Los Angeles, U.S.A. – IMAX Corporation, Marvel Studios and The Walt Disney Studios have announced that the epic Super Hero adventure Marvel’s The Avengers will be released in the immersive IMAX 3D format in 451 digital theatres worldwide. Domestically, the film will be released in 275 theatres beginning Friday, May 4.

The international debut of Marvel’s The Avengers got off to a record breaking start in IMAX theatres last weekend, significantly outperforming previous IMAX releases of Marvel films. More territories are launching in tandem with the North American release this week, including China. Domestic IMAX pre-sales are also strong and significantly ahead of any previous Marvel releases.

Marvel’s The Avengers, based on the well-known Marvel comic book series, is directed by Joss Whedonand stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgard and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

Distributed by The Walt Disney Studios, Marvel’s The Avengers: An IMAX 3D Experience marks the third Marvel Studios film presented in IMAX, following the releases of Iron Man 2: The IMAX Experience in 2010 and Thor: An IMAX 3D Experience in 2011.

The IMAX release of Marvel’s The Avengers will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of An IMAX 3D Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

About Marvel’s The Avengers
Marvel Studios presents “Marvel’s The Avengers” — the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgard and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble in summer 2012.

“Marvel’s The Avengers” is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures. The film is being produced by Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige and executive produced by Alan Fine, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Louis D’Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham. The story is by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon and the screenplay is by Joss Whedon. The film releases May 4, 2012, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

http://marvel.com/avengers_movie

Marvel’s The Avengers has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference.

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Disney XD premiered its new Marvel superhero series ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ at 11am EST on April Fools’ Day. The cartoon takes its name and origin from the 2000-2009 comic book series written by Brian Michael Bendis, which was a reimagining of the Spider-Man stories with a larger inclusion of the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D in its main storyline. The premiere included the first two episodes of the new series, “Great Power” and “Great Responsibility.”

In “Great Power,” Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D, a military law enforcement agency with an interest in superheroes, approaches Spider-Man after a messy fight with the villain Trapster with an offer to train him to be a better hero.

Fury reveals he knows Spider-Man’s true identity, that of high school student Peter Parker, and that he can offer him better equipment in addition to improving his fighting skills. Being a free spirit, Peter declines the offer and heads to school only for the Frightful Four, a group of supervillains, to crash into the cafeteria demanding to know where Spider-Man is. Peter’s best friend, Harry Osborne, is hurt in the ensuing battle and it makes Peter realize he may need Nick Fury’s help after all.

In “Great Responsibility,” Nick Fury puts Spider-Man through a series of tests to see if he has what it takes to be a trainable ally to S.H.I.E.L.D. Naturally, Peter gets in over his head but manages to come out of the exercise on top. After a brief debacle with a highly sophisticated motorcycle, Peter finds out that he is not the only young superhero recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D.

The new team that he is expected to work with consists of Nova, Iron Fist, Power Man, and White Tiger, who do not approve of Spider-Man’s devil-may-care attitude. Once again, he declines the offer to work with them but then the Frightful Four return. The team intervenes and after some friction, they defeat the villains and Peter reluctantly agrees to work with them in the future.

The series is well animated and takes full advantage of Spider-Man’s smart mouth and excellent sense of humor. The action sequences are evenly paced and creative, much like the comic book it draws its inspiration from. This is no surprise as the show’s production is overseen by Stan Lee, the creator of Spider-Man and several other Marvel heroes, Jeph Loeb, a well-known comic book writer, and Brian Michael Bendis, another well known writer for Spider-Man and other Marvel comics.

The voice acting is excellent. Marvel wins extra brownie points for inviting J.K. Simmons to return as J. Jonah Jameson, whom he played in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films, and Clark Gregg, who plays Agent Coulson in the Marvel films.

There are also other voices whom seasoned cartoon watchers will recognize like Clancy Brown, Tara Strong, Kevin Michael Richardson, Greg Cipes, Tom Kenny, and there is even a minor character voiced by Stan Lee. The titular Spider-Man is voiced by Drake Bell and he does a good job of bringing energy and sarcasm to the legendary Web-Slinger.

