AVENGERS ASSEMBLE - Pre-Screening Review

We at the Comic Guru had a fantastic trip to the cinema on Thursday 19th 2012, for a pre-screening of AVENGERS ASSEMBLE. And here's our official review...

If this film proves one thing, it’s that Joss Whedon is a god among film makers.

From the moment the news of this film leaked I’ve been looking forward to its release; and with the release of each solo film (The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 1 & 2, Thor and Captain America) the excitement and anticipation continued to grow. But in the back of my mind there was a little voice of worry; after all it was such a huge concept and to get all these characters and elements together was a mammoth task, one that would either fail or succeed. There really was no middle ground as far as I was concerned. And then the news that sent my anticipation into high orbit came out; Joss Whedon would not only be directing the film, but writing it, too! Recipe for success!

I was not disappointed.

I have always been a fan of Whedon’s work, and always been a fan of The Avengers, especially the early issues (I’ll confess I’ve lost track with most of the recent stuff, and my knowledge of current comic continuity is severely lacking), but the good thing about this film is that you don’t need a mass amount of knowledge to understand what’s going on. All the ground work was laid in the preceding films, of course, but does that mean you’ll have needed to see them to follow this film? I’d say ‘no’.  The team is assembled in such a way that you learn all you need to know when you need to know it. Whedon’s script is as intelligent as one has come to expect; the action, pathos, humour, drama and character development is woven so neatly together that there is not a single moment of superfluous material. Everything written is essential to the climax of the film. There are a few moments of quiet, but these moments are full of wonderful character interaction and wit, and they also afford the viewer a chance to get their breath back before the next bout of pure adrenalin infused action.

Many people have been concerned about Mark Ruffalo taking on the rule of Bruce Banner, some even expecting the Hulk to be sidelined by the other characters. Well, those fears are laid to rest. The Hulk is a key element of the plot, and is a character that drives some of the funniest moments in the film. I wish I could tell you what they are (I really do!), but to do so would spoil a lot of the film. Needless to say, those scenes will have you roaring in laughter (actually, that’s the only issue with this film I have – there are moments in the script of comedy gold, and Whedon most certainly knew that. Moments where the entire theatre was consumed in a tsunami of laughter. Alas, the laughter drowns out the following few lines of dialogue – I hope those lines were flotsam, and not essential to the plot, since no one heard them). Raffalo plays Banner with a nice touch of charm, and mountains of humour. I was a big fan of Edward Norton’s performance in The Incredible Hulk (although, of course, it goes without saying that Bill Bixby still maintains the crown as the definitive Banner), but Raffalo exceeds Norton’s performance in spades. In fact, one of my concerns was that with such a huge cast of characters and quality actors (actual movie stars!), not everyone would get a chance to shine. I shouldn’t have worried (I must have forgot Whedon’s skill with ensemble shows). All characters are given moments to shine. Not only good character moments, but each one is essential to the story. No character is left out – even the minor SHIELD characters get some great moments (watch out for the dude who, once Nick Fury leaves the bridge of the SHIELD boat (and that needs to be seen to be believed), turns back to playing some random space invaders game – you know, as all office workers do once the boss turns his back).

I really want to talk about the climax of the film, but it’s tough to review a film that’s not out on general release yet. Let me just say – AWESOME! In the most literal sense of the word. Throughout the film we have some real tension between the leads (I don’t want to call them the Avengers, since they’re not at that point), where they are forced and manipulated into scenarios where they have to work together and put aside their personal conflicts, but by the time we get to the final showdown, they really come together as a team. And thus the Avengers are born; kicking serious ass, and repelling an alien invasion on a massive scale. And doing so with a wonderful line in humour.

Avengers Assemble redefines the superhero film genre. Mark my words; this will be the benchmark by which all future superhero films will be measured.

Oh, and a final word. Do NOT get up out of your seat until the end credits finish. Do so at your peril. J

 Avengers Assemble Pre-Release Review © Andy Frankham-Allen & The Comic Guru 2012. All rights reserved. Parts of this review may be used for promotional purposes, but please credit the source.

EMPIRE MAGAZINE'S REVIEW OF THOR

The Comic Guru is currently beavering away on his own review of Marvel's recent hit, Thor, which will grace the pages of this blog shortly.

In the meantime, we thought we'd bring you Empire's take on the film....

