Movie Review: The Avengers

Quiti2x on The Avengers!

This would be my first movie review blog so let me just breakdown how I would do this.

I will be giving the plot, the background/setting, the effects, the characters SNAPs (this is SSSSOOOOOO Legally Blonde but whatever. I like how it sounds), 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest, followed by an explanation of the SNAP.

I guess that pretty much covers it.

On with the review!

The plot:

Loki, Thor’s brother, fumed with revenge, want to take over Earth and free the human race through enslavement. Yeah.. I know.. I  don’t get it too but majority of evil plans doesn’t make actual sense , right? So he travels to Earth with some ancient knowledge that he discovered while in exile through a character that I don’t know the off, to get the Tesseract to use it as a weapon to free but enslave the human kind (rolling eyes).

S.H.I.E.L.D. (which I also don’t know the meaning too..) has the Tesseract for “research”. Loki was successful in stealing it from S.H.I.E.L.D. and mind-slaving some members which he needed. Fury, the guy with the eye patch, had the task of bringing together Earth’s heroes through the Avengers initiative that consists of Captain America, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Agent Romanov, and Hawkeye.

The plot was that of a typical super hero comic book where the antagonist would like to take over the world. The thing that made it interesting for me was that this was a war between a god, Loki and his army of alien/mythologic creatures versus the champions of the Earth. How’s that??

Even though the plot looks like it would be an testosterone with a pinch of estrogen butt whooping  action film, it actually has a very well placed and tasteful spoonfuls of comedy that will take your mind our of the action then suck you right back in!

Quiti2x verdict: 5 SNAPS

The background/settings:

From the Iron Man movies, you might have had a feel of how current the environment and also how futuristic it seems because of the technology shown in the movies. This was also carried on The Avengers movie.

THE WASTE LAND: This is in the opening scenes depicting a barren rocky landscape where Loki and the character that I don’t know were first seen was artfully done. Black violet and blues were the hues creating a sinister feel where the typical evil lurks.

TESSERACT HOLDING/TESTING AREA: From the name, it’s a lab where SHIELD is trying to decipher the inner working of the Tesseract. Very current open space testing area which Loki trashed. Well turned into rubble actually.

STARK TOWER: From the name itself, this owned but none other than Tony Stark, quadrillionaire, genius and all around player that is self sustaining and eco friendly. Truly a vision of future green engineering of course with a custom landing pad that removes Iron Man’s suite as he walks through

THE INVISIBLE CARRIER/AIRPLANE SHIELD COMMAND CENTER: No words to describe it but GIANORMOUSLY AWESOME! This started out as a airplane carrier that I thought would turn into a submarine but instead to a flying engineering masterpiece. Complete with the command centre with futuristic technology. But wait there’s more. It a cloaking device that makes it invisible. Beat that Hogwarts!

THE HULK CONTAINMENT UNIT: This was designed for the Hulk in case he decided to make an appearance and trash the command centre that was designed to withstand the Hulk’s strength and eject (more like drop) if in case he went berserk. This was where Loki was locked up but still have control over the entire situation.

STREETS OF MANHATTAN: Of course the island of Manhattan, famous as it is, is the setting for the battle royale of the movie between the Avengers and the invaders.

The ones mentioned were the background that I really love. Need I say more to defend my ratings?

Quiti2x verdict:  5 SNAPS

The cast:

Robert Downey Jr. as TONY STARK/ IRON MAN

This quarillionaire genius player was the brains and swagger of this movie. We all know that he was genius enough to make a suit to make him an oh-so-hot super hero. Although, Tony Stark was not recommended to be part of the Avengers but Iron Man was. In the end, you just can’t separate the suit from the man.

 I love his comedic inserts and snide comments which actually balanced out the movie. He got all the scientific stuff down into deliveries that were believable.

Highlight: getting the one of the engines of the flying command centre running again and guiding the nuclear missile to the portal and coming back to Earth

Quiti2x verdict: 5 SNAPS

Chris Evans as STEVE ROGERS/ CAPTAIN AMERICA

This man-sicle and war hero had spent his frustrations of missing out on a date decades back, spent his time punching bags. Although he was in the 21^st century he still stuck to his era. He rose to the occasion once he was called by SHIELD and took the role of leader of the Avengers after a few verbal squabble s with Tony Stark. Good thing as the entire team would have needed his leadership skills. Although he does not have powers that shoot out of his hands, he makes up for it with his kick-ass skills!

Everything was almost perfect (oh yes!) except for his voice which I though lacked some umph to it. But then again he was able to direct the Avengers  to a team.

Highlight: Taking charge of the Avengers and directing them to battle

Quiti2x verdict: 4 SNAPS

Mark Ruffalo as BRUCE BANNER/ THE HULK

Bruce Banner has spent his time helping out people in India. And his expertise in gamma rays was the main reason he was collected. He chose to be under the radar (so he thought) to get the green monster alter persona of him under control. Now the Hulk when unleashed was just like “BOOM”

Mark Ruffalo did a good job particularly in the scene when he was collected and sort of lost his temper allowing the Hulk to make an almost there appearance. The swift transition from anger to calmness was just superb

Highlight: collection of Bruce Banner and bashing Loki (it was hilariously GREAT!) plus hitting back on Thor

Quiti2x verdict: 5 SNAPS

Chris Hemsworth as THOR

Thor just actually appeared out of nowhere when Iron Man and Captain America captured Loki (very easily might I add) to take Loki into questioning on the whereabouts of the Tesseract. He knowS well the power that the cube posses and fears for his beloved Earth so he decided to help and join the Avengers.

