The Avengers: 5/5


Just got back from an advance screening...and HOLY SHIT, it all worked.

The plot moved along perfectly with very few little hiccups. The FX were top notch, from what I could tell since I saw it in damnable 3D. But things looked good.

The action was great. No hero outshined any of the others, it felt like a true team effort.

The performances were all there, for the most part. I openly admit, i feared we would get a replay of "Iron Man 2" style boring, silly Tony Stark from Downey this time. But unlike in that abomination of a sequel, Tony Stark as a character delivers on everything, as do all the characters. It's wonderful to see Black Widow put in the movie and for her to not only actually serve a purpose, but for Scarlett Johansson to actually have some room to give her a character.

If there were any speedbumps. they are things I can not reveal without spoiling the movie, or simply things that bugged me. Mind you, that does not stop the movie from being mindblowingly awesome.

But if one must know, I still think it's kind of sad Norton did not come back to play Bruce Banner. Ruffalo is fine, but for Banner...I think Norton just did a better job as the character.

That said, the Hulk model is absolutely wonderful to look at.

If you love the Avengers or just have always wanted to see a hero team-up in live actin, this is the movie. There are so many great moments, I'm at a loss to count them all.

MUST SEE.