Disney, Adoption and The Avengers...

[FlightlessDuck]

Originally Posted by LuvsDragonflies

Just as a for instance, Americas Funniest Home Videos

I watch Tosh.0. I laugh. Then I feel dirty afterwards.

[Lintasare]

Originally Posted by plutotek

Oh, sweet jaysus!! All the sanctimony and outrage over a single line that most have taken out of context in a comic book movie. If it wasn't so pathetic, it might funny.

I agree. All this outrage over a FREAKING COMIC BOOK CHARACTER! Unreal. I saw the movie with some friends who are in the process of adopting and they thought the line was hilarious.

[skater]

Originally Posted by Lintasare

I agree. All this outrage over a FREAKING COMIC BOOK CHARACTER! Unreal. I saw the movie with some friends who are in the process of adopting and they thought the line was hilarious.

I don't really feel outrage. I know that not everybody is adopted and most people won't think twice about it. I almost think the reactions of the people here who disagree with the OP have shown more outrage than any of us who don't like the line . I also understand that its one line and that its a comic book character, and I can't wait to take my boys to see it. But I will have to discuss that line with them.

Calling someone's dislike of that line unreal or pathetic as someone else did makes no sense to me. And as far as your friends who are adopting? See if they feel the same way when they're watching that movie with a 14 year old. They may realize at that point (and I hope they do) that while this one line is not terrible or outrageous, it still has to be addressed.

[kamik86]

Originally Posted by snarlingcoyote

Oh yeah. Because every Batman is the same movie.

No but in every batman (or at least every one that is considered not to be a total disaster and in most that were) Bruce Wayne was a guy without powers whose parents were killed when he was young and he choose to become Batman to protect the people of his city and make his parents proud. They don't change the fundamental parts of the story.

[Scurvy]

Originally Posted by Lintasare

I agree. All this outrage over a FREAKING COMIC BOOK CHARACTER! Unreal. I saw the movie with some friends who are in the process of adopting and they thought the line was hilarious.

I also think the outrage is ridiculous. Taken in context, considering both "Thor" and the rest of "The Avengers", it is a funny throwaway line that made perfect sense. I thought this thread was so over the top that I had to ask a friend who was adopted and who recently adopted a child (and who is a big Marvel fan) what he thought. He couldn't understand anyone being offended. He was honestly surprised that anyone who was offended had actually seen the movie, because he said anyone familiar with the storyline and the context of that line would not think anything of it. Loki is an evil being who is raised as the son of the god Odin after being found hidden in the home of defeated frost giants (who were ashamed of his small size) after Odin was responsible for the death of Loki's biological father, the king of the giants. Later he discovers his ancestry and tries to prove his worth as king by betraying his brother, and then tries to destroy an entire race after becoming allies with an alien race. I personally think anyone who seriously tries to compare anything about him to a normal child (adopted or otherwise) is trying way too hard to find something to be offended about.

[Laura66]

Oh good Lord it's just a line in a movie! Who cares! People are looking for things to worry about!
Look, I'm adopted and I have friends who have adopted that I ran this by and they felt the same way!
Heck my brother was adopted and my sister wasn't. We never ever felt my parents loved us less than my sister! And stinkers that we were we tried to pull the adoption card when we felt my sister got something more than we did. It wasnt tolerated! Heck! My brother is German and I'm Jewish! My brother and I (and my parents) had fun with that one!
There are just some people who are looking for something to be bothered or offended by instead of enjoying life!

[Jennasis]

Loki isn't the only comic book character (or any fictional character) to be adopted. We've got two more coming out shortly...Spiderman and Superman. Spidey was adopted by his aunt and uncle and Supes, well, we all know his story. It would take a long time for me to laundry list all the comic book characters, Disney characters and literary characters who were adopted. So I reject the person who bemoaned the overuse of "adoption" as a plot point. It's been around long before any of us posting here, and it works as a plot point.

As this movie stands, Thor was making a quip about someone HE loves dearly (as evidenced by his words and actions throughout both movies). It didn't diminish the love his family has for him (either the quip, or Loki's bloodthirsty and vile actions). Maybe THAT'S the point the offended should make to their kids. That even though Loki made bad choices, his family still loved him just as much. The audience however is supposed to dislike Loki...not because he's adopted...but because he's the bad guy trying to slaughter or enslave the human race.


If you want an empowering story of an adopted child, wait for Spiderman and Superman (The Man of Steel), but remember, not all adopted kids turn out as the good guy, nor do they turn out to be the bad guy...just like everyone else.

Personally, it was one of the best lines in the movie. Clearly some disagree. I would suggest you avoid the sequels if Joss Whedon is helming them again. His writing style is entirely that way. Buffy, Angel, Firefly, FULL of self deprecation and pot shots.

Wonder if the surfers were offended when Stark called Thor "Point Break" or if the drama club kids are upset about him also calling Thor "Shakespeare in the Park"?

[design_mom]

Originally Posted by Scurvy

I also think the outrage is ridiculous.

I also think the outrage is ridiculous, but I think in the opposite way you do. There's a line in a movie that some people don't like. That's their right to feel that way. You don't *have* to feel the same way. The people who really seem to be getting their panties in a bunch in this thread are the ones who think the line is no big deal. Maybe they are right in the grand scheme of things, but those who don't like it still have the right to their feelings/opinions, too.

In the grand scheme of things I think there are some positive adoption messages in the movies, too. Although neither Thor nor Loki knew Loki was adopted when they were growing up, and even though Loki has done some horrible things, Thor and Odin still consider him their brother/son and hurt (like family would) when Loki insists on turning away from them.

