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Friday, May 18, 2012

(MOVIE REVIEW) The Avengers (2012)


Do you remember what it was like the first time you succeeded at something? I do. I remember learning to tie my shoes. I would get so frustrated when I would fail at tying them, time and time again, I just couldn’t get it right. Then, one day, it all worked. Loop, swoop and pull! After that moment I started thinking about how silly it was that I had gotten it wrong so many times before and how I was so close but never just right. That is the exact feeling that I had while watching The Avengers this past weekend (TWICE). More specifically, that is how I felt watching The Hulk in The Avengers. It seems like every other Superhero film has been a failed attempt and Joss Whedon’s Avengers finally “tied the shoe”.

Storyline: An extraterrestrial invasion, led by Loki (Hiddleston), threatens Earth and it is up to Colonel Nick Fury (Jackson) to stop it. Utilizing the connections that he has made with the Superhero community he implements The Avengers Initiative. Iron Man (Downey), Hawkeye (Renner), Black Widow (Johansson), Captain America (Evans), Thor (Hemsworth) and Dr. Bruce “Hulk” Banner (Ruffalo) are all on board to do their part against the threat. Egos and infighting cause a tremendous amount of tension and distrust within the group and it doesn’t appear that the “team” will ever get on the same page. But when tragedy befalls one of their own, the heroes put their petty differences aside and put their lives on the line to save earth from the alien threat.

Worth the admission? 1000% YES! Not only is this the best that we see the actors playing these parts (the dialog is sharp and fantastic) but this is the first time that anyone (EVER) has written The Hulk properly. Mark Ruffalo gives us the single best incarnation of Bruce Banner to date, but the introduction of The Hulk is something that has been attempted numerous times by numerous groups and has failed, in one way or another, every time…until now. Joss Whedon (writer and director) knows how to write for a character with dual personalities. How to make “the moment”, when the dark side is revealed, to not only count…but to be memorable. Kudos to him for finally getting this character right.

The writing in this movie is amazing. The character interactions are quick and meaningful. There are some lines that sneak up on you a few seconds after they are delivered and there are some moments that hit you right in the face (again, The Hulk is responsible for 3 of those big moments in this movie). This is an incredibly balanced and well executed movie and I DARE anyone to disagree. It is that good!
NOTE: Make sure that you stick around after the credits. There are two EXTRA scenes. One during the credits and one after. You will enjoy both.


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