Review: Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

Posted by lgrima on April 30, 2012 · 6 Comments 

“As long as we’re certain that the world’s going to end, we’re going to act as if it’s going to keep spinning.”

Marvel Studios presents Marvel’s The Avengers-the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Avengers Assemble  Marvel’s The Avengers (sorry but I refuse to call it the ridiculous UK name) is a film that’s been culminating since 2008’s Iron Man which fully kick started the new Marvel revolution. With the success of Iron Man it seemed like plain sailing. We then had The Incredible Hulk (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Thor (2011) and Captain America: The FIrst Avenger (2011). Now I happen to of liked/loved these pre-Avenger films but I know a lot have had mixed views on each one. But what does stand is that neither of them were truly panned. Interest in The Avengers was cleverly marketed with short post credit sequences at the end of each of these films, usually Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury making an appearance. It got people hooked for what was to be in May 2012.

Joss Whedon was handed the daunting task to direct a film that brought five of earths mightiest heroes into one coherent film. Now in theory this could have been such a disaster for a number of reasons. The job to balance the characteristics of each superhero and meld them together into a solid and understandable story that makes sense and is entreating whilst being engaging.

Everyone returns for The Avengers from their respected individual films, minus a few changes. Jeremy Renner fully arrives as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Cobie Smulders as SHIELD agent Maria Hill, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Mark Ruffalo replaces Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/Hulk. As well as old favourites Agent Coulson, Loki and Pepper Potts return. Now it sounds like a case of ‘too many cooks in one kitchen’ with such an ensemble cast and personalities but Joss Wheden has effectively pulled this off, and then some!

Lets talk about the film itself without giving away any spoilers because I’m not a cretin. But as you should already know from the trailers is that Loki has plans to rule earth (with a little help) and its up to The Avengers to band together and unite to prevent this from happening. What was very clear after I saw it was the sheer amount of action! Seriously, this film is 80% of thrilling action, smashing and explosions! And it’s very rewarding with it.

What really sells this film is the script in which Whedon re-wrote and its utterly perfect, joyous, cheesy and camp at times. In my opinion this is exactly how a blockbuster superhero movie should be. And the actors benefit from it no end. Tony Stark is given his usual quips and one-liners but it’s not as heavy as you think. Not just Stark but all heroes display there snappy comedic timing like Thor and Hulk.  This is because the film balances all the characters out evenly which gave me great joy. So you will see more of Hawkeye, Nick Fury, The Hulk, etc… And whats even better is that its believable. I can easily see Tony Stark and Bruce Banner in a lab working together and having great respect for each other within the film. This then brings me onto one of the best aspects of The Avengers is the characterisation of Bruce Banner/The Hulk – this is THE Hulk we’ve all been waiting for! Now I liked Hulk beforehand but no one seemed to of gotten the character right so far,; specially when you look back at the others films like Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Hemsworth as Thor and Evans as Captain America. Joss Whedon has now written in the perfect Hulk portrayed by the great and underrated Mark Ruffalo.

So whats my final thoughts? Well The Avengers is utterly perfect. I hope Michael Bay watches it because this, THIS is how you make a full-blown blockbuster with explosions that leaves you satisfied. The 3D is very nonsensical and redundant as usual but it was the least obtrusive 3D film I have seen but as usual, see it in 2D for superior colour. Joss Whedon has appeared to pull of the impossible and made a perfect summer(ish) blockbuster that will make a lot of cinema-goers very pleased. I absolutely can’t wait to see it again and now it adds pressure to The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises to deliver equaled films. Oh, and Hulk Smash!

Filed under Cinema, Reviews · Tagged with 2012, avengers assemble, black widow, Captain America, comic, feature, films, hawk eye, Hulk, iron man, Marvel, Reviews, shield, Superhero, the avengers, Thor