The Avengers Film Review

Movie Review: The Avengers

After five years and five films including two Iron Man films, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America and Thor, the day has finally arrived where we would enjoy the likes of each superhero together in one 2 and a half hour film.  The Avengers has hit theaters today and is predicted to earn a massive amount of dough, possibly becoming the biggest debut for a film, ever.  That is actually very likely.  But I’m not here to tell you about numbers, that’s my other job, I’m here to tell you if the movie is good or not – SPOILER ALERT – it is. 

The film opens rather quickly, with Loki making his through to Earth and reeking havoc upon S.H.E.I.L.D. prompting Nick Fury to make the rash decision to bring in a team of heroes to save the day.  It’s surprising at how fast the plot begin to thicken.  The title cards for Marvel and Paramount play and then – BOOM, the film begins to throw laser beams, gunfire, explosions, and science mumbo jumbo within five minutes at you.  This is where Maria Hill gets to shine and the only time she does.  Everybody in the film gets to have his or her moment, even if briefly.  Coulson, Loki, Hill and Fury all have moments and some are rather memorable. 

The film isn’t all action either, be prepared to sit and watch dialog banter.  I’m not saying that’s a bad thing; they’re possibly the best parts of the film. The quip-y, quick back and forth between each character bleeds pure Whedon and in certain scenes I was instantly reminded of those nights where I was watching Buffy.  Oh, did I mention that the film is hilarious.  You wouldn’t expect for a comic book film to be so hilarious but it doesn’t come off as campy or cheesy. 

But the reason you will buy a ticket is for the fight scenes between each superhero.  This is honestly where I had my gripe with the film.  I expected an Avengers flick and not another Iron Man film.  Maybe it was just me but Tony Stark had way too much screen time and was basically the prominent character of the film.  It wasn’t a huge gripe but it was one that I noticed while watching.  It really dawned on me a lot more after I walked out the theater.  Also, Captain America seems to get the short end of the stick.  In every other fight scene he is always depending on his teammates to help him up from the ground or to save his rear with some baddies.  I don’t know if it was done to show that war has changed since he had been frozen over or just something else.

The scene-stealer has to be Bruce Banner, also known as the Incredible Hulk.  Ruffalo, who plays the scientist, pulls off the Hulk near perfect with his dialog and demeanor.  When we first see him transform into the green rage monster, it’s a rush that will have your blood flow.  The last third of the film is where the Hulk steals the show, jumping around New York and smacking the heck out of bad guys.  The Avengers is the Hulk film you have always wanted to see. 

With a great script, hollow story, great characters, and breathtaking action sequences, this is the superhero film to end all superhero films, until The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers 2.  There were some problems with it but you will probably overlook them because of the great time you will have. 

4 and a half star out of 5. 

Stay tuned after the credits for two additional scenes, one after the title credits and one after the scrolling credits. 

SPOILER ALERT!

If you missed out on the credits here is what they are.

The first post credits stinger is of the counsel Chitauri, the one speaking to Loki about an hour into the film, speaking to a shadowed figured about how Earthlings are unworthy of their planet.  Then the figure turns around to agree.  We see his face; he is Thanos.

The second stinger is of the Avengers sitting and eating in Shawarma.  The scene lasts for about a minute and there is no dialog.