Though I am very excited for The Avengers in 2012, my expectations remain low for the film itself. Its understandable that the villan(s) have not been revealed yet (though it is rumored to be the skrulls) due to how far away the release date is. Hearing who exactly this is may change my mind, hopefully for the better.
Marvel Studios better know what they are doing when making this film. Most of the Marvel Studios productions or movies involving Marvel characters provided very inviting settings and plots for their prospective audiences.
“Inviting” accurately describes the way each of the film’s main characters and their back stories were set up; from the outset of each film, the audience was presented with an opportunity to connect with the character.
Take The Marvel Studios Hulk film for example. In the beginning, the film focuses on Bruce Banner’s struggles internally as he wrestles with his other half and whether or not he even wants to lead such a life. As an audience, it is easy to connect with Bruce Banner and understand his characters struggles. This is what’s most important for a film and its main character.
If one has the ability to understand and connect with the main characters struggles on a humane level, it sets up perfectly for that character to be developed and for an audience to fall in love with the character.
Iron Man takes a similar approach, as Tony Stark is trapped in a cave faced with the daunting task of escaping. The process is an introspective one, one that invites the audience to become one with the character and learn about them. This is essentially the function of the character that accompanies Stark. He is someone whom the film uses to break open the persona of Tony Stark and reveal it to people.
Iron Man 2 is set up a bit differently; as its goal is to develop pre- existing characters all while introducing new ones. Director John Favreau does this in a masterful manner, as he balances the two most important aspects of a comic book film. The degree to which the audience can relate to the main character as a human being is one aspect. The other is the ability to portray the Marvel universe for what it is, while not scaring off the average viewer. Without this, the film will only capture the hearts of a small cult following.
Iron Man and Iron Man 2 showed audiences that The Marvel Universe has the potential to be vast and that the on goings of the film are only a small part of a bigger picture. This captures every type of audience, comic book fan and regular family alike.
All this being said, the ability for an audience to connect with a character will always be greater in an origin story, hence the phrase “the original is always better than the sequel”.
There lies the issue with The Avengers movie.
It does not have this luxury one bit.
The full scale Marvel Universe has will be revealed revealed and the cast (meaning confirmed and rumored) is a testament to that.
Once the monster in the scary movie has been revealed,It’s not scary.
It never is.
One is always most afraid prior to seeing the monster, because of how abstract it is.
The Marvel Universe goes from abstract to concrete quite quickly when an “Avengers” movie is made. Without an origin story to welcome audiences, the one speck of glue left which could prevent the film from becoming an on screen adaptation of Power Rangers is gone.
Audiences no longer feel like they are among these characters (aka being unrealistic and far-fetached). The contents of the film are now too fantastic much for people to believe.
When one sees the Thor Hammer or the Super- Soldier Serum in Iron Man and The Hulk, they get excited because it hints at the presence of other characters, much like footprints in the mud hint at the presence of a monster in a horror film.
Right now, Marvel studios is coasting along and their “monster” has captured audiences around the world.
But no one has seen it yet.
When they do. Marvel just may regret ever letting that monster out.