Got my tickets for the Avengers movie next week and I was wondering what other Marvel films I should see beforehand.
I have seen Ironman 1 & 2 and both Hulks but not seen Thor or Captain America.
Are these essential to the new Avengers movie or can I skip them and still know whats going on?
Many thanks
I don’t think they are necessary pre-viewing, a lot is explained in the Avengers movie, probably to help those that haven’t seen the others!
If you were going to watch a movie first, I would recommend Thor as I feel it’s more central to the plot. But you could equally watch it after.
You can probably get by without seeing any of them - the plot isn’t that background-intensive. If you do see one, see Thor, as it explains the main villain. The MacGuffin shows up in Captain America but isn’t important (heck, I forgot it was even in the Captain America movie until it was alluded to).
Definitely Thor, you won’t get a proper feel for the villain without it, IMO. But it’s not essential, they go over almost all the important bits from the other movies briefly.
I’m having a blast watching Iron Man 2 and Thor when I can grab time for them this week - Iron Man 2 on the old laptop hooked into my TV via the S-video cable, and Thor on the iPhone.
As it just so happened this morning, I had the bit from Iron Man where Clark Gregg - Agent Coulson? - told Stark he had to leave because Nick Fury was sending him to New Mexico. And then, on the bus into work - guess who shows up to take away Natalie Portman’s research on her mysterious stranger? 
Fun little correspondence.
They are fun, see them anyway.
I rented Thor to watch tonight, before we see The Avengers at the drive-in tomorrow night. The three of us have been looking forward to this like you wouldn’t believe, but I have a prior commitment that I can’t get out of tonight. So tomorrow, it is! (Besides, we want to get a good parking place, which will be nigh well impossible if we go tonight.)