The summer movie season kicks off with a bang this year with “The Avengers,” a blockbuster that is so well-orchestrated, visually gripping and effectively paced that your eyes will be glued tightly to the screen throughout its roughly two-hour and twenty-minute run time.
“The Avengers,” which has been in the making for nearly seven years, marks the convergence of an array of superhero tales that themselves have comprised several films in the Marvel cinematic universe, starting in 2008 with “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk,” and continuing on with 2010’s “Iron Man 2” and last summer’s “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger.” The film boasts an impressively star-studded cast, with Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Samuel L. Jackson (Colonel Nick Fury), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts) and Paul Bettany (Jarvis) all reprising their roles from previous films, and Mark Ruffalo taking over for Edward Norton as the Incredible Hulk.
Director and screenwriter Joss Whedon (“Cabin in the Woods,” “Captain America”) does a masterful job of weaving together the film’s colorful cast of characters, establishing not only their heroism, but their humanity as well. As the band of heroes overcome their differences to defeat Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his army, the characters draw on their own individual knowledge, expertise and backstory to push each other, allowing for personal character growth and a group dynamic to form. This exposition perfectly juxtaposes the eye-catching action that maintains a presence throughout the film, creating an ideal pace for the movie.
Speaking visually, Whedon and cinematographer Seamus McGarvey bring a close-up and intense approach to action sequences, immersively pulling the audience into the strange, yet familiar iteration of Earth the film has created. The film was converted to 3-D, which at times distracts from the movie itself, but overall the film incorporated the extra dimension better than most. In spite of this, McGarvey and Whedon create a spotless fourth wall and the audience has front row seats to this juggernaut of a movie.
Visual effects are terrifically used in a variety of settings, from creating fantastical alternate universes to digitally rendering The Hulk wreaking havoc in the middle of New York City. Slipping in seamlessly with the live action of the other heroes, the film’s visual effects appear an effortless extension of the movie itself, enhancing the plot and making this one of the most visually stunning films of the year.
This culmination of superb superhero stories is well worth the wait and “The Avengers” will captivate any and all with its compelling story, stunning visuals and fantastic acting performances.
Check out the Clarion this coming Tuesday for the full review.
