Marvel’s The Avengers has been a comic book movie in the making for many years. So many in fact that some felt the movie just barely delivered while others proclaimed it an instant classic. In the aftermath of the movie, the majority of viewers gave it rave reviews but were there concepts that could have been better? Certainly. It came down to the details and unfortunately, no movie is perfect in that regard, not even The Avengers.

1- Stronger Loki

Loki, as many fans of Thors brother will know, got the short end of the stick in terms of displaying power during the movies he’s been featured in already. The Avengers carried on the tradition of making him a mystical power that used indirect attacks to great effect.  He carried Dr. Selvig and Hawkeye into the night as his henchmen but apart from that he displayed little power or leadership skills.

If fans are indeed to be believed that he can fight on equal par with any of the Avengers in a one on one fight then perhaps including more apt displays of physical prowess would have been advantageous. Instead The Avengers leave big and bad Loki limping off into the abyss again, bound for Asgardian Justice with nothing to show for his efforts except a partially ruined city.

2-Stronger invading army, less mindless drones

In the original Avengers Lore, the Chitauri were being commanded by Loki as they were invading earth but apparently marvel decided they weren’t going to need a key power that make the Chitauri so devastating. In the Marvel universe Chitauri have had super strength, stamina, exceptional regeneration abilities and shapeshifting skills as well.

In The Avengers movie however, the Chitauri are reduced to mindless clone trooper type drones, with barely any variety between the combat types and nearly zero intelligence. Led in a hive mind style of leadership, these enemies are a pale imitation of what they should have been. Loki’s power already needed work but on top of his lack of command skills it makes the opponents for The Avengers seem more like an army of plastic men than a cohesive invasion force.

3-Missing logic trains.

Loki makes the move to separate and divide The avengers by using Hulk’s semi-controllable anger. If this is true, then why is it so easy for the Avengers to reunite just in the nick of time to save the planet for a hostile alien invasion. Loki does very little to actually separate The Avengers except having two of them fall out of the sky while he escapes prison.

The ease or difficulty with which Bruce Banner rejoins the Avengers even in the midst of a hostile takeover of New York City isn’t shown to fans. Worse is that the motorbike he rides into Manhattan had better be able to teleport or else there is no way that the Hulk who fell out of the Sky would be able to make it to New York City minutes after he landed.

Not to mention the part where Tony Stark redirects a nuclear missile into an alien space vacuum that has no atmosphere in which to power a rocket or the resulting explosion. An atmosphere of some kind is necessary in order for combustion to take place to the destructive degree of destroying a space armada.  A nuclear missile that was probably designed to flatten a civilian city at sea level would have a much reduced affect when detonated in zero gravity space.

4- Where was the U.S Military?

Unlike the multitude of movies that have come out in the last few years, the U.S military had a less than primary presence in this film. Past Marvel movies have featured the use of aircraft as well as other military vehicles to supplement the lack of existing man power. Iron Man 1 and 2 the U.S was still featured within the film as a strong forceful entity and yet in The Avengers, this is a less than stellar performance for Uncle Sam and his troops.

Certianly, S.H.I.E.L.D is a military organization, the best of the best and so forth. Yet for all the neat toys that Nick Fury controls, where were the immediate response teams to an alien invasion fans may ask. All of these tools at their displosal and the shadowed elite controlling S.H.I.E.L.D sat back and waited. Apart from one big nuclear missile that Iron Man was able to redirect since it apparently lacked a proximity charge of any kind, there wasn’t much that the actual military itself did.

5- Are all superheroes created equal?

There is a fight scene between Iron Man and Thor the alludes to future collaborative powers that comes to fruition near the end of the movie. That said, why did it feel like every punch from Thor, Iron Man or Captain America seem to look the same? Despite the angle of the shots, as well done as they were, each punch was the same. Each superhero has their own powers naturally so Thor swinging his hammer does indeed look different than Captain America swinging his shield but the results are annoyingly similar. There was an action and a reaction, but no real affect to the invading enemies at all.

