Monday, May 7, 2012

Some Assembly Required

I've been reading Marvel comics all my life.

The House of Ideas (Marvel) has been telling me stories that I can relate to before I even knew I could relate to them. I learned about love from Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. I learned about family from the Fantastic Four. Daredevil taught me how to overcome obstacles. Harry Osborn showed me that even the high and mighty hit rock bottom. The X-Men taught me tolerance.

I was there during the dark days when it looked like Marvel was going to tank under bankruptcy. I was there when they took a gamble on Wesley Snipes and a little movie called Blade I begrudgingly watched as they sold their properties to various film studios, and shrieked in horror as Hollywood made some terrible films. (Fantastic Four, Spider-Man 3, X-Men 3, Wolverine- anything)

But then a silver lining appeared. Marvel began making their own movies. Iron Man was fired from the cannon first, and soon followed by The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger


...and then the day came. The day when several separate heroes would all share one screen for one epic tale.

May 4th 2012 was that day.

The Avengers opened up this past weekend and shattered all sorts of records even becoming the highest opening in North American cinematic history earning about 200 Million.

As far as reviews go, I can't tell you anything that 96% of the world hasn't already told you on various sites. However, I can try-

I can tell you that Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Astonishing X-Men writer) has conjured up magic.
I can warn you that if you HAVE NOT seen the movies I earlier listed in that specific order, and seen the teaser trailers post credits of each film, you may be a bit confused.

I can also tell you prepare for the greatest comic book movie you've ever seen. Now I know a lot of you The Dark Knight fans are sucking your teeth, but I've said it over and over again. Ledger's death made that movie. When Ledger's not on the screen, it lacks. ...also for it to be such a huge ripoff of The Long Halloween it's disappointing that they didn't continue in that direction. (Although, I will admit the finished product was epic)

However, The Avengers is HUMONGOUS. It's action packed. It's funny. It doesn't alienate the non-comic reader. It doesn't abandon the lifelong fans. It isn't afraid to showcase its humanity.
It's the emphasis on each character that really makes this work where X-Men failed. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth), have had films of their own, but it's showcased here in the what they're saying, and how they say it. The best moments aren't in the over blown intense action scenes- (which by the way, it seems Whedon is a master at capturing fight choreography.) it's in the moments between them. The snappy comic paced dialogue between characters, like Tony Stark and Dr. Bruce Banner going full on genius science lingo that no one else understands, especially the out of time, poor Captain America. The talks when the characters are sharing the misfortunes or circumstances that lead them to where they are now. The basic human nature that takes these fictional characters and forces us to relate. Case in point, Captain America's boy scout idealism when referring to Thor to Black Widow, "There's only one God ma'am, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that."

Surprisingly, Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow is a far more interesting character here than she was in Iron Man 2, and The Hulk is far more incredible in his few scenes than he's ever been in any movie, or any cartoon, or any speck of your tiny imagination. Added bonus, he actually looks like the actor that plays him this time around. (Mark Ruffalo)


Another unexpected treat was the humor. Holy crap it was the funniest movie this year has seen so far. From the sharp witty one-liners to the overly-dramatic monologues and dialogue, to the obvious total self-awareness, the film has an overall balance similar to that of Iron Man, in that light and fun, yet capable of being heavy if need be sort of way.

The really funny comes out of well-timed tongue-in-cheek moments watching how the characters behave, the context in which we find them. Again, poor Cap and Thor being square pegs in round holes types in the modern world. The way the film acknowledges that these are silly superheroes in today's world. 

There are two negatives though, but both are minor (the plot is a tad flimsy, in the predictable sense, and  the BIG reveal at the film's end will leave non-comic book fans in complete confusion whether you watched the previous films or not) However NEITHER of those are not enough to stop the juggernaut of fun, and awesome that is The Avengers.

So trust me and most of the world and go see this damn movie if you haven't already!
(Stay for the 2 hidden scenes at the end. The 1st- which I just mentioned, and the last which is the bookend joke to the film)

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!
"My dreams were all my own, I accounted to them to nobody; they were my refuge when annoyed- my dearest pleasure when free." -Mary Shelley; 'Frankenstein' or 'The Modern Prometheus'