RJ MacReady (moviefan1725)

This is a movie that is definately saved by it's star power. The script is too intricate for it's own good, the outcome of the movie is a big "so what", and for a movie that's full of intrigue, it's pretty predictable. There's a traitor in the movie, but if you can't figure out who it is in the first 15 minutes, then you have no business watching movies. The traitor does everything short of running around screaming "I did it! I did it!"

2012 is going to be a big year for superheroes on film. All are highly anticipated, but I don't think that any of the others are going to be able to be as much flat out fun as The Avengers. Years of Marvel producing origin stories for several of their heroes culminates in this action packed epic that really is a comic book come to life. If you're a fan of any one of these characters, you will find a lot to like. If you are a fan of all of these characters, well they just may have to peel you off the ceiling when it's over.

Credit director Joss Whedon with giving each hero their moment to shine. Not just in action and heroic feats, but also in more personal moments. The crisp dialogue and banter between the group always has a natural feel to it, and never feels forced.

Robert Downey Jr redeems himself after the lackluster and dreary Iron Man 2 to show that Tony Stark can be a self interested smart ass without being a totally unlikable dick. Chris Evans brings Captain America's stoic sensibilites to become a surprisingly effective leader of the group. Chris Hemsworth's Thor is given the task of playing the torn hero who knows the right thing to do, in spite of a certain loyalty to his own brother, who is also the villain. Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner are more background heroes, but they both earn their place at the table.

The real scene stealer in the show, however is The Hulk. In the human form of actor Mark Ruffalo, we see a man not torn by what he is, but someone used to walking the fine line between man and monster. In pure Hulk form, we see the character strut it's stuff unlike anything seen in the characters' previous film incarnations. When he's cut loose, he's like a rabid dog with a chew toy, and it's exciting to behold.

As far as the action goes, the money's on the screen. From one on one fights, to citywide battle zones, it's all there and then some. I'd say they threw everything in but the kitchen sink, but I'll bet that if I watched all the action scenes in slow motion, a bathroom fixture or two would indeed go flying through the frame.

The complaints I have are minimal, and there may have been no way around them. First, the heroes almost spend more time fighting each other than they do the bad guys. I get that it's an ensemble story, and it's a formula for the characters to need to learn to get along before they can face the threat together. But some characters continue to butt heads throughout the majority of the movie, and it slows the pace a bit in the middle.

The whole "team" nature of the film also demands that they face an army of foes. While it's spectacular to look it, it's somehow not as thrilling as a story that ends in a mano-y-mano between hero and villain. Tom Hiddelston reprises his role of Thor's brother Loki, and he gets into a few one on one's with our heroes, but in the end, he comes off as more of a pawn of the invading aliens. A stronger villain, and a more rousing resolution would've put the movie over the top.

But still, what people want out of their superheroes these days is strut their stuff in a big way, and they get that and then some. Every superhero has their favorite, and will always be partial to them. For me, nothing can top the first two Superman films, and as far as superhero team-ups go, I'm going to have to give the edge to the first two X-Men movies.

There's a lot more superhero mayhem to be had this year, but I think the gauntlet has been thrown as mightily as Thor's hammer. That's a might that may be impossible for even the Dark Knight himself to overcome.