As many fans discovered, Captain America had a lot of spirit but not a lot of spotlight. Not really. Yes Steve Rogers was a hero and yes he is an iconic character but in the aftermath of the Avengers craze Cap got left behind. His ability to lead was put to the test, highlighted by his gaining command of a team of NYPD officers. However he got blown out of the water by Iron Man. Towards the end of the movie, Iron Man was not only the decisive cause of victory but also led the enemies around in circles so that the other Avengers could attack them. It was Iron Man rather than Captain America who rallied the Avengers and it was Iron Man who spoke for The Avengers against Loki.

Image Courtesy of   Avengers

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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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Didn’t watch the movie? Do not read ahead.

“Avengers Assemble!” The iconic phrase has been bandied about since ‘The Avenger’ comics first came out in the early 1960s. Brought to real life, the movie is nothing that Marvel has ever made, throwing this many A-list actors into one giant bowl of ego. After months and months of hype, commercials, and TV spots, the time has come upon Marvel to put their money where their mouth is.

In the aftermath of this movie, it is safe to say that Marvel has done an exceedingly great job of it. Quite possibly, movie-filming history is about to be made once again with 2012′s ‘The Avengers‘.

The plot is not entirely new, though. Throw a bunch of superheroes with tempers who hate each other together, make them work through heartfelt sacrifice, and they will invariably fail before rising to the occasion just before the end of the film, leaving a massive cliffhanger. That said, the film wins not because of the seemingly average plot, but with the actors doing a phenomenal job of becoming larger than life.

Whether your favorite is The Hulk, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow, or Nick Fury, you will cheer all the way through this excellently crafted movie. Director and nerd cult icon Joss Whedon took this film and elevated it to a near art form. The script is so excellently executed that lines from this movie will be quoted for a very long time to come. Easily the best Marvel film to date, the camera techniques involved to get just the right shots took the hand of a true artist.

Whether tumbling through the air in a cage or in the shattered remains of a car, the viewer feels a part of the action at every turn. Scene after scene, fans join in the experience of The Avengers in an ever active way. Following Iron Man as he falls out of the sky is a singular experience as you watch him strap on armor mid-flight. The technology in this movie is so out of this world that the real military can only wish to have some of these things in their hands.

Not only are there no boring moments in the film, but there also appears to be no shortage of superhero slug fests. Imagine Thor getting sucker-punched by Hulk, imagine Iron Man getting in Captain America’s face. Think again as Loki’s words affect his enemies, nearly exceeding the level of nonchalant violence inspired by Darth Vader. These are the images that fans walk away with as they exit the movie.

Fans remember the moments when Hulk saves a life or when Thor calls down lightening. They remember the cheer of the room as Nick Fury blows up a plane or as Black Widow takes out a team of Russian operatives while being interrogated by their general. These are the cheers of fans rooting for their heroes to succeed, to believe that good will prevail.

More than just the sum of its parts, the Avengers initiative takes a selective group of people from all walks of life with extraordinary powers and pits them against the greatest evil that mankind has ever faced (at least until the next movie). Loki’s jealous streak is hopefully at an end as he is administered justice. Both his former allies and his newest enemies seek to punish him for his deeds against earth. So, it seems that a new enemy has arisen, one that even Loki fears.

The points of contention are few and far between, such as the power of Loki’s staff and the exactness required for him to run his mind-control trick. Another is that though Hulk and Thor are the same strength, the cage they use for Hulk is apparently strong enough to hold Hulk, but not Thor. Perhaps the Hammer of Thor helps, but these are minor points to argue in the face of a movie that has so much potential packed into its limited time frame.

Excellently crafted and delightfully enjoyable, The Avengers is a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-superhero-pants movie as moment after moment of action occurs. Even moments of pure speech without violence are tailor made towards not only the characters from the comics, but the characters that the actors have become.