While the show has many likable qualities, there are some drawbacks. Its tone and writing are definitely geared towards younger viewers, preferably the 8-13 year old crowd rather than the older teenagers. The jokes Spider-Man cracks are often hit-or-miss and he can come across as a bit spastic at times due to the high volume of visual gags and one-liners in his monologue.

The biggest detractor is when he stops and directly addresses the camera. The problem is not that Spidey is breaking the fourth wall in general, but rather that he is blatantly speaking to the viewer. It is very distracting for him to stop in the middle of a scene and explain something to his audience and while this often works in comic books, like with Marvel’s infamous Merc-with-the-Mouth Deadpool, for a television show, it can be grating.

The easiest comparison to be made about Spidey’s narration and lack of fourth wall is to Bill Lawrence’s ‘Scrubs’ (2001) because Spidey’s short attention span leads him to “Imagine Spots”—moments where his imagination creates short humorous sequences that are mostly jokes or emotional reactions to things. While funny, they really do slow down the general narrative of the episodes.

Overall, it is too early to tell if the show will be a big hit or not, especially since fans like me still regret the cancellation of its spiritual predecessor ‘Spectacular Spider-Man,’ (2008) but there is definitely life in this web-slinger and we look forward to seeing where the show takes him.

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The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by American Express, on March 28 announced that Marvel’s The Avengers, presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures, will close its 11th edition on Saturday, April 28. Closing night will take place at Tribeca BMCC PAC and is sponsored by BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin.

Honoring the spirit of the Tribeca Film Festival, the screening will allow the opportunity for Marvel’s The Avengers to celebrate everyday heroes from police agencies, fire departments, first responders and various branches of the U.S. military.  These local heroes will have an opportunity to attend the screening and meet the cast.

Marvel Studios’ producer Kevin Feige says, “We are proud that Marvel’s The Avengers is the closing film of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and we are excited to welcome local heroes to the screening as special guests. We all know and love our iconic Super Heroes, but when it really counts, it’s our real-life heroes who save the world every day by making it a better place for all of us.”

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgard and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel’s The Avengers is an engaging, character-driven story packed with action, adventure and special effects.

When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins to assemble the iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow.

Marvel’s The Avengers is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

“Marvel’s The Avengers is an exciting ride that absolutely transports audiences,” said Jane Rosenthal, Co-Founder of the Tribeca Film Festival. “It is the perfect way to end our 11th Festival.”

Comments director Joss Whedon, “Showing at Tribeca is both an honor and a double homecoming for me, who grew up in Manhattan, and for the movie, which wrapped production there.  I’m thoroughly psyched to be closing the festival with our intimate little think-piece.”

“Marvel’s The Avengers” is produced by Marvel Studios’ Producer Kevin Feige and executive produced byAlan Fine, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Louis D’Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham. The story is by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon, and the screenplay is by Joss Whedon. The film releases May 4, 2012, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

The 11th annual Tribeca Film Festival will take place from April 18-29, 2012.

Visit www.tribecafilm.com/festival for more information about TFF’s 2012 programs and the full line-up of films.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/AvengersUK

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Marvel is presenting two first looks this week – first with Ultimate Comics Ultimates # 7, from the critically acclaimed team of Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic. After Captain America refuses Nick Fury’s desperate proposal to lead his team; the Ultimates are out of options and must change the rules of the game in order to stand a chance against Reed Richards and The Children of Tomorrow.

Can Nick Fury pick up the pieces of his broken team in time to save the world against this super human threat? Find out as Ultimate Comics Ultimates # 7 hits comic shops everywhere and the Marvel Comics app, this month.

Next up is your first look at FF #15, from the critically acclaimed team of Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta. Doctor Doom’s self-sacrifice has bought the Universe a second chance! Now, it is up to the Future Foundation and special guest stars, Power Pack, to battle the mad Celestials as the standoff for the future begins.

Can the Future Foundation ensure the Marvel Universe’s safety? Will Doctor Doom’s sacrifice be in vain? Find out this February in FF #15, with a variant cover by seminal Power Pack artist June Brigman, no fan can miss this.

