Movie Novelizations: MCU Phase One, The Avengers, Alex Irvine

I found this in the bookstore and couldn't resist the lovely cover!

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One, The Avengers
Alex Irvine
ISBN: 9780316256377
MG novelization of the 2012 movie, The Avengers.

To state the obvious first, this is an actual novelization of the film, and therefore has all of the scenes and events of the film in order, all the way to completion.  This is not a "teaser" or a "movie storybook" with character bios or plot hints.

I was interested to see what sort of changes and omissions would be necessary to make The Avengers (overseas title: Avengers Assemble) into a MG-level book as far as content, and I have to say that I was impressed with the deft handling of the storyline, characters, and content.

I may possibly be a giant MCU fangirl, and so there were a couple of places where I have quibbles about the dialogue - please note that these aren't the places where certain not-so-PG comments are elided or rephrased, but other sections of dialogue that I felt were unclear or badly formatted.  Dialogue is seriously difficult, and transcribing actual human speech, even in an environment as structured as a script, is even more difficult.  It is impressive that Irvine got as much of Whedon's patter down in a manner I felt was satisfying, so the few bits I read as flubs sadly stood out quite a lot to me.

As far as the PG alterations, here's what I noticed:
1) Black Widow's introductory scene is handled beautifully by simply refusing to comment on her clothing.

2) In the scene with Barton, Loki, and Selvig, Loki's query as to what Barton needs garners a different response: "I need a distraction" he says, "and a biometric ID" instead of the slightly more disturbing comment in the film.

3) In related plot-developments, Loki doesn't gouge out any body parts in Stuttgart.

4) The Loki/Black Widow interrogation scene omits a certain nasty British imprecation.

5) Banner's despairing speech about Hulk's utter invincibility is left as an implication of suicide, with the actual description of his attempt left entirely out.

Now, oddly enough, despite all that, Cap still gets to call aliens "bastards" in the final battle, and I'm not sure if they just missed that one, or decided it was their single use and better make it a good one.  It isn't like I mind language (although that it's CAP's language is especially amusing, given Ultron's running joke) but when it's the only instance in the whole book, it does become rather more noticeable and a bit jarring.

This one was super cute, and now I'm planning to hunt up the other ones.




 

Memoir: As you Wish, by Cary Elwes & Joe Layden

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride
Cary Elwes & Joe Layden
ISBN: 9781476764023
Read February 8, 2015
A specifically-limited memoir shows all the fun and hope that went into The Princess Bride.

Twu Wuv.  That is what bwings me to this book today.  Wuv, twu wuv, that followed me from childhood through the process of finding friends (generally through the rapier-sharp application of quotes to be exchanged) to adulthood.  The Princess Bride is a cultural touchstone for many people, especially of my specific generation (and now of our kids) and Elwes has done an absolutely fantastic job of remembering (and collecting others' memories) of the life and love behind the scenes of the creation of this utterly perfect and timeless film.

Learn how he bonded with Mandy Patinkin over who would be the most adept at swordfighting (oh, by the way, all that swordfighting?  Was them.  No tricks, no extras, no stunt-doubles (except for the flips) and with Andre the Giant over his prodigious drinking abilities.  Learn how he got exiled from the set because of Billy Crystal (and how Mandy sprained a rib for the same reason).  Learn how he broke an important bone, and kept on filming!

Learn about how everyone involved believed in and loved this peculiar little "unfilmable" book, and how they all worked hard to play it straight so the audience could have the fun of being part of the joke.  Learn about how Goldman was so nervous that he was praying out loud on set during filming!

Love this book.  Love the movie.  Loved learning more about it, and about the actors that I adore, and their hopes and fears and concerns about this project, and how gratified and happy they all are that so many people have understood their passion and taken this film into their hearts.

Just an all around perfect little vignette of a memoir.  Just absolutely beautiful.