Buddy A (mustardnoize)

They say that practically nothing lives up to its hype. I suppose that is especially true when something has been hyped to the extreme. However, I think I have found a movie that actually lives up to its (super)hype, and it's called "The Avengers." Now, regular readers of mine will already know that I'm a fanboy. This is especially true for "The Avengers;" this was my very favorite comic series when I was growing up, and it remains one of my favorite to this very day. However, as a film critic, I do not automatically like every film simply because it covers a subject I enjoy (such as the tendency of people who, for example, are self-described Star Trek fans and their tendency to praise everything released under the Star Trek banner, whether or not it is actually good. This seems to be especially true for Twilight fans. Just saying...). Films based on Marvel comics have on occasion gone awry (and sometimes horribly); I point directly to Spider-Man 3 and Fantasic Four 2. But since Marvel Entertainment has taken over, the trend seems to be one of excellence; this trend is capped perfectly in "The Avengers." Joss Whedon indeed seems to be the perfect writer/ director for the job; he blends each element of the ideal action/ superhero/ ensemble film and produced a real delicacy that easily matched all my (admittedly high) expectations. There is much for the fanboys and fangirls here, but the movie doesn't neglect the casual escape-seeker at all (although I strongly recommend the 2D version; the 3D version adds absolutely nothing to the experience, and actually detracts from it. And yes, I have seen both versions. So feel free to save your money and skip the 3D cut). This is a true "team" movie; each character (hero or no) gets good screentime without dominating the narrative, yet the film also expands beautifully on each one, giving a unique sense of depth to what could have been a very one-dimensional film. There is humor, dialogue, tenderness, and action here in expert balance, and several surprises to boot. Whedon has left his fingerprints all over this film as well (which, in my opinion, is a very good thing). This may be the "Rio Bravo" of superhero films. Let's hope that Marvel Entertainment (and Whedon, who will hopefully direct more Marvel films) continues this welcome trend (and others take notice!). I highly recommend this outstanding film. See it, then go to Shawarma afterwards.