Reviews

The Avengers

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
Rating: M

Strap yourselves in. It’s here! The highly anticipated superhero blockbuster The Avengers has crash-landed into cinemas near you. Is this a dream? No. In fact, it’s the super crazy Marvel collaboration that people from across the globe have been waiting for. And yes, it meets and exceeds all expectations you might have.

For those unfamiliar with The Avengers storyline, it pits Marvel superheroes Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Incredible Hulk against the evil Loki, who looks to bring down an alien race to rule Earth. With the help of Hawkeye, Black Widow and the S.H.I.E.L.D Organisation, it’s either fight or watch the world collapse.

The beauty of The Avengers is balance. Director/writer Joss Whedon has put together a wonderful film that splits each superhero's screentime evenly.

The action scenes have been amazingly directed (and by that I mean Michael Bay probably has learnt a lesson or two). The CGI work is fantastic: Hulk looks realistic and believable. It’s also really funny, with a lot of laugh-out-loud moments.

The Avengers will pull on your heartstrings, too. There’s some real powerful acting, which is what you would expect with this star-studded cast. Downey, Jr. is incredible as the self-indulgent Tony Stark. Evans hones the war-hardened Captain America. Australian actor Hemsworth gives a fantastic performance as demigod Thor. Mark Rufalo is the best Hulk we’ve seen yet.

The Avengers features a unique blend of characters, and it takes some time for them to become comfortable with each other (cue epic superhero vs superhero fight scenes!), but even when the atmosphere is tense, the comedy mixes in well with the drama and action.

This is one of those movies that you have to watch in the first week of release, mainly because your friends will already be discussing all the aspects of it. It’s a fun-filled rollercoaster of a film with special effects that will make your eyes pop.

Along with such high praise come some criticisms, though. Having such a large array of lead actors and actresses does hamper the storyline. So much time is spent focusing on the character dynamics that the emotional journey of each superhero is lost.

The strengths definitely outweigh the flaws, though. This movie is a must-see for any comic book, action or general movie fan. It's totally awesome on all levels, with no big complaints from this happy viewer.

What are you waiting for? Assemble your friends and watch it now!

5 out of 5.

For more movie reviews, check out our Reviews Archive.