“If, like John Cleese in the classic Monty Python sketch, you’re an avid consumer of fermented curd (albeit of the cinematic variety), only to find that there are no cheesy comestibles to be had, you may be in for a similar disappointment with Kenneth Branagh’s Thor, the latest in Marvel’s self-financed superhero flicks. At first glance, all the ingredients for a cheddar convention to rival the likes of Flash Gordon are there — ginormous sets, larger-than-life characters (one of whom has a blond barnet any page-three stunna would kill for) with ridiculous names and powers to match. But Thor is too knowing to stock up on the movie mozzarella. What it is, though, is tremendous fun, and further proof that Marvel Studios knows how to handle its back catalogue.



He’s a tricky one, the Odinson. Unlike Iron Man, Hulk or Captain America, he’s a god. An actual god, with awe-inspiring powers and a rich back story. There’s a lot to get through, and this is the sort of material that has to be handled with the utmost care, lest it go in any number of directions: pompous, cheesy or, most damaging of all, unintentionally hilarious. Things could go from bad to Norse. 

Thor plunges you straight in, following a pre-credits stint in New Mexico, to a dense 30-minute sequence in Asgard where we meet all the major players — Thor, his dark-haired brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), their father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) — and the notion that these extraordinarily powerful beings have been at war with a race of Frost Giants. And not only is it done with a straight face, but the sweep of the material, with vast tracking shots through stunning Asgardian landscapes, is by far the biggest thing Marvel has attempted; this is fantasy on a cosmic scale. 

It’s bewildering at times, condensing nearly 50 years of comic history with a speed that can mean characters are paid scant lip service. You suspect there’s a lot of material on the cutting-room floor — Rene Russo, as Thor’s mother Frigga (stop sniggering), might want to have a word with her agent, while the core relationship, between Thor and Loki, doesn’t really get going for a while. 

When it does, though, as Loki manipulates the esurient Thor into defying his father’s orders, kicking Frost Giant butt and ultimately getting the heave-ho from Asgard, it’s powerful stuff.

After Marvel set Branagh to direct — another leftfield choice to go with Jon Favreau, Joe Johnston, Joss Whedon and Shane Black — you sensed that their model was the Bond films, with tech gurus (in this case, the mighty Vic Armstrong) ensuring the bells and whistles were up to scratch, while the directors bring their own skill-sets to bear. And when it comes to making Shakespearean material — and the relationship between Thor, Loki and Odin positively reeks of the Bard — work on the big screen, Branagh has no equal. 

So as father and sons square off against each other, it’s heady stuff, the three H’s attacking the material, and each other with fury and intensity straight from the West End stage. In one scene, Hiddleston’s Loki, a complex and surprisingly layered villain, confronts Odin about his true origins. It’s intimate and affecting, yet as thundering and loud as you’d imagine gods would be.

Then, once you’re up to speed, the film yanks Thor off to the modern day and tackles the thorny issue of his near-omnipotence by separating him, and his powers, from his enchanted hammer, Mjolnir.

There’s a neat tonal shift, as human beings meet Thor (and, later, in the film’s funniest moment, the Warriors Three and Sif) and find everything he does or says ridiculous. Here, Hemsworth — the Australian actor who impressed so much with his one-scene cameo in Star Trek as Kirk’s doomed dad — comes into his own, adding new layers of humility and humour to his blustering God Of Thunder. At one point, Thor fights off hospital orderlies with an outraged, “You DARE attack the son of Odin?!?”. The fish out of water stuff works like a charm. Hemsworth emerges from this a true star, adept at action, good with comedy, swell at the romantic stuff with Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster (there’s a romantic streak a mile wide here) and cut like Kate Middleton’s engagement rock. 

In fact, you’re instantly intrigued by the prospect of seeing Hemsworth on screen with Robert Downey Jr. (and Chris Evans) in next year’s The Avengers. Marvel copped flak for turning Iron Man 2 into essentially an extended trailer for its big gamble, and has clearly learned a lesson. Yes, SHIELD is involved. Yes, Jeremy Renner shows up for one spectacularly pointless scene as the ace archer, Hawkeye. But Thor, ultimately, stands on its own two feet. We’ll toast that with a glass of mead and a feast fit for a king. Hold the cheese.

Verdict
Turn off the snark-o-meter, and this is a return to form for Marvel, introducing a new hero we’ll be happy to see again in, oh, about a year or so.”

4 Stars (out of 5)

Reviewer: Chris Hewitt
©2011 Empire Magazine.

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