The Viper Vibe
Marvel's Avengers assembleThursday, June 07, 2012 By Janelle Malagon/Section Editor
It was the superhero movie five years in the making. ‘The Avengers’ is the most recent instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a fictional timeline shared by the ‘Iron Man,’ ‘Incredible Hulk,’ ‘Thor,’ and ‘Captain America’ titles. Despite the fervent anticipation and high expectations associated with it, the film did not disappoint. There was a potent mix of action, unity, and vengeance that ultimately made for an impressive film. But it wasn’t flawless. At times, it felt like there was too much cut out. References to the previous five movies were sparse—a source of potential confusion for the franchise’s more casual followers. Another issue was the introduction of Hawkeye. While each of the other Avengers had their own extensive screen time, Hawkeye had very in comparison. While he did make an appearance as a S.H.I.E.L.D. (a secret government-run espionage and military organization) agent in ‘Thor,’ his screen time was brief at best. There was widespread reservation regarding Mark Ruffalo’s role as The Incredible Hulk. After having two other actors (Eric Bana and Edward Norton) play the iconic superhero in the last decade, bringing in yet another actor for the biggest MCU film yet seemed risky, particularly considering that Norton was the star of MCU’s ‘Incredible Hulk.’ Ruffalo’s portrayal proved skeptics wrong— he brought humor and a new relatability to a character that may very well have been dry and one-dimensional in the hands of another. The characters, however, were strong as a team.Though the six featured superheroes started off with constant quarrels—many of which turned humorously physical—they grew closer in the face of adversity, finding a common goal in “avenging the world” if they were incapable of saving it. Where too many films sacrifice quality in the name of appeasing audiences, ‘Avengers’ managed a successful balance between the two. The first immersive fight scene happened within minutes of the film’s beginning, and audiences’ interests were engaged throughout. A major problem in many epic films is the overemphasis on violence and action. Joss Whedon’s summer blockbuster managed diversity in action sequences, exhibiting the various capabilities of each character and brought a human touch to each Avenger by showing their ability to improvise and act under pressure. While there was a great deal of action throughout the film, it never became overbearing or dull. Comic relief, though sometimes uncharacteristic, helped create a balance between the action and humor. A deeper aspect to this occasional comic relief was the progression of friendship and camaraderie. The adversity each of the characters face, as well as their complicated histories, brings them together. Visually, the film was stunning. Oscar-nominated cinematographer Seamus McGarvey embraced ‘Avengers’ as his chance to explore the use of digital cameras in conjunction with film-based ones. This was a deviation from his previous works, but it paid off. The variety of angles and perspectives made for a constantly visually interesting experience. 3-D effects were used gently but effectively, and were not nearly as nauseating or visually exhausting as in other productions that seem to use the 3-D as a substitute for better creative techniques. Despite its flaws, the film was far from a disappointment. A testament to the power of media coverage and creative collaboration, ‘Avengers’ earned its place as the best movie of the year thus far. The wait was well worth it. ‘A.’ |