The Avengers movie
If you’re any kind of self-respecting geek, you’ve probably already seen this more than once (or, alternatively, if you’re a lady fond of her eye candy). To the delighted relief of the geekmunity (who have been burned before), this is a great film. For those who know the name of Joss Whedon (writer and director), that was no surprise, but it was nonetheless a delight.
The Avengers are QUITE a disparate group, ranging from non-altered human to demigod in powers, and from billionaire philanthropist to time-refugee soldier by profession. In a not very surprising twist, they don’t get on.
They REALLY don’t get on.
Whedon very cleverly uses the manly bickering to give us action, comedy, and backstory all at once. You really can watch this film without having seen any of the rest, and it actually works – a tremendous achievement. The writers had to balance several films’ worth of backstory and character with a veritable smorgasboard of main character types: they did it. Choosing Iron Man as the main hero was a crucial move, and solved many problems. I liked the villain, too (mostly because he looks human and his issues are very human, so I easily understood his thoughts and his motivation).
There are literally dozens of brilliant moments – extremely funny lines (some that I missed due to laughing at previous lines), good solid action sequences with enough originality and character to keep even me interested, and a few moments of blazing heroism (my personal favourite was a moment at Loki’s first public appearance – and it wasn’t by one of the Avengers).
Thematically it wasn’t all that strong – the main theme is developed through all the manly bickering, and it warms the heart to see the Avengers briefly get over themselves in order to save the planet (….we hope…..), but it’s not something that really hits the heart. There’s another, minor theme in the way the villain is convinced that what the human race really wants is to be ruled. Again, it doesn’t pack an emotional or thoughtful punch – but let’s be honest: this is a comic book movie, designed for awesome action sequences and, hopefully, a lot of laughs. It delivers both in bucketloads.
I already want to see it again.
“Hulk. . . smash!”
Felicity Banks 
W said,
June 4, 2012 at 10:42 am
I’m with the majority in thinking that the best moment of the whole film was the defeat. It was so hilariously anticlimactic that I giggled like a child. That and Thor being suckerpunched out of the blue.
It was what it was and it wasn’t trying to be anything more than that. That made it better than other movies that were trying to be more and didn’t make it.
Louise Curtis said,
June 4, 2012 at 6:14 pm
W: The defeat of Loki? Yeah, that was funny. Particularly the pre-defeat with the Hulk. Hilarious!
Ann said,
June 4, 2012 at 5:09 pm
I’m going tonight. For which read ‘all my geek friends went without me!!!’ (how dare they!) will fill you on on my impressions later.
Louise Curtis said,
June 4, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Ann: We did technically invite you. . . and the fact that we simultaneously asked for you to babysit that night takes nothing away from that.
Ann said,
June 5, 2012 at 6:45 am
The irony was not lost on me…….
W said,
June 4, 2012 at 6:20 pm
I claim distance. You were 2500km away at the time. (Well… I was 2500km away, with a boyfriend nearby).
Ann said,
June 5, 2012 at 6:45 am
You’re forgiven. Maybe…….
Louise Curtis said,
June 5, 2012 at 8:13 am
Ann: Hmph. Well, I’ll try to make sure it never happens again.
Ann said,
June 6, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Its ok. L and I had fun without you……..
Louise Curtis said,
June 6, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Ann: 🙂
Bonnee said,
June 4, 2012 at 8:44 pm
I haven’t seen it yet, but I really want to! Everyone’s saying how good it is!!!
Louise Curtis said,
June 5, 2012 at 8:12 am
Bonnee: It’s worth it.