We’ve all enjoyed seeing Marvel’s assorted superheroes on their various side missions over the last few years, but fans are understandably looking forward to watching the gang operate as a united front in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Moving from gods and monsters to machines, Age of Ultron is sure to throw new obstacles in our heroes’ paths, and the prospect of a happy ending seems minimal, thanks to the upcoming Civil War that’s set to splinter the Marvel Movie Universe. In other words, the time for peacefully chowing down on shawarma is definitely in the past, but is there a better time to revisit some of the best and most impactful moments and quotes from the first Avengers film? The answer is no, so clench up and take a look.
Thor: “Take care how you speak. Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard, and he is my brother.”
Black Widow: “He killed 80 people in two days.”
Thor: “He’s adopted.”
Director Joss Whedon’s work is known for its quick wit and dry humor, and The Avengers is no different. Even when things seem bleakest, audiences can still count on a quippy one-liner to alleviate the tension.
Steve Rogers: “Big man, in a suit of armor… take that away, what are you?”
Tony Stark: “Uh… genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.”
Ever since they first met, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark have clashed on almost every issue. While they manage to put aside their frustrations for the greater good, that friction will eventually come to a head, leading to the events in Captain America: Civil War.
Tony Stark: “I’m a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster…”
At that point, Stark hadn’t seen the Hulk in action, so it’s understandable why he would seem pretty comfortable making light of Banner’s situation. That’s no longer the case after he witnesses “the other guy” nearly destroy a Helicarrier, though.
Hulk: “Puny god.”
Whether he is battling his brother, Thor, or any other member of the Avengers team, it is Loki’s grandiose overestimation of his own power that proves to be his undoing. However, no beating is as delightful as the Hulk smash that occurs in Stark Tower. Puny god, indeed.
Hawkeye: “You don’t understand. Have you ever had someone take your brain and play? Take you out and stuff something else inside? You know what it’s like to be unmade?”
Poor Hawkeye spends a majority of The Avengers as Loki’s brainwashed drone. Hopefully he has better luck in Age of Ultron. Natasha’s response, “You know that I do,” also hints at the darker aspects of her origin story. Quit teasing, Marvel, and tell us what happened!
Bruce Banner: “That’s my secret, Captain. I’m always angry.”
Mark Ruffalo brought a feeling of sadness and a dash of levity to Bruce Banner, a man tormented by his power, but also compelled to use it to help his team. You won’t like him when he’s angry, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need him.
Tony Stark: “An intelligence agency that fears intelligence? Historically, not awesome.”
Marvel fans love Easter eggs, and The Avengers is stuffed with moments of foreshadowing. Tony’s misgivings about the true nature of S.H.I.E.L.D. prove to be well-placed, as seen in the fallout from Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Steve Rogers: “Aren’t the stars and stripes a little… old-fashioned?”
Agent Phil Coulson: “With everything that’s happening, the things that are about to come to light, people might just need a little old-fashioned.”
While he may no longer be a figure in the Marvel Film Universe for the time being, Agent Coulson’s impact on Phase One of the Marvel Universe cannot be discounted. He may have been just a man in a landscape of superheroes, but Coulson was the galvanizing ingredient that made the Avengers work.
Natasha Romanoff: “Regimes fall every day. I tend not to weep over that, I’m Russian… or was.”
Loki: “And what are you now?”
Natasha Romanoff: “It’s really not that complicated. I’ve got red in my ledger. I’d like to wipe it out.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfvPTo6HKzU
Since her first appearance in Iron Man 2, Natasha Romanoff has been an enigmatic character. Despite the fact that she hasn’t gotten her own movie yet (*ahem* c’mon, Marvel), each film has provided a tiny piece of the puzzle that is the Black Widow. Hopefully Age of Ultron will continue to unravel the superspy’s secrets.
Steve Rogers: “You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing.”
Truly a man out of time, Steve Rogers always feels a bit removed from his fellow Avengers. After repeatedly “socking ol’ Adolf on the jaw,” his life experience is a bit different from those around him. However, the principles that he stands for still inspire many.
Nick Fury: “I recognize the council has made a decision, but given that it’s a stupid-ass decision, I’ve elected to ignore it.”
While they may not trust him in The Avengers, the World Security Council will definitely rue that decision by the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Just shut up and let the man do his job!
Loki: “I have an army.”
Tony Stark: “We have a Hulk.”
This is still very true.
Tony Stark: “There is no throne. There is no version of this where you come out on top. Maybe your army will come. Maybe it’s too much for us. But it’s all on you. Because if we can’t protect the Earth, you can be damn sure we’ll avenge it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APl78T9FjJo
This is the point where every theatergoer couldn’t help but fist pump. Here’s to another movie of the Avengers kicking ass and taking names.
