Apr 29, 2012 06:13 PM
2677 Views
The Avengers was released on Friday the 27th of April 2012. The initial plan was to get to see the paid preview on 26th April, but work commitments precluded what would have surely been a good outing. As the saying goes, better late than never. And then the Sunday temptation of getting a free popcorn-Pepsi combo if you buy your tickets with a Citibank Card, only on Sundays!
The Cast:== Have always loved the way Robert Downey Jr play Ironman. The act had class. So there was this curiosity to see this guy and how he fitted into a multi-cast role. Came back dazzled, not just by him (it’s not his movie alone) but by the entire cast. Chris Evans plays Captain America; Mark Ruffalo is a wise new choice as The Hulk. Scarlett Johansson plays The Black Widow, while Samuel L Jackson, plays Nick Fury, the Director of SHIELD set-up as an International Peacekeeping body. Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, impresses with a subdued and dignified role. It was nice to see Director Joss Whedon ensure that no one person was highlighted at the cost of the other stars. A casting coup of sorts! Cobie Smulders (the Canadian TV Anchor in ‘How I Met Your Mother’), is underplayed but does justice to her small role, and Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, the love-interest and assistant of Ironman, is as usual, excellent.
The Budget:== It’s always interesting to have a look at the budget ($220 million) to understand how flashy and flamboyant a movie would be. And part of the curiosity of seeing such a large-budgeted movie, is to ascertain whether the guys who made the flick, have done justice to the money spent. The verdict is, they have, and how!
The Plot:: Nick Fury activates the ‘Avengers Initiative’, when the security of the planet is threatened by exiled Norse god Loki, who misappropriates the ‘Tesseract’, which is a limitless power-source. Loki harnesses the Tesseract to open up a channel through space, through which, he is able to bring on his army to destroy and take control of Earth. Loki also manages to control the minds of some of the SHIELD personnel including Hawkeye, to help him in his nefarious plans. Loki, haunted by the exchange he had with the Chitauri, an alien race seeking to conquer the galaxy, who strike a deal with him, that in exchange for the Tesseract, they would allow Loki to conquer and control Earth. The Avengers are helped in their endeavours by Thor, Loki's half-brother and the Norse God of thunder, who is the only one who feels he can try to reason with him. He does not succeed though. The mistrust that develops between the Avengers on the knowledge that Fury is hiding the secret of his plans to harness the Tesseract’s power to develop weapons, is realistically portrayed. Loki masterminds a Chitauri invasion over Manhattan, opening up a channel to them using the power of the Tesseract, through a compromised scientist. The Avengers come together in a spectacular effort to save the Earth from the clutches of the cruel Chitauri. The climax is spellbinding.
Screenplay, Background Score, Direction: Written by Zak Penn & Joss Whedon, the screenplay is awesome, with hardly any line out of place. The dialogues are crisp and catchy. In fact, I have rarely watched an English movie at the theatres in Delhi, where there was so much whistling, clapping and cheering apart from hearty laughter. The humour is impeccable. Sample this, when the Avengers say, “We need a plan of attack”, Ironman replies, “I have a plan of attack....ATTACK”, leading the way. Or when Captain America taunts Ironman, “What are you out of your suit”, he replies, “Well...I am a billionaire, playboy, philanthropist and scientist....”. The background score is apt and well done. It is very heartening to know that Joss Whedon is planning a sequel. Can’t wait!
The 3-D Experience: A word about the 3D. In my dictionary, a good 3D movie is one where there would be a distinct drop in experience if the same is viewed on 2D. However, if a 3D does not value-add, what’s the point? The Avengers passes with flying colours (pun unintended!). I have a crib against the quality of glasses that PVR gives us. It makes the screen dark, and I’m sure defeats the whole purpose of 3D. Can’t they do something about it, since they charge us so much anyways?!
SFX: The special effects are amazing to say the least. The eye for detail, and the sheer craftsmanship is praiseworthy. The flying aircraft carrier is awesome, and the fight sequences of alien ships running through the Manhattan skyline are superb. Sometimes with the 3D, you feel they are coming right at you.......
The Verdict: The Avengers is completely paisa-wasool, and lives up to the reputation of being one of the biggest blockbusters of the year (yes, yes, I know, there’s MIB-3, Dark Knight Rises, and The Amazing Spiderman set to release this year!). It is a tad long at 142 minutes, but since you are not exactly getting bored, it’s OK. There’s always something timeless about a plot to save the Earth (even if, like many others I’m sure, I sometimes wonder if the world deserves to be saved, as mankind sucks!!!). I guess it brings out the inner child. In the end, I strongly recommend the movie. Go for it, cuddle up with a large popcorn, it there’s nothing else. Else, take the kids, they’ll love you for it!
