Even with the power of science, mythical God’s, or an endless supply of money; alone the heroes we’ve come to know are weak, together they are The Avengers.
It’s been years in the making really, now that all the main heroes got their individual, origin films, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, countless Hulk remakes, it was finally time to bring them together for the greater good.
The Avengers kicks off where Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger left off after the final credits. The evil Loki, power hungry, and ready to feast on the destruction of earth has an army ready to take over, that’s where Nick Fury of the S.H.I.E.L.D comes in as he assembles the Avengers initiative featuring Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, in order to stop the end of civilization.
Lets start with the script. Joss Whedon, Zak Penn, and co. deserve a ton of credit for writing a witty, smart, and all inclusive dialogue, unlike anything we have seen from any of the Marvel films before. Even with all the tense action packed scenes, there are so many jokes, good ones at that, littered throughout the film to let the audience catch their breath. This most certainly applies to Tony Stark. The script written for Robert Downey Jr. was absolutely, dead on perfect. Stark, in his condescending, and snarky tone makes fun of Thor, Hulk, Captain America, with either low blow jokes or pop culture references from The Wizard of Oz to Point Break. I guess you have to have seen a bunch of films to get some of the jokes, but I was laughing out loud many times that Stark spoke.
Now even though there have been stand-alone films for most of the Avengers, Whedon did a good job of incorporating a small dose of back-story with each character. He didn’t do it in an obvious way, it was more through chitchat with other characters, and it was effective, a sort of catch up system. Helps those who aren’t major Marvel fans, or who just forgot how these super heroes, became super.
After Captain America: The First Avenger, I said that his character would have had a better in a smaller role, and even wrote that in the Avengers film, everyone will be showcased equally, which meant less screen time, but better overall storytelling.
And I was dead on correct.
By giving every Avenger shared screen time, from interaction, to fight scenes, the film flowed so well, never slowed down, and made each character relevant, instead of an afterthought. The balance is so equal, there is never a lull, you never go 20 minutes without Hawkeye, or Thor, the time management, while on the outside might not seem like a big deal, in a film like this where the focus is on more than six characters, it can make or break a movie.
My two gripes had to do with the lighting of the film and the 3D.
There are a ton of scenes shot at night or in cavernous spaces where little, to no light is given to the scenes. It’s so dark it became hard to make out what was happening. Perhaps this can be attributed to the 3D screening I went to, but regardless it seemed to be too dark, for many scenes. Once the daytime shots or ample light shots made their way to screen, there were stunning visuals. The 3D, as ALWAYS was completely unnecessary. It did not enhance the film one bit for me, and this stupid gimmick needs to die, and needs to die now. I can’t stand it, and every superhero film wants to shoot in 3D for whatever reason, please stop. I hate 3D already, and having to wear 3D glasses, OVER my actual glasses, does not make me happy.
But I digress…
For the die-hard fans, this will be paradise. The buildup of Mark Ruffalo ask Bruce Banner A.K.A The Hulk is done so well, and well, no one likes The Incredible Hulk, when he’s angry, and he gets angry a lot here. I can’t say enough about the comedy in the script, I was hysterically laughing at The Hulk, there are subtle things he does with his face, or to other Avengers, that while may not be intentionally funny, I thought were a riot.
What’s more is that each Avenger got more of a persona, you began to really sense whom they are. Chris Evans as Captain America, his whole story about being frozen for 70 years, and coming back to still be the soldier, and alpha male of the group, because that’s the only way he knows how to be. Good luck standing next to Mr. Stark. Captain Steve Rogers actually came off as the most corniest of the Avengers, some of his stupid cliche one liners, had me laughing in embarrassment, I guess you always need that one guy.
Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki both continued their love/hate relationship for each other, as they battle the God’s, their powers and the bond as brothers. Hiddleston does an amazing job once again as Loki. If you don’t hate the sight of this guy within the first five minutes of seeing him, there’s something wrong with you, he plays the villain like a pro.
It’s fair to say as the audience you’re about to go on a roller coaster, unlike anything Marvel has done before. This compilation was done very well, crafted to perfection that will have every comic book reader practically weeping once the credits roll.
Speaking of credits rolling here’s another *FODDER TIP* — stay in your seat till after the credits finish!!
Since Marvel has started putting out it’s grand spectacles of superhero films, it’s been a bit formulaic. More than a handful of them have fallen on their face, with cheesy production and effects along with less then enticing story lines. Finally, after being incredibly disappointed with Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger; they got it right.
The Avengers is the perfect mesh of action packed, show off superhero film combined with a story to make it all tie together, this is for the comic book nerds and the casual fan alike. The excitement level throughout the film remains at a 10. The way The Avengers have to protect earth, while watching New York City get torn to pieces in it’s final half hour of the film, is amazing on screen.
When you have Samuel L. Jackson as S.H.I.E.L.D leader Nick Fury as more then just a one eyed talking head, and Agent Phil Coulson, played by Clark Gregg, stealing scenes, you know you’ve done a bang up job. Even when the mortals, Hawkeye and Black Widow, played by Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson, have significant roles in the film, no one is forgotten, or under utilized.
This is the funniest Marvel Superhero film we have seen to date, the banter back and forth is quick, witty, and doesn’t feel forced. It’s also by far the best overall product from the studio, no question about it. Whedon has directed and sculpted a stunning exhibit for the world to see. What he really has done, is put his mark, his stamp on a story we were all familiar with, yet he made it his own.
The Avengers is 142 minutes of pulse pounding, ass-kicking fun, that makes it impossible not to grin like a kid in a candy store once it’s over.
Rating: 8.5/10
Theater of The Mind 