jingoism, but it's quite good.

Unlike a lot of people in fandom, I didn't like Thor much when it came out. I think it's because I watched Hannah the week before, and I loved it, and I expected more from Brannah's direction, but it was still a solid picture, so I didn't feel as if I wasted my money. With all the stories out there, it seems that it's struck a chord with people though (and I liked the characters enough to wish the movie well).

Is there a primer somewhere I should be reading

If you want to stick to the movies? No, not really. They are being true to the mythos of the comics in that Loki was the one who got the Avengers together, the Incredible Hulk was a part of the Avengers until he left, and Loki was instrumental in getting the Avengers to matter.

However, if you plan to venture into the comics verse, yeah, you might need a wikipedia, or probably just dip into Marvel Adventures: Avengers- good plots, great art, no learning curve to get in and call it a day.

I don't really read movie Avengers fic, but for writers it seems that valtyr, and gyzym gets loads of hits and comments. I'd comment more but I have to dash to work!

Re: As a comics fan, movies are whole other beasts

[xylodemon]

I haven't read any of the comics. That's probably the main reason I wasn't overly excited about the movies when they first came out. I just didn't really know what they were about in the first place.

I was just telling fell about Thor -- I rather liked it when I first saw it, but I couldn't really figure out why at first. I think it came down to the fact that since I hadn't read the comics, I didn't go in with any expectations at all.

Thanks for the info! I'm going to rent the movies I haven't seen this weekend, and start from there.