Well ladies and gentlemen, it looks like this skeptic is about to eat crow. After looking at the trailers and various different clips, I feared The Avengers would be an all out action film with no substance. This I am glad to say is certainly not the case.
Joss Whedon has outdone himself. In my view, this is his greatest achievement to date. I have been a fan of his ever since "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and "Angel", so it pleases me to see how well he handled it. It could have been an absolute train wreck but it wasn't and instead it has turned out to be my favourite film of the year so far.
The great thing about this film is it knows when to have a joke. It has it's serious moments but is balanced out with humour, which does the movie wonders. All the actors deliver their lines with ease and nothing any of them say feels out of place. The action was well paced, making the experience a smooth ride. Never once did I feel it was struggling to keep my attention and it kept me enthralled throughout.
What amazed me the most was the audience's reaction. You know when you watch those adverts with the audience in the cinema going 'owwww' and 'ahhh', that is what this film was delivering. People were literally clapping at some moments and in hysterics the next. This is a movie experience that simply can't be missed. Never before have I seen the audience clap during an action sequence in a film but they did and it made the experience even more enjoyable. This is clearly entertainment at it's finest people.
The acting was top-notch. Many people have said, "The Hulk" steals the show and I would be lying if I said they were wrong. The actor who truly impressed me though, was Tom Hiddleston/Loki. The way he plays his character is mesmerising. He knows how to play cold, calculated and sadistic. He does this so naturally, you sometimes forget he is an actor and actually believe Loki is a real person. It is truly fantastic performance and just goes to show how talented the guy is.
Now I have noticed some of the early reviewers have said the 3D was not any good and should be avoided, but to be honest I thought it gave a rather breathtaking dynamic to the film. I think what most people expect when they see a film in 3D, is everything on the screen to come out at them. Whilst there were scenes that did feature this, it was the depth of field the 3D gave to the film that really impressed me. It felt like you were there in the midst of battle with the characters. If you have the choice of seeing this in 3D, I would choose 3D, it just makes everything more dynamic and makes the experience even more exceptional. Nothing is more exhilarating than seeing Iron Man bursting through the screen at break-neck speed. Honestly spend the extra money to watch this in 3D. By the end of the movie you will be glad you did.
I have to admit I was extremely skeptical about this film and thought it would be a major disappointment. I was expecting to go to the cinema and be entertained but not overwhelmed with joy. I walked in level-headed and came out like a giddy school boy. I was thoroughly impressed and I am already arranging to watch it again. This film is basically what Transformers should have been and then some. It makes Michael Bay look like an amateur.
I probably sound like a complete fanboy now but this film did a good job of converting me. Trust me, the hype surrounding this is well deserved. For someone who was semi-interested, to be turned into a part of the hype machine is saying something. Also watch this in the cinema, don't wait for the blu ray because this is an experience, which is something you won't be able to replicate at home. You would be dealing yourself a severe injustice if you do not witness this on the big screen.
The bottom-line: If you like CBMs, great dialogue, epic action sequences and a truly remarkable experience, this is definitely the film for you. I am really struggling to see any fault with this film and to be honest the only fault I can see, is that it had to end. This for me, is the definition of entertainment and deserves all the praise it has been receiving.
10/10