It seems near impossible to imagine the actors being any different than they are, the roles so iconic that they will forever be known for these roles by fans worldwide. In an instant, movie history has been made with The Avengers quite possibly setting new box office records. A much anticipated film just in time for school to let out, The Avengers is a film that no one will want to miss this Friday, May 4.

Score: 5/5

The article Review of Marvel’s ‘The Avengers’: Blasting the Hype appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

“You think you know the story.”

This is the tagline to ‘The Cabin in the Woods’, a film directed by Drew Goddard (‘Cloverfield’) which he also co-wrote with Joss Whedon (‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, ‘The Avengers’).

It stars Kristen Connolly (‘As the World Turns’), Jesse Williams (‘Grey’s Anatomy’) and Bradley Whitford (‘The West Wing’), as well as familiar Whedon collaborators Amy Acker (‘Angel’), Fran Kranz (‘Dollhouse’) and Tom Lenk (‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’). The film’s basic set-up is one you have seen one hundred times before in horror films: a group of attractive, mismatched young college students travel to a remote area, stay in a mysterious location, and soon realise that there is more to the cabin in the woods than meets the eye.

Here enters the tagline. “You think you know the story.”

Last year, Wes Craven attempted to reinvigorate the horror genre with ‘Scream 4′ in the same way that he did with the original ‘Scream’ in 1996. However, for all its strengths, ‘Scream 4′ was basically a re-tread of the same meta-textual style that Craven had already mastered in the franchise’s three previous installments.

Now, Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard? They have created a true gem of the genre with ‘The Cabin in the Woods’, a film which was filmed in 2009 and has sat on the shelf ever since distributor MGM filed for bankruptcy. Lionsgate eventually bought the film last year, and now its delayed big-screen life can begin.

Spoiler alert!

The first and most important strength of the film is its script. Goddard’s familiarity with Whedon’s voice – Goddard wrote 5 episodes of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Angel’ – results in an effortlessly snappy piece and several hilarious, not to mention ironic, interactions, primarily caused by Whitford’s and Kranz’s characters.

The script is never afraid to go for the comedy or the surreality of the situation, and it is this which allows the film to pull of its main conceit of being – SPOILER WARNING – about a ritual sacrifice for the ancient Gods, who are appeased through a ‘Big Brother’-type reality show where bets are made and outcomes are fixed as an array of undead creatures begin hunting down the five young college students to satiate the tempers of the Gods.

The script also thrives on its eagerness to play out every horror narrative cliché in the first half of the film, as Whedon and Goddard blow through gratuitous deaths and yawn-inducing twists, allowing the second half of the film to develop like a filmmaker’s playing ground.

Visually speaking, the second half of the film is when Godddard’s direction can be more fully appreciated, as it becomes more apparent that he assimilated the conventional look of a horror film early on so that he could subvert and deconstruct it piece by piece as each scene goes on. The chances he takes in the script are brought to life marvellously onscreen, while the final shot of the film is something which can only be appreciated in the context of everything that has gone before.

As for the cast, there are no issues. Whedon and Goddard have worked on enough ensemble projects to know how to cast well, and Whedon in particular is known for drawing from his own pool of actors from past projects and putting them into his new ones.

The pay-off here is a fantastic one, as Whedon fans (‘Whedonites’, for the uninitiated) get to see an underrated television performer like Amy Acker going toe-to-toe in scenes with Emmy-winner Bradley Whitford, and get to revel in ‘Dollhouse’-alum Fran Kranz facing off with – SPOILER WARNING - “The Sci-Fi Queen” Sigourney Weaver in the film’s captivating final minutes.

To say any more about the film is unnecessary. This is a delightfully fearless offering, and the most entertaining thing to happen to the horror genre in a very long time. Whedon has a busy year ahead of him, mainly with this summer’s blockbuster ‘The Avengers’, and ‘The Cabin in the Woods’ gets him off to a roaring start.

