The Avengers (2012)

Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Robert Downey Junior, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Cobie Smulders

Plot: Earth's mightiest heroes must come together to save the planet from an unrelenting evil.

Avengers delivers what it promised--a high octane showdown involving a horde of superheroes. It culminates together the previous Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and Hulk movies.

Great to see such perfect 3d treatment. Perhaps the only non-animated movie (barring Avatar) where 3d hasn't messed a single frame. Joss Whedon shrewdly avoids many dim lighting shots and the few that are there have been done very well.

The camera work simply bowls you over and the much talked about tracking shot is unparalleled awesomeNESS! Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawk Eye, all together, standing tall against the evil which is about to end the world--you simply don't want that thrilling shot to end! Another brilliant piece of camera work is the 'aerial shot' of Thor and Captain America together.

The film is full of some epic scenes, the epic-est of them all being 'Captain America taking the mountain shattering blow of Thor's legendary Mjölnir on his indestructible shield.'

 

Funniest was, without a shadow of doubt, the Green monster smashing a demi-God! Loki was K.O.ed like a bug! Iron Man is also at his arrogant, charming best. Black Widow looks hot as ever--especially for a 60 year old woman! Her interrogation scenes, using sort of reserve psychology, are clear winners for the film. Captain America takes a while to get going but comes up trumps in the second half once he takes charge and starts commanding/strategizing his Avengers against the Chitauri invasion.

Another top scene: Iron Man makes his usual grand entrance with AC/DC 'shoot to thrill playing' (again)!! The tin man is the only show-off one wants to watch again and again!

Cobie Smulders starts off well in her role as S.H.I.E.L.D Agent Hill and may get meatier part in sequel with Coulson gone now (though he may not be entirely gone!).

For a good vs. evil film to be deemed as classic, equal magnitude for both works well and should ideally be the case . Here, the Villainy/evil sucks; compelled Hawkeye looked more vicious then Loki and co. No point in comparing the villainy/evil with DC's Joker even Marvel comics produced better movie villains in 'Iron Man' and 'X-Men First Class' and for that reason these two still remain way better screen adaptation. One may argue 'Avengers' movie is not about villain but heroes assembling, even in that regards the animated 'Ultimate Avengers' did much better job. After putting in millions of bucks in the movie what baffled me most was the fact that they couldn't find a little girl who could speak Hindi without a foreign accent! Could have taken a tip from Boyle on this!

Overall 'Avengers' is a good summer blockbuster that blends action and laughter with backstories and provides a spectacle that gets your adrenaline pumping but could have done little more than having Michael Bay-like flying/jumping alien invaders being chopped like dead meat.

Thanos in end credits (villain from Silver Surfer and Iron Man animated cartoons) seems like a very valid reason for Avengers to reassemble!

7.7/10