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Marvel’s The Avengers (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging)
Marvel makes cinematic history as it unites the super hero team-up of a lifetime. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Captain America (Chris Evans) assemble together for the very first time ever in this epic, action-packed blockbuster alongside Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Director Joss Whedon creates an unprecedented universe that has become a global phenomenon. Packed with spectacul
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Roland
November 28, 2012 at 10:16 am
“Are you sure about this?” “Yeah, it’ll be fun.”,
….And what fun it is.
*Spoilers Ahead*
Marvel’s “The Avengers” is an expertly-crafted movie that makes 2 1/2 hours fly by like….well….I don’t really know…SOMETHING FAST. My thoughts on seeing this movie–the first time (yes, you WILL go to see this more than once)–were: “This was just as good as ‘The Dark Knight’….how is THAT even possible?” Well…consider first that Marvel has always had the best storylines, and the know-how to mix all of their characters’ comic books together into one, all-encompassing storyline. Then, consider they decided to apply said formula to their movies. Third, they went out and expertly casted the parts.
How could this NOT be good?
Who else but Robert Downey, Jr could be a multi-billionaire, techno-wizard, armor-wearing snark-artist? Acts like he doesn’t care, but is willing to sacrifice his life to save New York.
Chris Evans is Captain America. A 1940s guy living in the present day….brings “a little old-fashioned” to the role and shows old-fashionedness isn’t cheesy, it just depends on how it is presented. It is presented very well, with Evans being the heart and soul (not to mention team leader) of The Avengers–by the way: love the shot, at the movie’s end, of him on his motorcycle riding off into the sunset.
Mark Ruffalo, (great casting here; now I feel the Hulk movie franchise finally has hope) channels Bill Bixby in his performance (good idea!) but adds a “Hulk-sized” portion of world-weariness to his character…his over-the-shoulder “I’m always angry” is one of my favorite moments in an entire movie of favorite moments. And….The Hulk gets two more “Hulk-sized” moments that totally bring the house down.
Oh, nice touch having Lou Ferrigno voice the Hulk.
Chris Hemsworth as Thor is the only character in the movie whom I feel was under-utilized. No fault of the actor’s; he does a great job with what he is given….and DOES have his moments (“He’s adopted”)….I just felt they didn’t give him as much as they did the other three leads.
Rounding out The Avengers are Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner as the assassin/couple: Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) and Hawkeye. Ms. Johansson is a master interrogator (albeit by making use of quite unorthodox means). Hawkeye is the steely-cool expert marksman–I had my doubts as to how an archer could work in such a high-energy movie. It works.
The Avengers are put together by SHIELD: Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (need I say more?); Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson, and very funny in the role); Colbie Smulders (Agent Maria Hill–doesn’t get nearly enough screen time) and Stellan Starsgard.
Loki is portrayed by Tom Hiddleston; whom, for a character thinking of himself as a god, brings some amusing vunerability to the character: His embarrassment at being unable to kill/brainwash Tony Stark: “This usually works.”; or, “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll have that drink now.”
I was initially skeptical about this movie. I didn’t think Loki was the best choice for a screen villain. Er, was I wrong….this tale of an immortal/meglomaniac/demigod/god-wannabe who enlists an alien race to help him conquer Earth (Question: if Loki *really* was a god, why would he need alien help?) made for some great popcorn, big-tent, summer viewing.
….My other initial fear was that this wasn’t going to be “The Avengers” as much as it would be “Iron Man and Friends”.
Thankfully, I was wrong again.
To sum up: The Avengers is cinematic excellence. Many have complained about it being too long–and, the first 20 minutes or so setting up the story *do* take a moment….but once “Marvel’s The Avengers” splashes across the screen: The movie takes off and never looks back. It is packed with great moments and memorable lines/one-liners. The action sequences are the best I’ve ever seen and it all looks real. Seems I read somewhere online the battle in New York would have done (in reality) 39 billion dollars’ worth of damage. You WILL believe it.
Oh, one last thing: sit through ALL of the credits.
Thank you, Joss Whedon and co.
Please go all-out on the blu-ray release. Please.
Quotes
Natasha: “I’d sit this one out, Cap.”
Captain America: “I don’t see how I can.”
Natasha: “These guys (Thor and Loki) come from legend. They’re basically gods.”
Cap: “There’s only one God, ma’am. And I’m pretty sure he isn’t dressed like that.”
Cap: “Dr. Banner, now might be a good time for you to get angry.”
Dr. Banner: “That’s my secret, Captain.” (looks back over his shoulder at Cap) “I’m always angry.”
Loki: (embarrassed) “This usually works.”
