Since 2008, Marvel has slowly built up its characters and its storylines through Iron Man and Iron Man 2, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, and Captain America, all leading to the summit. That great height is Joss Whedon's comic-book-fanatic-wet-dream epic, The Avengers. The teseract, which holds universal energy and power is being utilized and sought after by Loki, the adopted brother of Thor, whose previous power grab has left him outlawed and hungry for power. His goal is to enslave the humans of Earth, and become even more powerful. As the chaos ensues, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), together with Agent Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), all members of S.H.I.E.L.D, the peacekeeping agency that protects Earth, began to reboot the dead Avengers initiative, which brings together some of the greatest and most powerful minds to help save the Earth. Tony Stark's Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Bruce Banner's The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain Steve Rogers aka Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor, who eventually comes to Earth using his father's magic to stop his brother and his Chitauri army, and Agent Clint Barton aka Hawkeye who overcomes Loki's spell to join the group, all join together to stop the forces that threaten Earth's survival. After an unfortunate and sad incident (I won't ruin it for the four people left on Earth who haven't seen the film), the Avengers, effectively angered and motivated to destroy Loki descend upon New York City to stop Loki.
It is my opinion (and many others' as well) that The Avengers will go down as one of the greatest comic book movies of all time, and a true feat for the genre. That being said, there seemed to me to be something missing. I know that films, particularly ones that are only connected by the same genre heading, but I cannot help it. The comic book movie genre is an exclusive club, and comparisons are bound to happen. Particularly when another recent comic book series has ruined you. What Christopher Nolan did with The Dark Knight Trilogy is nothing short of amazing. He effortlessly blended the comic book origins of the Batman legend, with a dizzying crime thriller that would make Francis Ford Coppola and Michael Mann proud. He created not just great comic book movies, but great movies in general, movies that will stand the test of time as some of the best period, not just the best of a particular genre. So yes, The Avengers is a great film, despite some flaws. But the depth and emotion of Nolan's work is missing here, and the absence is glaring.
Grade: B+
Oscar Potential: Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects
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