Image Courtesy of    The Cabin in the Woods

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Marvel Studios announced that “Marvel’s The Avengers” will reward its fans on Facebook for their continued support of the film’s campaign with advance screenings in cities around the world on a first-come-first-served basis. In the U.S. fans will be able to experience the film in stunning IMAX 3D.

This unprecedented screening event will enable Facebook fans of “Marvel’s The Avengers” in cities that have assembled the most fans on Facebook to win the first access to screenings of the film, weeks before the May 4th release in theatres. This event will kick off on April 14th at 10 a.m PDT with the top five cities in the U.S. with the most fans on Facebook: Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston and Miami.

The next five cities to garner the most Facebook “Marvel’s The Avengers” fans will be awarded an early screening as well – to be announced shortly on Facebook. Fans can rally for their city to be the chosen location for this special opportunity by going to https://www.facebook.com/avengers for details. International fans should visit their local “Marvel’s The Avengers” Facebook page for more details on how to win a screening in their city.

Participating fans are encouraged to celebrate this movie event by coming to their local screenings dressed in their finest Super Hero costumes inspired by “Marvel’s The Avengers” —  the winners of the Best Costume contest will be awarded reserved seats.

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

In “Marvel’s The Avengers” the world’s greatest Super Heroes assemble when Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) join S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to protect the world from the dangerous and powerful villain, Loki (Tom Hiddleston).

An exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is from Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures, produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Joss Whedon from a story by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon with screenplay by Joss Whedon.

“Marvel’s The Avengers” will be released in the U.S. in 3D and IMAX 3D on May 4, 2012.

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Marvel has brought their comic book characters to the big screen for a long time. Marvel has brought out one film every year since 2002, starting with “Spider-man.” Since then, we have seen many Marvel character adaptations, including Daredevil, the Punisher, the Hulk, Elektra, Ghost Rider, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America.

Future releases include “The Amazing Spiderman” and its sequel. Both “Thor” and “Iron Man” will also have sequels. The Avengers is the latest Marvel comic book to see the big screen. It is part of the Marvel cinematic universe that crosses over several Marvel superhero films including “Iron Man” (2008), “The Incredible Hulk” (2008), “Iron Man 2″ (2010), “Thor” (2011), and “Captain America: The First Avenger” ( 2011).

The movie is directed by Josh Whedon, and stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, and Scarlett Johansson. The Avengers comic book made its debut in September 1963. The original lineup consisted of Iron Man, the Hulk, and Thor.

Captain America did not appear alongside until the fourth issue when the original team found him. The other two characters, Ant-Man and Wasp, are not featured in the film. Even though many Marvel characters have been in the Avengers lineup, one thing has always remained consistent: they fight.

As with most Marvel films, the movie version of the Avengers does not exactly remain totally faithful to the comic book. Now this may not upset many moviegoers who seem to love these comic book action heroes. Diehard Marvel fans do not like these stories being tampered with.

On a Marvel fan site, I found that a majority of Marvel fans do not like many of the films that have been produced, except the first two Spider-man and X-men movies. Being a Marvel fan myself, I can remember the days when there were no Marvel movies whatsoever. Waiting for a Marvel movie looked like something that was never going to happen.

Spider-man was something that was rumored to happen since 1992, with many people promising a Spidey film, including James Cameron, which never saw light of day. Finally, when these films did come out, fans expecting something great only felt disappointed time and again.

All Marvel fans agree the action in the movies has been great, but the stories is where they feel let down. They don’t understand why Marvel cannot make the same quality movies as D.C. Comics, which D.C. Comics has done with Superman and Batman, movies that have brilliant stories.

One of the great examples of a Marvel picture that had a storyline that was tampered with was “The Hulk”starring Eric Bana. They came up with a side story about Bruce Banner’s father, which was the reason why he was affected by gamma rays. This totally diverts from the original vision and should have been left out of the picture.

It should have just stuck to the facts. Although the recent Iron Man films have been viewed by the fans as brilliant, ” The Avengers” also looks to be another film fans are eagerly awaiting for.

Image Courtesy of  http://marvel.com/ 

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