Tony Stark: “Well, you know, performance issues…”
“The Avengers”
PG-13 for language (non-harsh) and violence; no gore or sex to be found,…
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|H. Bala "Me Too Can Read"
November 28, 2012 at 9:38 am
…And there came a day, a day unlike any other…,
Mr. Nolan, is that a gauntlet on the floor? Brother, I am more giddy than my giddy aunt. I saw the midnight showing of the AVENGERS last night and, at the end, my face hurt from grinning so big. I am so wired I can’t form a coherent thought, and so here, instead, is a salvo of stream-of-consciousness impressions, in whatever order.
Mark Ruffalo is simply terrific as the Hulk’s alter (and calmer) ego. I actually prefer his interpretation of Dr. Banner over Bana’s and Norton’s. Ruffalo steers away from the deadening angst that made me fidget in earlier Hulk pictures. He finds a balance. This Banner exhibits a dry sense of humor but exudes this quirky, low simmer edginess. And I love Ruffalo’s interactions with Downey, Jr., two swaggerful eggheads matching their test tubes against each other and applying big words. I like that there’s respect between their two characters. There’s an intriguing twist involving Banner’s relationship with the Hulk, of which I won’t say more. The Hulk – and this seems to be a unanimous impression – hijacks the movie.
Comic book geeks like me have recently been dogging Marvel’s latest company crossover event, AVENGERS VS. X-MEN. And, yet, this film demonstrates that, sometimes, there’s nothing more exhilarating than eyeballing an epic hero vs. hero scrap. Mjolnir, meet the Hulk’s face. Have you ever wondered what happens should Thor’s enchanted hammer go up against Captain America’s indestructible shield?
The plot revolves around the far-ranging machinations of Loki, Asgardian god of mischief. Those who’ve read the AVENGERS’ origin in the comic books should note a smidgen of familiarity, but only a smidgen. The Tesseract artifact plays a part. The bad guys Loki recruits as an invasion force aren’t Skrulls. Not exactly. Certainly they pose an extinction level threat, alarming enough that some assembly becomes required.
Captain America is well utilized here, although I’m hating his awkward modern-day costume. I vastly prefered his more practical WWII outfit.
You and me, let’s kowtow to Joss Whedon. His storytelling has big scope; it has grandeur. He orchestrates a sprawling, high-profiled cast and just about gets away with not slighting anyone. He does rely some on your familiarity with the character development sunk into the prior films. He manages to tie in various plot threads from previous Marvel pictures. Although Stark, Cap, and Banner get the lion’s share of the spotlight, Whedon devotes time and space to side characters like the slinky but lethal spy, the Black Widow, and the likable, unobstrusive Agent Coulson. If you assume the Black Widow’s defining action moment surfaces in that early interrogation scene, you’d be all kinds of not right. Scarlett Johansson ticks off Whedon’s Buffy box, not only in things assskickery but also in terms of strong character beats (the Widow’s dialogue with Loki happens to be an acting showcase). She’s so much more here than when she was showcased in IRON MAN 2. But if I could pick out two people who may have been underused, they would have to be Maria Hill and Hawkeye. I do feel that Cobie Smulders was wasted.
I love that, like in the comics, Thor never gives up on his half-brother.
The first half hour is essentially a slow burn set-up that may or may not keep you engaged. And at times Whedon does sacrifice narrative for those wild action sequences, and that’s okay, because Whedon treats us to a series of marvelous cape-on-cape violence (in true Marvel fashion, these heroes harbor instant grudges against each other). But all those violent “misunderstandings” merely whet your appetite. Joss doesn’t disappoint. The extended climactic combat sequence – as the Avengers hold the line against a horde of grotesque invaders from deep space – is off the charts and immensely gratifying. I’m reminded of the 1990s X-Men cartoon in which the camera would often track the X-Men in frenzied action, as they hurtle in and out of the picture, occasionally mingling with each other only to break off again into individual skirmishes. I was mesmerized by Whedon’s sweeping, organic approach to the battle scenes.
No surprise, there are heaps of whip smart one-liners, plenty of them generated by a smirky Robert Downey, Jr. – and yet even Chris Hemsworth’s regal thunder god elicits chuckles. No contest, though, the brutalizing Hulk – rendered to savage life in astonishing CG – captures two of the film’s biggest laughs.
For pure escapism and sheer fanfare and fan service beyond expectation, THE AVENGERS is the best superhero movie I have ever seen. I have to see it again. But you, you make sure to stick around for the embedded scene during the post-credits and then for the post-credit scene. You may wet your pants.
Hours and hours later, I’m still big grinning. Joss Whedon actually pulled it off.
DC Comics, whatchugonnado?
What I have is…
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