‘Avengers’ Star Samuel L. Jackson Bashes New York Times Critic’s Review

'NY Times critic AO Scott needs a new job! Let's help him find one! One he can ACTUALLY do!' Jackson tweets.
By Gil Kaufman


Samuel L. Jackson
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Is there anyone on the planet at this point who doesn't know that Samuel L. Jackson is a man not to be trifled with? Whether it's snakes at 20,000 feet or dopey college kids who try to rip off his boss, the highest-grossing actor of all time is a badass both on and off the screen.

Which might explain why he was a bit miffed when, amid the almost universal acclaim
 for "The Avengers,"
 he read a review from New York Times critic A.O. Scott that was not entirely positive.

The veteran critic wrote, "'The Avengers' is hardly worth raging about, its failures are significant and dispiriting ... The light, amusing bits cannot overcome the grinding, hectic emptiness, the bloated cynicism that is less a shortcoming of this particular film than a feature of the genre." But the part that likely stung the most was his takedown of Jackson's role as eye patch-wearing Nick Fury, head of spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D., which Scott called, "more master of ceremonies than mission commander."

Say what again? "#Avengers fans, NY Times critic AO Scott needs a new job!," Jackson tweeted on Thursday. "Let's help him find one! One he can actually do!" The blast set off some conversations with a few fans, including one who replied, "@SamuelLJackson the critic has a right to his opinion. Just because the movie has made a ton of money does not mean it is a good movie." Considering that "The Avengers" has set some overseas box office records
 and is on track to potentially smash U.S. high-water marks, Jackson replied, "Actually, sometimes IT DOES!"

The back-and-forth kept going, with another disappointed Twitter user taking issue with Jackson's furious anger and "irrational" response to the negative review, asking if people are still entitled to their own opinions? "That is My Opinion!" Jackson replied. "What's irrational about it? They aren't going to fire his jaundiced ass & You & I Know It!"

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