When we reach March, fans worldwide cannot miss the essential opener to the biggest pop culture comic event of the year as Marvel has announced the first look at Avengers VS. X-Men #0. Just before the Avengers and the X-Men go head to head, superstar creators Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron & Frank Cho set up the crucial roles of the Scarlet Witch and Hope Summers before their allegiances come into question.

With all eyes on Wanda and the Mutant Messiah, the Marvel Universe has become a powder keg on the verge of exploding. Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX.

For more on Avengers VS X-Men, please visit http://avx.marvel.com

Finally, something for the Peter Parker fans as the next big Spider-Man epic begins in Amazing Spider-Man #682, part one of Ends Of The Earth, by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli. The Sinister Six, led by the vengeful Doctor Octopus, is back and they’re looking for revenge; Can Spider-Man & Earth’s Mightiest save the world before Doc Ock’s explosive endgame is revealed? Find in Amazing Spider-Man #682 hitting comic shops and the Marvel Comics app this March.

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Since 1998, Marvel Productions has been releasing superhero movies after the other- but how could this once bankrupt company, grow to such a colossus?  In 1997, Marvel, a once vast comic book company collapsed. Forced to re-organize, the newly formed Marvel Enterprises started their movie production division. In 1998, they created Blade with Wesley Snipes, and the rest is history. Now, after considerable success at the box office Marvel is releasing one of their biggest projects: The Avengers.

The Avengers is a team assembled by S.H.I.E.L.D leader, Nick Fury. S.H.I.E.L.D. is a law-enforcement/ espionage agency that keeps the peace throughout the world.  With Captain America coming 4 issues later the team of superheroes first consisted of Wasp, Ant Man, Thor, Iron Man, and the Hulk.

With release scheduled for May 4, 2012, the movie started production on April 25, 2011. Crafting a star studded cast together, Marvel will be bringing most of the actors back that they used in their other movies, such as, Chris Hemworth Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Paul Bettany as the voice of Jarvis. Along with these old faces come new ones. Jeremy Renner will play Hawkeye, and Cobie Smulders will perform as Maria Hill.

If you know the Avengers, then you are probably wondering, “where is the Hulk?” Well, after Edward Norton’s falling out with Marvel, they replaced him with Mark Ruffalo. What is exciting about this new Hulk is that it is not all CGI. Mark Ruffalo will put on a motion-tracking suit and, in post-production, artists will draw on the Hulk according to Ruffalo’s movements. Oh, and Lou Ferigno is voicing the Hulk, no big deal.

The original writer of The Avengers is Zak Penn. He has written movies like X2, X-men: Last Stand and The Incredible Hulk but bringing all these characters into one movie proved a challenge to Penn. He told Craveonline.com, “My job is to kind of shuttle between the different movies and make sure that finally we’re mimicking that comic book structure where all of these movies are connected… There’s just a board that tracks ‘Here’s where everything that happens in this movie overlaps with that movie.’” However, though Zak Penn made the original script, the official writer is the director, Joss Whedon.

Joss Whedon, has written many hit movies like Toy Story, as well as underground cult TV classics like Buffy the Vampire Slayer—he also directed part of the series. With his reputation, many cult followers believe he will stay true to the comic’s story. Whedon was a fan of the comics as a kid, and has given a hint of what the movie will focus around. Whedon, had said at the 2010 Comic-Con,”these people shouldn’t be in the same room let alone on the same team — and that is the definition of family.”

In an interview for IamRogue.com, Tom Hiddleston, playing Loki, alluded to how each character interacts with each other.  “These are seven big egos, and I’m referring to the characters not the actors. They all want to be the alpha male, or in Black Widow’s case the alpha female. So he has made a virtue of that by having them all compete for the top dog slot,” Hiddleston said.

It seems like Loki will not be the only obstacle the Avengers need to overcome.  They will have to learn how to work together for the salvation of Earth. Its one large dysfunctional family of superheroes that the world relies on, they will need to learn how to rely on one another in order to make their team work.

Considering the fact that The Avengers has been in the works since 2005, it’s safe to say that this hero ensemble is long overdue and maintains its position as one of the most anticipated Marvel pictures yet.  With Joss Wedon behind the wheel and still riding the wave of Marvel Enterprises’ success in comic adaptations, movie fans can look forward to being blown away in summer 2012.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/TheAvengersMovie?sk=photos

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