If you’re going to kick-off what’s predicted to become the biggest movie summer EVER, you’d best do it in a mighty big way…
And Disney does just that with MARVELS-THE AVENGERS.
Walt would’ve been proud.
What we’ve got here is Hollywood’s ultimate superhuman good guy team set against an epic scope of production wizardry that would’ve been impossible to achieve just a handful of years ago.
I should mention that I’m not a comic book geek. Never was into super heroes and there are no little blue pills in the Poessiger bedroom. That said, planting the entire team of Marvel’s good guys—a.k.a. the Avengers Initiative—into a single mega-production was pure genius.
As for the storyline, there’s really nothing much new here.
It’s basically sinister Loki (Tom Middleston), bad brother of Thor, who’s in possession of a powerful substance of unlimited sustainable energy and threatening the global safety and security of the universe.
Your basic bad versus good.
Enter Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, head of the International Peace Keeping Agency S.H.I.E.L.D. to pull the world back from disaster and Loki’s army of alien spaceships. So one by one the Marvel good guys assemble for what seems like an impossible task.
And what a line up!
Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Scarlett Johansson is sexy Natasha Romanoff—a.k.a. the Black Widow. Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Jeremy Renner plays Hawkeye. Chris Evans is Steve Rogers/Captain America. Mark Ruffalo pumps up Bruce Banner to The Hulk. Stellan Skarsgard turns Professor Erik Selvig and Gwyneth Paltrow is Pepper Pots.
What makes this first summer tentpole production so much fun is that much of its super-hero dialogue is uttered completely tongue-in-cheek. And it’s definitely Robert Downey, Jr. who ends up with the best lines.
While the scope of this massive production is awe inspiring, the movie’s two-hour and 22 minutes running time could have been trimmed by at least 10 to 15 minutes. That’s especially true for the midsection of the film.
But once all hell breaks loose during the approximately 45 minutes of the film’s third act, I defy anyone who’s into humongous battle footage from not getting into this action.
Hats off to director Joss Whedon from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Serenity for pulling it all off. And his excellent use of 3-D here really adds to the proceedings.
In other words the 3-D and IMAX up charges are worth it here.
It’s a fan-feast of immense proportions guaranteed to get the summer movie season off to a record breaking start. I’m predicting a 3-day opening weekend gross of $160 million in domestic ticket sales.
Caution! Try to avoid sitting next to a comic book geek like I did while watching this movie. It could be dangerous to your sanity and their reactions may cause popcorn spillage…or worse!
And whatever you do, don’t get up from your chair when the end credits begin to roll. There’s a special scene embedded about 30 seconds into the credits you won’t want to miss. And if you can make it until the very last credit has rolled by, you’ll be rewarded with one last funny scene involving all the super heroes.
MARVELS-THE AVENGERS raising 4 out of 5 robust fingers beginning this Thursday night/Friday morning at 12:01 a.m.–EVERYWHERE.
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. on NewsRadio KMBZ Am & Fm–And anytime on Time-Warner Cable’s K.C. ON DEMAND, Channel 411.
Well international ticket sales was very good last weekend so you can bet sales be just as good or better state side.
Couldn’t decide between buying a regular ticket or handing over the extra bucks for Imax. You decided for me. Thanks.
Unless the screen is 72′ wide x 52′ high,
Odds are you are getting stiffed. Imax has sold out their respectability so your average multiplex can drain you of a few more dollars and not get a real IMAX experience.
As though tickets are not high enough already. Tack on extra ‘3D’ goffyness and you have a ticket at $20 adult.
No thanks, I’ll take 2D and not pay more for the LIEMAX.
Agree
With the dude on this one. Not real IMAX and except for Avatar, 3D isn’t never worth it either. I’ll just spend my $4 and see it at the Plaza or in Merriam.