Film Review: Avengers Assemble

About Avengers Assemble (2012) Marvel makes cinematic history as it unites the super hero team-up of a lifetime. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Captain America (Chris Evans) assemble together for the very first time ever in this epic, action-packed blockbuster alongside Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Director Joss Whedon creates an unprecedented universe that has become a global phenomenon. Packed with spectacular visual effects, and exclusive bonus features, including Marvel’s first-ever gag reel, never-before-seen Marvel short, and an interactive second screen experience, Marvel’s The Avengers will blow your mind!

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson

Directed by: Joss Whedon

Runtime: 143 minutes

Studio: Walt Disney Video

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Review: Avengers Assemble

Marvel superhero films have been one of the big box office draws for the last few years so fans across the globe must have been in ecstasy with the emergence of Avengers Assemble, uniting the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk and Thor into one movie. No easy task. The story sees Thor’s nemesis Loki (Tom Hiddleston) as the main villain who meets with the Other, the head of an extraterrestrial race, that offers a deal of subjugating the Earth in exchange for the Tesseract, an energy source being studied by various scientists led by Dr Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard), who appeared in Thor. Loki arrives on Earth and destroys the facility where the Tesseract is located but not before enslaving security agents and also Selvig who follow him in an escape. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), who is the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. is powerless to stop Loki but he has a team to summon for war.

Fury begins gathering the Avengers, a group of elite agents and warriors including Natasha aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) who is ordered to recruit Dr Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) who has stayed calm for a while but soon has a tendency to get a little angry. Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) soon joins, as does Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) soon appears intent on taking revenge against Loki. Pretty soon the Avengers are facing off against Loki and trying to retrieve the Tesseract and even though they manage to capture him, Loki is too cunning to be held prisoner for long. Very soon Loki is able to open a wormhole and gain the support of the Chitauri army that the Other promised him. Can the Avengers save the world or is Loki destined to become the supreme ruler?

Avengers Assemble inevitably boasts some terrific visuals and the battle scenes are often fantastic. For such a mouth watering cast, director Whedon handles things well with decent screen time allotted to everyone involved. It never feels like precedence is given to one big name over another. Downey Jr was an undoubted highlight as were Hemsworth and Johansson, while Hiddleston appeared to be enjoying himself far too much at times which is always good to see. The rest of the cast were all fine as well, drawing on a myriad of abilities and demonstrating their individual egos only to realize that teamwork is fundamentally the way to go. Perhaps it could be dismissed as corny but it never feels that way. One of the good things about the film is the plethora of interactions between the main characters, sacrificing a cascade of effects and action scenes to given substance to the characters and it pays off handsomely. This could have just been an action and visual fest but it tells a story too.

Avengers Assemble is one the best of the superhero films I have seen. Individually these films will divide the fans based in some part on their favorite superhero but with this ensemble you really can’t go wrong. A great cast, good visuals and a decent script give this one a lot to shout about.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

About the Author:

I was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England and have always been a bookworm and enjoyed creative writing at school. In 1999 I created the Elencheran Chronicles and have been writing ever since. My first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, was published in May 2011. When not writing I'm a lover of films, games, books and blogging. I now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with my wife, Donna, and our six cats - Kain, Razz, Buggles, Charlie, Bilbo and Frodo.

David M. Brown – who has written 800 posts on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave.

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