Not really. The swordsman in RotLA is just some random character, so his inconsequential end is fitting. Loki was the main villain, the build to his actually doing something took two hours and then... that happened. It was funny in the moment, but thinking about it further — as one would have hoped they'd do in the months it likely took them to generate the imagery — it doesn't hold up. Lessened an already shallow experience.



Still waiting for you to inform us how Whedon was selected to direct the Avengers movie.

Well, Finis Terrae, for a start, to name just one classic you inexplicably left off your list above. Try it, keep an open mind, you might even like it. It's about a group of Frenchmen who harvest seaweed, shot in documentary style with non-actors.

So that's it?

Oh, Allen. I haven't the time to be your cinema tutor. Surely a good movie reference book can steer you in the right direction if you want to learn more about the genius of Jean Epstein.

Of course, if you want to settle for Epstein knockoffs, well ... you are are easily assuaged, that's all I can say.

Seeing as how Finis Terrae is the only Epstein film currently on YouTube in one lump, I'm sensing you only did a cursory search and didn't even watch that. You can prove me wrong by posting a detailed review of some other film besides that one (and the ubiquitous House of Usher) in the movies section.

It takes so very little to make the cuckoo spring from the small door in Allen's forehead.

Allen, I know it's hard for the willfully ingnorant to keep up, but I never claimed to have any insight as to how Whedon got the Avengers job. You made that claim, which you then supported by referencing being a comic book shop clerk over a decade ago who happened to be in the same vicinity as Sam Raimi and his assistant.

You're the best kind of clueless, Allen. You don't even understand when you're revealing just how clueless you are.

Mike

(I should know better, and i'll regret it, this is all just allen playing at getting people to jump through hoops...)

Allen,
You couldn't back up your assertions with anything other than your personal assertions.

No one else is claiming to know why he was chosen, but here are some things that are public knowledge and/or found on wikipedia that a reasonable person might theorize contributed to Whedon directing the Avengers:

1. Whedon had a prior relationship with Marvel.

He wrote Astonishing X-men, Runaways, his work there was nominated for several Eisner Awards, sat in on the panel of writers to Marvel Comics' Civil War, created several characters and concepts for Marvel including the mutant cure used in the X-Men: The Last Stand film.

Astonishing X-Men #6 was named by Marvel Comics readers the #65 in Marvel's Top 70 Comics of all time

2. He has a history of writing ensemble casts in serialized adventure fiction. Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, Dollhouse.

3. He writes fun dialogue and usually involves pop culture references that the kids are so fond of these days.

4. Marvel seems to like to pick unexpected choices as directors, like Whedon, Favreau, Branagh. (Heck, wasn't Favreau in Daredevil too).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Whedon

Now please proceed to dismiss all these facts and explain how your cynical and unsubstantiated claims are more likely to be true, (You usually say something wonderfully inane and unsubstantive, like "Becuase I have eyes"). Because it's so obvious to you why Marvel wouldn't hire a guy just because they like his work, he's done good, award nominated work for them before, they have a good relationship with him, and he's written, and directed a great deal of action, adventure sci-fi a great deal of TV with ensemble casts, and directed at least one theatrical sci-fi action film.

And you are the worst kind of lazy, Bungee. Even Jolly Joe came up with something, while you failed to even try.

You've also yet to demonstrate how I am in any way ignorant, willfully or otherwise. Whedon is (or now perhaps was) a middle-level player in Hollywood, and he glommed onto this project because he saw all the easy money Favreau was already making on Iron Man (nobody was talking about filling out the franchise roster after Ang Lee's Hulk). He saw a path to not having to beg his fanboys to letter-bomb just to keep his next TV show on the air. Can't say that I blame him, but that is his prime motivator here.

You admit your lie, then.