What's your least favorite Whedon piece of work

[Mr Trick]

Prometheus wasn't perfect, but there's no way you're telling me it's worse than Resurrection (or Alien3, for that matter). 

No way. Guardians is exactly like Buffy and Avengers. Its silly and funny, but it also takes itself quite seriously, and has some rather dark and poignant moments. The villain didn't feel like he was supposed to be bland or silly on purpose. I didn't think he was funny at all actually. It really just felt like lazy villain writing to me. That's not to say that takes away anything from the film though. It's a sore spot for sure, but the movie is hardly about the villain, or the plot for that matter, it's an origin story about Quill and the formation of the Guardians.

Maybe, I guess I could have been entertained and charmed by the rest of the film that it may have destracted me from the poor villains. I will let you know what I think when I re-watch the film.

 

[thetopher]

Prometheus wasn't perfect, but there's no way you're telling me it's worse than Resurrection (or Alien3, for that matter).

I agree that Alien: Resurrection was very bad (although I think that Alien 3's main crime is trying to be like Alien and failing- it was a bit boring, but at least it made sense.) but by it's own internal logic (clones, hybrids at such) stands up to scrutiny. I dislike the story but the story is coherent.

Prometheus is just terrible. If you consider the good casting, the excellent cinematography, the FX's- and then we get the script which was laughably awful. Poor character motivations, huge plot holes and a lame final act.
Yeah, considering the hype and what it could've been Prometheus is a giant, thundering crap of a movie. The only thing I like about it is Micheal Fassbender's excellent performance.

OT- Joss's Astonishing X-Men run was apparently very good. 
And although I thought GotG was a great movie, the villain was disappointing and flat. The comedy worked but there wasn't a sense of stakes/high drama at the end there.

That's the recurring problem I can point to in the Marvel movies, apart from Loki the villains aren't half as interesting as the heroes.

 

[SiegePerilous02]

I agree that Alien: Resurrection was very bad (although I think that Alien 3's main crime is trying to be like Alien and failing- it was a bit boring, but at least it made sense.) but by it's own internal logic (clones, hybrids at such) stands up to scrutiny. I dislike the story but the story is coherent.

]And although I thought GotG was a great movie, the villain was disappointing and flat. The comedy worked but there wasn't a sense of stakes/high drama at the end there.

That's the recurring problem I can point to in the Marvel movies, apart from Loki the villains aren't half as interesting as the heroes.

I don't know, there is that Facehugger being on the ship in the beginning, even though there is no way for it to have been there. The Queen ripped off her egg sac in her rush to kill Ripley, and we didn't see her carrying an egg with her. She wouldn't have been able to sneak around and plant it because at least one person had their eyes on her throughout the entire climax, and even they didn't, I can't buy Ripley not doing a thorough search of the ship afterward. And then there's her Nostromo broadcast from the end of the first film somehow playing at the end of this one...

I have a more positive view on Prometheus than you, but I definitely agree that many of the characters were making "haha, are you f***ing kidding me?!" decisions. Charlize Theron's inability to move to the side is the biggest one.

Agreed about Marvel villains being disappointing. With Spider-Man being added into the MCU, maybe we'd get some appearances from the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Venom and the like to inject some energy into things. Most of Marvel's best villains are tied up with the Spider-Man and X-Men franchises. But all that won't help them once DC's Suicide Squad unleashes a brand new Joker on the world, complete with Harley Quinn.

 

[thetopher]

I'll admit its been a while since I've seen A:R but it basically boils down to 'we have to survive/get to somewhere/stop the ship from reaching earth'- it's basically a survival/chase movie with aliens in it. Unoriginal but there you go.

I have a more positive view on Prometheus than you, but I definitely agree that many of the characters were making "haha, are you f***ing kidding me?!" decisions. Charlize Theron's inability to move to the side is the biggest one.

Oh, there are so, so many- people taking their helmets off in unsafe environments, geologists being afraid of fossilized alien bodies and completely freaking out, later getting lost in a ship when they have SCANNER/map things, fondling clearly creepy penis monsters, running away from a giant rolling wheel ship in a straight line...

The list goes on- illogical actions, dumb horror movie crap from what is supossed to be a hand-picked crew of explorers. The Nostromo crew (a bunch of roughnecks) are rocket scientists compared to the dumbasses in this movie.

Agreed about Marvel villains being disappointing.

I really liked Red Skull and Hydra in the first CA movie and keep on hoping for his return. The Winter Soldier was an okay badguy...and maybe the Abomination? But agreed, in general Spidey gets the more colourful villains and X-Men has a few good baddies as well.

Not sure about that DC Suicide Squad movie- I've heard iffy things about the casting...

 

[SiegePerilous02]

I really liked Red Skull and Hydra in the first CA movie and keep on hoping for his return. The Winter Soldier was an okay badguy...and maybe the Abomination? But agreed, in general Spidey gets the more colourful villains and X-Men has a few good baddies as well.

Not sure about that DC Suicide Squad movie- I've heard iffy things about the casting...

I actually liked the Winter Soldier, but he was more of a brainwashed hero/tool for the bad guys than a villain. Red Skull was okay, but I found him too hammy.

The only casting issue I can think of for Suicide Squad movie is Jai Courtney for Captain Boomerang, as I haven't heard many positive things about him as an actor. They've also had issues casting Rick Flagg, but it's probably a small part, and he isn't the most interesting character anyway. Jared Leto, Margot Robbit, Will Smith and Viola Davis are all top notch choices though.

