The Rambling Crab’s review of The Avengers comes courtesy of Christopher Patrick, Scottish movie review correspondent for TheRamblingCrab.com.
It has arrived. The superhero team up that everyone’s been waiting for. Arguably one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, if not the last decade, The Avengers (renamed Avengers Assemble in the UK) has a lot to prove to a lot of people.
After the world comes under threat from Thor’s brother Loki, S.H.I.E.L.D.,led by Samuel L Jackson’s eye-patched Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) assemble Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye and the Hulk in order to save the world and kick some serious ass.
That all sounds straight-forward enough. But it isn’t. Not by a long shot.
Who did Marvel hand this task to? Who could they trust to deliver the film everyone has been wanting to see? More importantly, who can pull it off and pull it off successfully? There really was only one man for the job:
Joss. Whedon.
What Whedon manages to achieve is astounding considering this is only his second foray into directing a feature – although it isn’t altogether surprising considering the incredible mind the man possesses. The writer/director delivers an excellent blend of action, drama, emotion, and a great deal of humor.
One of the great joys of the film is not only seeing these characters come together under the same roof and fight for a common purpose, but also having the ability to finally answer questions like, “Who would win in a fight between Iron Man and Thor? Captain America and Iron Man? The Hulk and Black Widow? The Hulk and Thor?” I could go on. I won’t.
There is plenty of inner squabbling, bickering and head smashing amongst The Avengers before they are forced to finally start working as a team in order to defeat Loki and save the world. This is one of the many strengths of the film; watching this dysfunctional family fight with each other, before eventually fighting for each other.
The script delivered is fantastic – simply fantastic. A script that is filled with trademark Whedon wit and one liners mixed in with emotional (as well as physical) trauma for both the team and the audience. One thing Whedon likes to do is put his audience through complete emotional and dramatic turmoil. It’s no different here. Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios were smart enough to let Joss Whedon make the film he wanted to make.
With so many different characters and egos on display, there was always the fear that some of them would get lost in the mix. This is not the case. Each character is given the chance to tell their own story; no one is left sitting on the heli-carrier. Nick Fury, finally, gets something to do other than a brief cameo, and there is a touching moment between Black Widow and Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye. It’s also worth noting that it’s just as fun seeing Tony Stark and Bruce Banner in a room together as it is seeing Iron Man and Hulk beat seven shades of shit out of the bad guys. There’s plenty of both.
The characters are delivered with strong performances from all the actors. From the scene stealing Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, to Mark Ruffalo, portraying both Bruce Banner and “The Other Guy” the way they should be, everyone deserves their time on the screen. Scarlett Johannson’s Black Widow is also excellent, a much warmer interpretation than was seen in Iron Man 2. And, as always, Tom Hiddleston is on top form as the deliciously evil “Loki”, who also gets to deliver some of that fantastic dialogue rather than just turn up and be bad. Everyone is fantastic.
The climactic battle scene taking place in Manhattan is wonderfully shot (as is most of the film), with one particular highlight being the shot that swoops through the carnage, showing each of The Avengers in action. It’s breathtaking.
The Avengers means a great deal to a lot of people. Great cinema has the ability to become part of you, allowing you to develop and express your own identity.You can become part of the story and the story can become part of you. This is exactly what this film allows, a value that is untouchable.
This is a film full of fantastic fight sequences, emotional punches, and a great deal of humor. It is by far one of the most joy filled experiences I have ever had in a cinema, leaving the seat with a massive grin on my face and a loss for words. If you aren’t familiar with the film or its characters, that doesn’t matter, you will enjoy it nonetheless. It is pure, unadulterated entertainment.
The Avengers is a fantastic film. Go see it. It’ll only make you happier.
Christopher Patrick – A Scottish guy who watches a lot of Film and TV. One half of Killer Tofu Films. Aspiring filmmaker. I also like cake.
Follow him on Twitter: @cpatrick1604
Like Christopher Patrick’s review? Check out his movie review for The Cabin In The Woods.
Pingback: Movie Review: Men In Black 3 - The Rambling Crab
Pingback: Movie Review: Prometheus