In a post-credits scene at the end
of 2008’s Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson
appeared onscreen as S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury, hinting at a mysterious “Avengers
Initiative,” thereby setting the stage for a heretofore unprecedented expanded
cinematic universe. After the critically
and commercially successful entries The
Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger, each member of the legendary
comic book team had been introduced to audiences and was now ready to unite
against a common threat. Internet
reaction to developmental news was swift and passionate, whether that involved
the sheer joy over Buffy the Vampire
Slayer’s cult status creator Joss Whedon taking the helm, or the unbridled
fury when it was announced that Mark Ruffalo would be replacing Edward Norton
as Bruce Banner/The Hulk. Either way,
buzz was through the roof, and, thanks to Marvel’s always aggressive marketing
tactics and promotional partnerships, awareness was peaked for what was sure to
be a cinematic event that would attract both comic and non-comic fans
alike. A team franchise movie experience
has never been attempted, and all early indicators seemed to guarantee a
massive pay-off, both critically and financially (I myself have predicted that The Avengers will reign as box-office
champion of the 2012 Summer Movie Season, ahead of The Dark Knight Rises); needless, to say, I had my 3D-glasses and
midnight showing ticket in-hand, fully prepared to have an absolute geek fit in
the theater.
Overall
Recommendation: Very High
Energetic, humorous, visually
stunning, and undeniably epic, The
Avengers offers the greatest fan-service to comic book fanatics to-date,
imaginatively bringing together beloved characters in a supremely entertaining
way. Director/Screenwriter Joss Whedon
demonstrates a profound understanding of how to frame each one of these
characters, bringing them together in a conceivable way and allowing adequate
individual character development (the one possible exception being Hawkeye);
all the while delivering rousing action that culminates in an apocalyptic,
drool-inducing and unbelievably badass final battle over New York City. Whether it involves Captain America and Iron
Man trading quips, Thor using the Chrysler Building as a massive lightning rod,
or the Hulk unleashing a brutal beating on Loki, there is more than enough to
send both comic book and action junkies into absolute euphoria. However, for as much as I enjoyed The Avengers, I can acknowledge that the
film isn’t exactly perfect, with a noticeably slow beginning and a few
unexplained plot devices that were clearly used only to somewhat keep the
over-arching story and conflict coherent.
However, when this comic book powerhouse is considered in its entirety,
such trivial shortcomings are easily accepted and forgiven, as the reality
remains that each member of the ensemble cast delivers a powerhouse performance
that all audiences will enjoy; setting the bar very, very high for the rest of 2012
Summer Movie Season. Don’t forget to
stay for both post-credit scenes!