Speaking of DC projects in a Joss Whedon thread, am I glad his Wonder Woman project didn't get off the ground. I think he was going to depower her to Spider-Man levels, write her romance with Steve Trevor to be similar to Mal and Inara (as in, Steve would kind of act like an asshole towards her), and his statement that she had no good villains (really? zero?) isn't doing wonders for their reputation among comic geeks.

 

[The Ferg]

I agree that Alien: Resurrection was very bad (although I think that Alien 3's main crime is trying to be like Alien and failing- it was a bit boring, but at least it made sense.) but by it's own internal logic (clones, hybrids at such) stands up to scrutiny. I dislike the story but the story is coherent.

I 100% agree with this. I've said that almost that exact same thing before. Resurrection is bad, in almost every way, but Alien 3, while not being awful, is just plain boring.

Prometheus is just terrible. If you consider the good casting, the excellent cinematography, the FX's- and then we get the script which was laughably awful. Poor character motivations, huge plot holes and a lame final act.
Yeah, considering the hype and what it could've been Prometheus is a giant, thundering crap of a movie. The only thing I like about it is Micheal Fassbender's excellent performance.

Well, I don't necessarily disagree, but I think you're exaggerating a little. I don't think poor character motivations outweigh the excellent use of suspense, horror, and pure discovery and exploration.

OT- Joss's Astonishing X-Men run was apparently very good

It's freakin fantastic. Well.. I'll admit (and so does Joss apparently) the second story arc (out of 4) isn't great, but the rest is beautiful. Unstoppable, the final arc, ranks with Becoming and Graduation Day as best Whedon finales imo.

And although I thought GotG was a great movie, the villain was disappointing and flat. The comedy worked but there wasn't a sense of stakes/high drama at the end there.

That's the recurring problem I can point to in the Marvel movies, apart from Loki the villains aren't half as interesting as the heroes.

Agreed. Although I would add Cap 2's villains, HYDRA/SHIELD/Winter Soldier/Pierce. Abomination/Gen. Talbot and Red Skull/HYDRA were okay.

 

[Aqua]

Cabin in the Woods, I suppose. Though that was partially due to the audience. The audience was much louder in that movie than Serenity. 🙄

 

[Washburne]

I'm glad that @The Ferg mentioned so many of Whedons work since I'm guessing many on these boards haven't even heard of some of them. Even if I don't agree I can get why some people don't like Firefly, Dr. Horrible, Dollhouse and all things Marvel related. Each to their own. How many have read The Runaways, Fray, Astonishing X-men or watched Cabin in the woods, Much ado about nothing or In your eyes?

Personally I haven't watched Alien: Resurrection (Don't care for the first two which I guess says something about me) or In your eyes so I obviously can't chose them. Much ado took some time to get used to but it had it's moments. Cabin in the woods isn't a favourite but I like the idea behind it and the opening scene with Bradley Whitford alone make me happy to have seen it. So I'll have to go with Buffy the vampire slayer. The movie that is. Actually don't remember that much but after watching it a time long ago I haven't missed it one bit. But as I love the camp of Dr Horrible I'm sure there are ones that can enjoy the Buffy movie.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Probably Dollhouse season 1.

 

[VisionBoy]

OT- Joss's Astonishing X-Men run was apparently very good

It's freakin fantastic. Well.. I'll admit (and so does Joss apparently) the second story arc (out of 4) isn't great, but the rest is beautiful. Unstoppable, the final arc, ranks with Becoming and Graduation Day as best Whedon finales imo.

Been debating whether to get that for a while. Will have to pick it up. Saw the first couple of issues in a motion comic and I liked how it started.

 

[Mr Trick]

I'm glad that @The Ferg mentioned so many of Whedons work since I'm guessing many on these boards haven't even heard of some of them. Even if I don't agree I can get why some people don't like Firefly, Dr. Horrible, Dollhouse and all things Marvel related. Each to their own. How many have read The Runaways, Fray, Astonishing X-men or watched Cabin in the woods, Much ado about nothing or In your eyes?

Personally I haven't watched Alien: Resurrection (Don't care for the first two which I guess says something about me) or In your eyes so I obviously can't chose them. Much ado took some time to get used to but it had it's moments. Cabin in the woods isn't a favourite but I like the idea behind it and the opening scene with Bradley Whitford alone make me happy to have seen it. So I'll have to go with Buffy the vampire slayer. The movie that is. Actually don't remember that much but after watching it a time long ago I haven't missed it one bit. But as I love the camp of Dr Horrible I'm sure there are ones that can enjoy the Buffy movie.

Yeah I thought the casting of him and Jenkins was spot on really enjoyed their parts😛 You don't see Whitford in enough stuff, think he is one of the best in delivering deadpan humour.

 

[The Ferg]

Been debating whether to get that for a while. Will have to pick it up. Saw the first couple of issues in a motion comic and I liked how it started.

I actually just reread Astonishing X-Men (after I made that post, and after about 2 years worth of other comic reading), and it really is quite good. It literally does everything right.

If you're worried about being confused about past continuity, feel free to toss that worry out the window. It does call back to previous characters and stories sometimes, but it does it in such an inviting way that it's hard to complain.
Volume 1 (Gifted) is super cheap on Amazon (and will forever stay that way btw).