Intitial Reaction: to The Avengers (Spoiler Free)

Sitting down in the theater knowing you’re going to see the Avengers, automatically brings a certain level of anticipation.  Knowing that it carries a momentum that has been built up for about five years brings a whole new level of expectation.  Knowing that Joss Whedon is both writer and director of the film, for the fans, he had to bring it.

It’s been brought.

The Avengers is hands down the best Marvel film ever made.  It handles all the characters on screen very well and the pacing of the film is spot on.  The movie is definitely a popcorn film with the good butter, with moments that will make you laugh, gasp, and cheer hysterically.  There aren’t any moments that drag due to everything having to move the story forward, which builds on how epic it is.  Avengers is riddled with action from start to finish and you see them work together really well as a team.  What makes the action so great is that it’s paced well and you’re never groaning for the action to come.

As far as your favorite Avenger is concerned, everyone and I mean everyone shines as well as great screen time.  Captain America’s suit actually looks perfect in the film, including the mask.  Early pictures of Chris Evans in the Cap suit, doesn’t do him justice.  Thor seems real solid in the film while giving purpose to his two suits, and he actually looks bigger than Cap.  It doesn’t seem that way in the photos of the movie, but for some reason he has a bigger presence on screen…. his godlike presence.  Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner is the best, he really captures a man who is smart and a man that has a secret ticking time bomb.  Ruffalo’s monstrous rendition of the Hulk is also the best and it is downright scary at times.  Hulk smashes… everything.  Black Widow can definitely hang with the big boys and leaves very little room for eye candy.  She’s a spy, an agent and it comes across the screen very well.  Hawkeye shows you why you should always bring a bow to a gunfight, and he actually plays a pivotal roll in the movie.  Iron Man/Tony Stark goes back to the person we loved from the first Iron Man movie. Even Nick Fury and his agents get a piece of the action while everyone stays true to their characters, as we know them.

Just as we anticipated, just as we expected, everything is amped up because it’s the Avengers.  The dialogue is better than all the other films that lead up to it.  The acting from all parties (including Chris Evans as a true Cap) is exemplary and expanded due to the way they play in the story, suitable for a great popcorn film.

This is not your Dark Knight folks and it was never meant to be, nor should it be.   This movie is for those that are fans of Marvel Comics, the ones that have been faithful for decades.  Not to say that it’s made for a special group, it is designed for everyone to see and have fun.  However… if for some reason you’re have something negative to say, if you just didn’t like it because it wasn’t “realistic” enough for you. Then you’re the one that’s clueless and just didn’t get it.

Because those that loved the movie, jumped out their seats and screamed “Avengers Assemble!”