Movie Review: The Avengers

The Avengers

The Avengers (2012)
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson

The summer blockbuster season is officially in full swing with the release of The Avengers, the first of many superhero films that will unite movie geeks over the next four months.

This much-anticipated Marvel Comics gathering is brimming with great visual effects, intense action sequences and a hefty dose of smartass character interactions. In short, it's bound to be one of the biggest hits of 2012.

While it helps to have seen each of the superheroes' individual star vehicles, it's by no means necessary thanks to a mostly-solid script from director Joss Whedon and Zak Penn which makes a great effort not to exclude those who may have missed a film or two ...or three.

When Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the deranged, power-hungry adoptive brother of Norse god, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), arrives from the planet Asgard to take over and enslave the entire human race, the eye-patched Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is forced to assemble his S.H.I.E.L.D. initiative agents to protect Earth.

Robert Downey Jr. returns as billionaire Tony Stark -- the man behind Iron Man and the majority of the movie's witty one-liners. He finds himself at odds with Captain America (Chris Evans) the 1940's-era superhero patriot who, after spending 70 years in a deep freeze slumber, is more than a little disoriented by his surroundings. Out of all the characters, these two clash and then ultimately bond the most, providing the majority of the flick's comic relief.

While special agent Clint "Hawkeye" Barton (Jeremy Renner) is given the least screentime of the Avengers, he proves himself essential to the team thanks to his sharp eye and famously accurate marksmanship with his trusty bow and arrow.

Tom Hiddleston as Loki

As Russian assassin Natasha Romanoff, the lethal Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson is able to keep up with  -- and sometimes even out-muscle -- the boys. There's even a hint of flirtation between her and both Bruce Banner and Hawkeye to keep audiences looking for a little romance satisfied.

While the entire cast is immensely likeable in their respective roles, it's Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner who nearly steals the film. The subtle nuances and charming likeability he brings to his lab geek will likely earn The Hulk a whole slew of new fans who once shrugged off the other two medicore screen adaptations starring Eric Bana and Edward Norton. It makes you wonder whether or not The Hulk would have been a more successful and enjoyable franchise had Ruffalo been the go-to guy right from the beginning. His Banner is the psychologically tortured soul at the very heart of the movie -- the one Avenger who would likely give anything to abandon a power that he deems a curse.

The second half of the film is an exciting romp through the streets of Manhattan as the Avengers finally come together as a team to fend off the advances of Loki and his alien army. However, in order to reach this point the audience must slog through the opening 40 minutes of the film with its glacial pacing and redundant conversations about the Tesseract, the little blue cube that acts as a power source and portal for the villainous Loki. You could almost play a drinking game with the amount of times you hear the words "Tesseract" or "cube" in the first half.

But once the The Avengers settles down partway through and finds its groove, it transforms into a wildly entertaining action-adventure led by a talented group of actors who are all equally likeable. It will be hard to choose a favourite Avenger.

If nothing else, Whedon and Co. prove that you don't have to have a flawless script to provide the audience with great, entertaining escapism.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Movie Review: Thor

Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth).

THOR (2011)
Directed By: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgard, Colm Feore and Anthony Hopkins

Thor is the god of thunder and, for those uninitiated (like myself) in the adventures of this lesser-known Marvel comics hero, this Norse deity apparently has a huge cult following. Wielding a powerful hammer called Mjlonir (which, oddly enough, resembles a giant meat tenderizer), Thor, as a character, is a balanced mix of hot-headed temper, arrogance and brooding charm, which are all "must have" qualities when it comes to Marvel action heroes.

Thor takes the age-old tale of sibling rivalry and ups the ante. Thor (Aussie newcomer, Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) live in a kingdom in the sky called Asgard, where they have been raised by their father, King Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and mother, Frigga (Rene Russo, who has apparently returned to acting after a long absence). The relationship between the seemingly close brothers begins to fray when Odin proclaims Thor as his heir. When the coronation ceremony is interrupted by the Frost Giants, led by the red-eyed Laufey (Colm Feore, buried beneath layers of make-up), Thor goes against his father's wishes and leads his band of loyal friends in avenging the attack. Odin is outraged at Thor's rash actions and banishes his son from Asgard. Thor is ultimately reduced to nothing -- his power gone, his beloved hammer, Mjlonir, missing -- and is left to fend for himself on Earth, a planet he is unfamiliar with. He accidentally meets up with a group of skywatching scientists: cosmologist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Swedish scientist Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and their student intern, Darcy (Kat Dennings). They struggle to come to terms with what Thor is, while trying to help him return to Asgard and prevent Loki from taking over the throne.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Jane (Natalie Portman).

Despite the fact that there are six screenwriters credited (usually a bad sign), Thor is, surprisingly, a structured, cohesive narrative -- a rarity for films of this genre. With a running time of less than two hours, it manages to give you all the background information you need on Thor and his supernatural family, while spending just the right amount of time on Earth as he gets to know his new human companions. If there is one complaint, it'd be the lack of more interaction between Thor and his brother, Loki, before the former is banished to Earth. It would have made their eventual fall-out all the more poignant.

Under the steady and assured direction of Shakespearean vet Kenneth Branagh, Thor has a great international cast to rely on -- from Australia, England, United States, Sweden and Canada.

As Thor, Hemsworth has the same roguish charm as Harrison Ford or, more recently, Chris Pine in Star Trek (2009). With great comic timing and the ability to cry on cue, Hemsworth proves he's more than just a pretty face. Thor has given him a promising start to a career in Hollywood. The rest of the cast rallies around him, each giving a performance that is more than a comic book adaptation usually deserves. As the trio of scientists, Portman, Skarsgard and Dennings are all talented actors who make the most of their supporting (and underwritten) roles. Their camaraderie and chemistry with one another makes up for their odd little trio. Hopkins is perfect as King Odin -- a measured mix of menace and fatherly affection. Hiddleston is excellent as the scheming and mischievous Loki, a reluctant villain made to turn to the dark side by unfortunate life circumstances and devastating revelations about his past.

Thor is that rare summer blockbuster that is genuinely enjoyable both for its entertaining story and solid cast -- it brings to mind the recent Star Trek reboot. If Thor is any indication, this years crop of summer films are off to a promising start.

FINAL GRADE: B+