The Avengers (2012)

Director: Joss Whedon

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Rom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgard, Samuel L Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Powers Boothe, Jenny Agutter, Harry Dean Stanton

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Some assembly required.

Plot: Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army.

My rating: 9/10

Will I watch it again? YES!!! As in next week!!!

HOLY SHIT!!! It's a home-fucking-run! There's so much to like. The way every character gets several moments to shine yet work as one as a team is remarkable. It's a perfect juggling act where not a single ball gets dropped but, instead, things get added like a bowling pin, trombone, chainsaw, etc. It's dangerous, it's funny, it's sad, it's punch-the-air exciting. It may slow down a bit much in the middle but boy, oh boy, does it make up for it in the final half hour.


I thought Edward Norton was great as Banner but Ruffalo bests him. I NEED to see another Hulk movie. PLEASE give us another Hulk picture. Renner as Hawkeye is fantastic. I really dig this guy. Hell, EVERYONE does a fantastic job. It felt like everyone had exactly the right amount of screen time and no one got slighted. There are so many nice touches thrown in right to the very end that Joss Whedon deserves a shitload of praise. He's pulled off what seemed impossible. I can't find any flaws except a slightly saggy midsection but then I was sleeepy as fuck and all the Coke in the world wasn't helping to keep me awake. You MUST stay through until the absolute end of the film. There are two surprises during the end credits. I'll go see it again in a few days but in 3D and I'll probably update this afterward.

UPDATE: 5/7/12 - I just got back from watching it in 3D and the 3D is outstanding. I haven't seen better 3D than this since AVATAR (2009). It's clear, smooth and well, let's just face it...Scarlett Johansson's butt in 3D (you know the scene I'm talking about - the one where she's interrogating Loki) is worth the price of the upgrade. I prefer the 3D on this flick over the 2D. I forgot to mention last week about how amazing the special effects are. There's barely any shaky cam and you get to see so much of the action in a way your eyes can soak it in. I love it. I also love Alan Silvestri's score. It's got a great superhero theme, the kind that you might find yourself humming out of the theater. It's something that's been missing from a lot of comic book movies in the past two decades. I'm not sure if I'll go see it again but I just might. I CANNOT WAIT until 6/8 for PROMETHEUS!!!!!!!!!!!