The Avengers (2012)

August 29, 2012April 25, 2013 Dave Alexis Denisof, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Gwyneth Paltrow, James Eckhouse, Jeremy Renner, Jerzy Skolimowski, Joss Whedon, Lou Ferrigno, Mark Ruffalo, Maximiliano Hernandez, Pat Kiernan, Paul Bettany, Robert Downey Jnr., Romy Rosemont, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Stan lee, Stellan Skarsgard, The Avengers, The Avengers Review, Thomas Roberts, Tom Hiddleston, Zak Penn

Summary: Marvel presents Marvels The Avengers, the Super Hero team up of a lifetime. Iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America assemble for the first time ever in this new action-packed Marvel saga, staring Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself needing a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Marvels The Avengers is packed with action, adventure and spectacular special effects thatll knock your socks off.

Year: 2012

Australian Cinema Release Date: 25th April, 2012

Australian DVD Release Date: 29th August, 2012

Country: USA

Director: Joss Whedon

Screenwriter: Joss Whedon, Zak Penn

Cast: Paul Bettany (Jarvis (voice)), Alexis Denisof (The Other), Robert Downey Jnr (Tony Stark/Iron Man), James Eckhouse (Senator Boynton), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America), Lou Ferrigno (The Hulk (voice)), Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Maximiliano Hernandez (Agent Jasper Sitwell), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow), Pat Kiernan (himself), Stan Lee (himself), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye), Thomas Roberts (himself), Romy Rosemont (Shawna Lynde), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/The Hulk), Stellan Skarsgard (Selvig), Jerzy Skolimowski (Georgi Luchkov), Cobie Smulders (Agent Maria Hill)

Runtime: 143 mins

Classification:M

Dave Griffiths’s ‘The Avengers’ Review:

As far as movies go Avengers comes, sees and conquers! Nothing more needs to be said… well actually it does because this is a review! While The Avengers isn’t a cinematic masterpiece like Dark Knight it is certainly more than just your average action flick, due largely to the fact that screenwriter/director Joss Whedon (TV’S Glee & Dollhouse) gets everything (yes everything!!!) absolutely right. It is seriously hard to fault this film.

Using characters from the Marvel Comics vault The Avengers sees Loki (Tom Hiddleston – War Horse, The Deep Blue Sea) sets out on a plan that will see the whole of Earth bow down before him. And his plan gets off to a stellar beginning when he ‘forces’ Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner – Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, The Town) and Professor Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Melancholia) to work for him.

This forces Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson – Meeting Evil, The Samaritan) to call together Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson – We Bought A Zoo, Iron Man 2), Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr. – Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows, Due Date), Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans – What’s Your Number, Captain America: The First Avenger) and Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo – Margaret, Date Night) in a bid to stop him. And when Thor (Chris Hemsworth – The Cabin In The Woods, Thor) shows up The Avengers are finally all together.

The story may not sound like much but Whedon really has created an exceptional script. The film may be a little hard for those who have not seen the previous films in the series to comprehend, but Whendon keeps the story following well, drops some suspense when it’s needed and captures the characters so well that comic book fans will be beside themselves with joy. Given that Whedon has also written and directed some amazing fight scenes, Iron Man vs Thor vs Captain America comes straight to mind, this film is certain to be nirvana for anyone who frequents shops like Alternate Worlds or Minotaur.

Whedon’s script captures the characters so well you may even find yourself warming to The Hulk, a character that has been at times hard to connect with in previous films. And as was the way with Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Firefly Whedon has created some one liners of pure wit. Such is Whedon’s ability as a screenwriter he also incorporates some genuinely funny moments into The Avengers without ever having it seem out of place.

The one thing that does stand out in The Avengers is the acting of Robert Downey Jnr. He is head and shoulders above the rest of the cast… he seriously seems to morph into Tony Stark. Cudos must also be paid to Mark Ruffalo who puts in a fine effort and Chris Evans who has really stepped up his abilities since Captain America. Fans will also be happy to know that Gwyneth Paltrow (Contagion, Country Strong) stops by to portray Pepper Potts, but sadly Natalie Portman does not.

The Avengers is epic in every form of the word. Whedon is edgy with his directing style, there is some brilliant cinematography and the CGI (even of The Hulk) is out of this world. Add all that to a script that reminds us what a genius Joss Whedon is and you are left with a film that raises the comic book/action genre bar just that little bit higher. A must see on the big screen!

Other Subculture Media Reviews of ‘The Avengers′: Nil.

Rating: 5/5

IMDB Rating: