Wednesday, 2 May 2012

Avengers Assemble (Where's Purdey?)

The latest instalment in Marvel's increasing collection of superb super hero movies based on it's HUGE catalogue of comic book heroes...

First of all I should do what seems to be the essential thing with this film...

OMG, wow, Awesome, can't wait to see it again!!!

Right, now that is over I can be honest and say that this was a very fine addition to the stable.  But really not so amazing.  When you take 4 characters that we know and to whom you have already dedicated one or two films to in back story, and throw in a few new ones, some of whom are barely more than maguffin, you inevitably have a situation where you can dedicate a lot of the movie to the plot (Such as it is).  I personally enjoy the origins movies a great deal but I know some people find them a bit slow to start, the original Hulk movie was particularly bad for this.  As was Spiderman, arguably the original Superman (I know Superman's not Marvel!).

Anyway, because there wasn't much need for all that stuff this film kicks off at a fair pace and builds swiftly into a breathtaking action fest.  There are two mystery additions to the team who sadly get little or no introduction but to be honest it works.  I didn't catch their 'super hero names' but I'm reliably informed they are Hawkeye and Black Widow.  I'm also guilty of not having seen Thor so maybe there is more to them in that.

The interaction between the members of the new 'team' is fiery to say the least and it all kicks off nicely with all the egos in one place.

My biggest problem was that with Thor being virtually indestructible, the Hulk being virtually indestructible, Iron Man being virtually indestructible, and Captain America  being virtually indestructible, I didn't really feel that any of them were ever in any real danger.  Sure Iron Man got some scratches and Captain A got a cut on his shoulder but really.  We need to see more vulnerability if the action is going to give us any real tension.  I'm not saying there was none, but there should have been more.  Even Superman had his Kryptonite.

I have a few small issues too with the never ending Quiver ... which then miraculously ends! And the fact that Hulk seems to suddenly grow a brain, albeit a small one, but some of the stuff going on is pure genius. The Hulk definitely steals the show when he's on screen.  I like the New Banner, he's much more appropriately geeky and scientist looking, but hey... can we have the same one for two films running?

You do get to see New York get bashed up again.  What with Alien invasion, Rampant Super Baddies, The Gangland Underworld effect on Jason Statham, terrorist Threat, Godzilla, more Aliens, Ice Ages, Aliens, Tidal Waves, Armageddon of various sorts, oh and did I mention Aliens... I think I'd probably not choose to live there.  

Can't wait to see what Marvel do next, hang on until the swooshy credits finish to get a possible hint....HAHA (In proper Nelson Muntz style) to all those who leave at the first sign of text.  Shame on you.  Maybe we'll get an origins movie for Giant man, or the Wasp?

Personally I'd like to see Avengers vs Justice League.   That would make about as much sense as the ever rumoured Superman vs Batman film.

The long and short of it is, if you like Super Heroes you WILL LOVE this film.  So go see it, just don't bother with 3D.

Don't forget to look for the Stan Lee cameo!!

Safe-ly what you'd expect... but a bit more.

Safe is fairly typical Jason Statham fodder.  Lots of Jason getting all moody and fighty.  You know the bad guys are gonna get it.

I shalln't go into too much detail as I don't want to spoil the film but if you like action movies, car chases, people getting shot and kicked and thrown out / off things then you will probably enjoy this a lot.


The film does by chance give you a glimpse into the poor and lawless underbelly of New York; so desperate is this that it is hard to believe it could ever exist in so low a form.  Sadly there is plenty of evidence out there to suggest the poverty at least is very real.

The action had some nice cliché breaking scenes that made me smile.  Those bits in a film where you think, OK, action movie rulebook page 19... the scene where our hero does this and that happens... Nope.

Oh and from an acting point of view, and there is some, there is sufficient characterisation to genuinely want to see the back of the bad guys and see the heroes win through.

All round pretty good for this kind of film.  I'd happily watch it again in a few years when I've forgotten how it ticks.

Oh and as an aside, it's a bit wobbly in places, especially the start, so don't sit too close to the screen if you get sea sick!