I personally didn't really like the line. It's not that I was *offended* exactly... but the line was used to separate the adopted child from the rest of the family (he's not really one of us) and that's not something we want our adopted children to feel is happening. Will it scar kids for life? Probably not, but I think the scene could have been just as funny with another line.

Scene as written (paraphrased):
Thor "... but still, he's my brother."
Iron Man: "Your brother just killed 80 people."
Thor: "He's adopted."

I think it would have been just as funny as:
Thor "... but still, he's my brother."
Iron Man: "Your brother just killed 80 people."
Thor: "Well, I never said he was a *good* brother."

I am not going to be writing to the studio, or boycotting the movie, or even complaining to my friends about it... but when I saw the movie I started to laugh, then caught myself and thought "did they really have to go there?" (The line was well delivered.)

[Kim&Chris]

Originally Posted by Laura66

Oh good Lord it's just a line in a movie! Who cares! People are looking for things to worry about!
Look, I'm adopted and I have friends who have adopted that I ran this by and they felt the same way!
Heck my brother was adopted and my sister wasn't. We never ever felt my parents loved us less than my sister! And stinkers that we were we tried to pull the adoption card when we felt my sister got something more than we did. It wasnt tolerated! Heck! My brother is German and I'm Jewish! My brother and I (and my parents) had fun with that one!
There are just some people who are looking for something to be bothered or offended by instead of enjoying life!

Agreed. It's just a line in a comic book movie. Not intended to offend anyone. Shrug it off and enjoy the movie!

[Planogirl]

This line makes sense in context. I doubt that they meant to insult all adoptees.

[Scurvy]

Originally Posted by design_mom

I also think the outrage is ridiculous, but I think in the opposite way you do. There's a line in a movie that some people don't like. That's their right to feel that way. You don't *have* to feel the same way. The people who really seem to be getting their panties in a bunch in this thread are the ones who think the line is no big deal. Maybe they are right in the grand scheme of things, but those who don't like it still have the right to their feelings/opinions, too.

Well, of course everyone has the right to feel however they feel. I don't remember anyone in this thread saying otherwise, though I may have missed it. Your feelings don't have to be correct according to anyone else (or even based in reality) for you to have the right to feel them. People feel the way they feel and they don't have to justify those feelings to anyone. But that means people on both sides have that same right. When someone says that Disney is sending a message in this movie that adopted children are less a part of a family than biological children, or that those words will be a knife in the heart of an adopted child, other people have the right to find that a silly point of view.

[Poohforyou]

Originally Posted by skater

I have a lot more respect for the dissenting opinions by the adoptees and adopted parents. Those of you not closely involved with the life long process of adoption have no idea. You are entitled to your opinion, but its just not coming from the same place as those who have dealt with the crazy emotions involved in adoption.

My family will soon go to see Avengers, but I will probably discuss this line with my boys before we go. Its always better for them to address issues like this head on. Ignoring it or insisting that its just one line in a movie - or that being upset is "grasping at straws," won't make any feelings they might have go away.

I AM AN ADOPTIVE PARENT. However, we don't allow others to define who we are as a family or let adoption define who our daughter is as a person. Some off Colorado joke by a stupid cartoon character in a stupid movie has no relevance on our life.

If you don't like my earlier comparisons how about all the evil step mom references in movies and Tv? Is anyone crying about adoption jokes also up in arms about those as well?

[skater]

Originally Posted by Scurvy

Well, of course everyone has the right to feel however they feel. I don't remember anyone in this thread saying otherwise, though I may have missed it. Your feelings don't have to be correct according to anyone else (or even based in reality) for you to have the right to feel them. People feel the way they feel and they don't have to justify those feelings to anyone. But that means people on both sides have that same right. When someone says that Disney is sending a message in this movie that adopted children are less a part of a family than biological children, or that those words will be a knife in the heart of an adopted child, other people have the right to find that a silly point of view.

And I think its silly for other people to believe that someone who's bothered by it has a silly point of view. And being bothered by it is way different than being outraged.

All movies send lots of messages - many of them negative. Sometimes the messages are unintentional.

I talked with my boys this morning, and they were glad I did. They know that people who haven't been adopted are sometimes clueless. It was actually a great moment to reiterate my love for them, and talk to them about general adoption issues.

[Chernabog#1fan]

Originally Posted by Doug7856

I took my son to see The Avengers on Saturday. In one key scene, as the Avengers are assembled they review the evil committed by Loki. Thor confronts the rest of the Avengers because Loki is his brother. When the Avengers list the atrocities he has committed, Thor volunteers that “Loki was adopted”. It got quite a laugh from the audience, yet it implies that an adopted sibling is less family than biological children.

Children don’t need to be told they are inferior or defective or less of a family member because they were adopted, especially from someone as trusted as the Walt Disney Company. There are 73.8 million children who are a part of families created through adoption. It’s odd that Disney would choose to send a message that adopted children are less part of a family than biological children, but in my opinion, that’s exactly what happens in The Avengers.

The movie was excellent and I don’t regret taking my son to see it. I just thought we had moved beyond these stereotypes about adoption.

This is my point of view as the father of adopted children.

Did this scene bother anyone else?

I cringed at the scene, especialy how everyone laughed. Both of my children are adopted and it was just recent through the foster care. My son did not understand why adoption was being laughed at. We told him we would explain the joke later, but he never mentioned it again. We should probably bring it up so that he does not think people were laughing about adoption, but more what the joke was really referring to.

[plutotek]

Originally Posted by skater

Calling someone's dislike of that line unreal or pathetic as someone else did makes no sense to me.

Exactly my point; you took what I said out of context. It's one thing to find something objectionable, but taking those objections and making a federal case out of them when it's JUST A MOVIE LINE is where it becomes pathetic.