MOVIE REVIEW - The Avengers

The Avengers is finally out, and poised to take on the world, and the box office records more than likely.

The Avengers is the union of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, and other Marvel comic book characters. The join together in "The Avenger Initiative" to save the world from forces well beyond humans comprehension. In this story, Loki, who is the half brother of the demi-God, Thor is attempting to take over our world, after being shunned in his all those galactic miles away. Loki believes in absolute power, and will do whatever it takes to accomplish his fiendish goals. Only the Avengers can save the world now.

In a nutshell that's what this is. But, it is actually so much more. This is a very carefully written and smart script that probably is going to be overlooked by many. This shows a ton of mind games, and other shrewd tactics Loki and others will use to win the battle for earth. Great conflict between our hero's too. Well written dialogue that isn't cliche' ridden or silly. This is actually written for an adult audience, with politics a plenty. They just don't push a button and all unite for a common cause. Under all of these superhero's are humans, and it is written so. Well done.

Of course the special effects are really slick, but they are not any more slick than a ton of other movies. This movie was filmed with a Cleveland backdrop for many of it's scenes and that's fun for us local people. A very nice orchestral musical score though out, with a real nice ending theme that makes you want to stay and listen to it, and want more when it's done.

The Avengers has learned much from many of the movies that have led up to this point. That even though you have all of this technology at your disposal, what in the end makes a movie great, not just good, is the writing and the performances from your stars. Here, they are all who they are. The actors are reprising their roles again. But the writing is good, the plot is as deep as this kind of movie can be, and in the end it's just flat out good summer movie fun.

You do kind of need to know the background of all of our superhero's. It would do you well to rent Thor, Iron Man 1 and 2, The Hulk, and Captain America to get up to speed if you are somewhat new to the game. For most that are going to see this, that is not a problem.

The Avengers. The pressure was really on. Make a silly movie with all of this and you would be laughed out of Hollywood. But this is good, fun and ready to take on the world.