Joss Whedon’s view of The Avengers as a dysfunctional family that can come together only when unified by an overwhelming outside threat is on full display in his commentary to the dust-up between Iron Man and Thor.  In this clip, which is almost certain to be included (along with lots more) on The Avengers DVD, Whedon doesn’t spoil the context, but his commentary makes clear that "they both really think they need to win, and neither of them is totally wrong, and that makes it more than a fight, it makes it a conflict."

 

Meanwhile The Avengers, which opens in North America on Friday, and which debuted overseas last week, pulled in a stellar $33 million on Monday, which boosts its sterling overseas total to $218 million (see "'Avengers' Assemble a Big Time Gross Overseas").  The movie should bull its way into the black as early as this weekend when its worldwide gross should surpass $500 million.