"Finding the characters' voices was easy; finding the structure was brutal!" - Joss Whedon
After four years of build-up, five block-busters, years of anticipation, hand-wringing, finger wagging and internet speculation we can finally see The Avengers. Like many other films of 2012, gone and yet to come, it certainly is ambitious. There were times when the movie looked like it would never get made, and a time where it almost looked like DC was going to push through a Justice League movie before it (though that project never materialized). There are many criticisms I can throw at this film but in the end, one way or the other, it delivers.
Earth is threatened by the fallen Asgardian prince Loki whose defeat in Thor has made him bitter but now has help from a strange, otherworldly benefactor. Colonel Nick Fury manages to escape the trickster god's wrath and is forced to re-open the 'Avengers initiative', a project hinted at in the previous Marvel films (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger). For some reason the 'initiative' was scrapped, but the reasons why are not really dwelt upon. You get a sense that much story and character development was cut to keep the movie's pace fast (director Joss Whedon recently admitted as much) but these omissions does not damage the film, but I digress. The first two recruited is Steve 'Captain America' Rogers and Natasha (Black Widow) Romanov. Rogers is unhappy as he lost decades of his life and is stuck in a more complex, less simple time, but accepts the mission and slowly finds himself becoming the leader of the group. Though introduced in Iron Man 2 we get to see Black Widow in action and get first-hand experience of her unorthodox spy methods. Tony Stark and Pepper (the only romantic interest from any of the other movies to join this film) find Agent Colson interrupting their supposed romantic evening. Bruce Banner is living in the slums of India, trying to help people in need as a way of keeping the Hulk at bay, but is not recruited for being a hero or villain, but in more of a consultant role. Thor joins the cast late, and because of his links to Loki is treated as an enemy instead of an ally, leading to a fight between him and another Avenger. Regardless of their formidable power Loki is one step ahead of them.
To say more would certainly be a crime, and discussing the movie in detail would rob potential viewers of its pleasures, particularly in the way Whedon subverts and parodies the clichés and tropes inherit to action and super-hero movies. The action is mostly well done, exciting, and could have been compared to Michael Bay's work except that it's better as it has stronger characters than, say, Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Just some words on the actors; Chris Evans, Chris Hemmsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Robert Downey Jr have all established themselves in the previous movies, but the other actors also have moments that shine (another winning ingredient). Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye is somewhat under-developed, but while on-screen you buy him as the character, even when he's impossibly good with a bow and arrow. The Black Widow is well played by Scarlett Johansson and has a lot of good scenes as well. A stand-out scene (other than her introduction) is a meeting between her and Loki of which I will say no more. The most notable new roll is Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / The Hulk. Despite me personally preferring Edward Norton in the role Ruffalo's characterisation of Banner is pretty good; he plays the roll as a nice enough fellow, but the smiles and friendliness seem hollow at times, no doubt because he's suppressing a part of himself. Lastly, Samuel L Jackson is a pretty good Nick Fury and comes across as a competent authority figure but he tends to keep out of the action.
Recommended? I don't see the film as perfect, but it not only delivers where it should it exceeds expectations. Most people will probably have seen it anyway regardless of what quality critics bestow upon it; at least they wont leave the cinema disappointed.
US Release: 4 May 2012.
After four years of build-up, five block-busters, years of anticipation, hand-wringing, finger wagging and internet speculation we can finally see The Avengers. Like many other films of 2012, gone and yet to come, it certainly is ambitious. There were times when the movie looked like it would never get made, and a time where it almost looked like DC was going to push through a Justice League movie before it (though that project never materialized). There are many criticisms I can throw at this film but in the end, one way or the other, it delivers.
Earth is threatened by the fallen Asgardian prince Loki whose defeat in Thor has made him bitter but now has help from a strange, otherworldly benefactor. Colonel Nick Fury manages to escape the trickster god's wrath and is forced to re-open the 'Avengers initiative', a project hinted at in the previous Marvel films (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger). For some reason the 'initiative' was scrapped, but the reasons why are not really dwelt upon. You get a sense that much story and character development was cut to keep the movie's pace fast (director Joss Whedon recently admitted as much) but these omissions does not damage the film, but I digress. The first two recruited is Steve 'Captain America' Rogers and Natasha (Black Widow) Romanov. Rogers is unhappy as he lost decades of his life and is stuck in a more complex, less simple time, but accepts the mission and slowly finds himself becoming the leader of the group. Though introduced in Iron Man 2 we get to see Black Widow in action and get first-hand experience of her unorthodox spy methods. Tony Stark and Pepper (the only romantic interest from any of the other movies to join this film) find Agent Colson interrupting their supposed romantic evening. Bruce Banner is living in the slums of India, trying to help people in need as a way of keeping the Hulk at bay, but is not recruited for being a hero or villain, but in more of a consultant role. Thor joins the cast late, and because of his links to Loki is treated as an enemy instead of an ally, leading to a fight between him and another Avenger. Regardless of their formidable power Loki is one step ahead of them.
To say more would certainly be a crime, and discussing the movie in detail would rob potential viewers of its pleasures, particularly in the way Whedon subverts and parodies the clichés and tropes inherit to action and super-hero movies. The action is mostly well done, exciting, and could have been compared to Michael Bay's work except that it's better as it has stronger characters than, say, Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Just some words on the actors; Chris Evans, Chris Hemmsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Robert Downey Jr have all established themselves in the previous movies, but the other actors also have moments that shine (another winning ingredient). Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye is somewhat under-developed, but while on-screen you buy him as the character, even when he's impossibly good with a bow and arrow. The Black Widow is well played by Scarlett Johansson and has a lot of good scenes as well. A stand-out scene (other than her introduction) is a meeting between her and Loki of which I will say no more. The most notable new roll is Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / The Hulk. Despite me personally preferring Edward Norton in the role Ruffalo's characterisation of Banner is pretty good; he plays the roll as a nice enough fellow, but the smiles and friendliness seem hollow at times, no doubt because he's suppressing a part of himself. Lastly, Samuel L Jackson is a pretty good Nick Fury and comes across as a competent authority figure but he tends to keep out of the action.
Recommended? I don't see the film as perfect, but it not only delivers where it should it exceeds expectations. Most people will probably have seen it anyway regardless of what quality critics bestow upon it; at least they wont leave the cinema disappointed.
US Release: 4 May 2012.
Saw this midnight release and wow I was impressed. It was a lot of fun.
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