Chris Hemsworth was not actually big on the acting side. But his mighty hammer and his lightning  were great additions to the Avengers. Plus he’s a god!

Highlight: Smacking the Hulk into almost unconsciousness with his hammer and sending out a lighting storm using the Empire state building as a lightning rod

Quiti2x verdict: 4 SNAPS

Scarlett Johansson as NATASHA ROMANOFF/ BLACK WIDOW

We first saw her in Iron Man 2 and got a taste of what she can do. Here, she was the rose among the thorns and held her own despite of the big heroes around her. Collected Bruce Bane, interrogated Loki and did amazing fights! Who said that you needed to be a gamma exposed, or wear armor, or be experimented on to be a heroine??

Scarlett Johansson was just FIERCELY AWESOME! I’m sure she can make Uma Thurman in Kill Bill and Angelina Jolie in Salt a run for their money! GIRL POWER! Although she was a bit under acting but I guess that is what you get from a spy. Still, BRILLIANT! I wish they would make a Black Widow movie!

Highlight: taking on 3 men while bound to a chair, interrogating Loki, taking an enemy flying contraption to get to the portal to close it down.

Quiti2x verdict: 5 SNAPS

Jeremy Renner as AGENT CLINT BARTON/HAWKEYE

While protecting the Tesseract, Hawkeye was mind-controlled by Loki because of his heart and determination. Since he was under a spell, he turned against SHIELD and almost brought down the command centre from the sky. He was that good. But after a hard knock out from Black Widow, he was snapped back to reality. He proved to be a great asset to SHIELD as he wielded his bow and arrows which were pretty cool too!

There wasn’t that much moments of him acting but more on combats and shooting only. But his scene with Black Widow on their life as spies was ok.

Highlight: Shooting down the enemy with his bow and arrow hitting his mark every time

Quiti2x verdict: 4 SNAPS

Samuel L. Jackson as NICK FURY

Nick Fury has been cameo appearing in the individual movies of each hero. He’s in this movie the entire time. Stern  but brilliant, he formed the Avengers and convinced them to be a team as they are Earth’s last hope. I actually don’t know how he ended up with one eye but I guess the look suits him

Samuel L. Jackson was great too. He was like the PR person of the Avengers versus their detractors with his direct to the point statements.

Highlight: Explaining the real purpose of SHIELD and anchoring on the death of Agent Phil to push the team to unite

Quiti2x verdict: 4 SNAPS

Tom Hiddleston as LOKI

As told in Norse mythology, Loki is the god of mischief and has been the public enemy number 1 of Asgard. In this movie, he wants to take over the Earth and enslave humans so as to free them. Wielding his magic staff/ spear, he destroyed the original SHIELD command centre to a rubble, mind-controlled agents and a scientist, demanded people to kneel in from of him, have himself captured but still under control of everything, and summons his army to destroy Manhanttan. EVIL!

Tom Hiddleston was perfect for the role I think. He has that sinister yet regal look which is fit for the god of mischief. There was only one thing missing for me. He didn’t have an evil laugh that rings in times of his short lived triumph. Guess I’ll just laugh for him <evil laugh>

Highlight: Cornering people in the park and getting them to kneel down at him

Quiti2x verdict: 5 SNAPS

Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson

Agent Phil first appeared in the Iron Man movies. He was a huge fan on Captain America and was looking for the right opportunity to have him sign it. He was the cause of the turning point of each avenger.

Clark Gregg was delightful in his scene where he was talking to Captain America. I felt his awe and elation to be standing next to his idol so to speak. Plus he was a scapegoat to get everything in proper motion. Although he was not a hero initially, he became one too one way or another.

Highlight: Facing Loki with a big ass gun but gets stabbed and died before he managed to hit Loki

Quiti2x verdict: 5 SNAPS

Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill

Agent Maria Hill was right hand woman, in my opinion of Nick Fury that made sure everything was good .

                Cobie Smulders stepped out of her girl next door image with this movie.

Highlight: car chase with Loki and his mind controlled agents while trying to avoid being buried alive.

Quiti2x verdict: 4 SNAPS

The effects:

AWESOME is I guess the best word to describe the effects in this movie. Here are some of my favorites:

1.       Opening of the portal to another world

2.       SHIELD’s command center converting from an airship carrier to a flying airship carrier then turning invisible (that was a mouthful)

3.       Tony Stark removing his Iron Man suit while walking on a platform (really cool!)

4.       Loki’s multiplicity power

5.       Bruce Banner’s transformation into the Hulk

6.       Thor conjuring up lightning with his hammer

7.       Nick Fury’s conference call with world leaders

8.       Alien with their flying machines and the flying worm of mass destruction (you get it right??)

Quiti2x verdict: 5 SNAPS

OVERALL:

The Avengers movie was worth the wait! And like I said, has this amazing inserts of comedy that pulls you right out of the action for a second then you get sucked right back in.

I honestly think this is the BEST Marvel movie made to date!

Quiti2x verdict: 5 SNAPS

I recommend this movie to everyone! Although, I’m pretty sure that the comic book junkies who followed this series may have some let down which I guess is typical.

Remember that this movie was rated in the Philippines as PG-13. So parents out there, please accompany your children while watching this movie. I’m sure you would enjoy it too!

If you still haven’t watched THE AVENGERS movie, well, what are you waiting for?? The part 2??? GOGOGO and buy your tickets already! 

Extras: I would love to place pictures in this blog but by internet connection is slow. Just check it out in the web