AVENGERS!

Assemble up, true believers! It's time for another Marvel movie, and let me tell you know, they've seriously outdone themselves this time! If you've seen the five 2-hour trailers [Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: First Avenger and to a lesser extent the Edward Norton Hulk movie] leading up to this epic event you might have an idea of the awesomeness in store. So, on Sunday, around 20 of my Browncoat friends [for you muggles, that's fans of Joss Whedon's Firefly and Joss in general] met up at the theatre to revel in Joss' big budget feature. So, if you were at the 6:10 show at Metrotown on Sunday, I apologise, you honestly can't take us out in public, but you have to admit, we were having a good time, right?!
In all honesty it's been a very long time since I've had such a good time at a movie. The theatre was full of people who were ready to be entertained, and entertained we were. We laughed, we clapped, we outright cheered, it's just that type of flick. The action starts right at the beginning and that pace doesn't really let up for the rest of the 142 minutes. By now, I'm sure you know the basic premise of Avengers, Loki [Tom Hiddleston] has assembled a space army to take over the Earth and the only people who can stop it are a band of misfit would-be heroes, Captain America [Chris Evans], Iron Man [Robert Downey Jr.] , Thor [Chris Hemsworth], the Hulk [Mark Ruffalo], Black Widow [Scarlett Johansen] and Hawkeye [Jeremy Renner]. As a huge comic fangirl there were so many moments that just made me so happy. When Cap and Hulk first arrive at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, a massive aircraft carrier, I leaned to my neighbour and whispered, "It would be so much better if that was the heli-carrier" Mere moments later I was clapping with joy as it transformed and rose into the sky! Well played Mr. Whedon, well played.
What Joss has done so well, [that's right, not only did he direct this movie, he co-wrote it as well] as he often does, is mix snappy, funny dialogue with some serious character building and throw a whole bunch of action on top. Despite the fact that all of these characters have featured in their own movie or had cameos in those movies they still have a lot of growing to do to become The Avengers.
There's poor, disillusioned Steve Rogers [Captain America]. In his own movie he was so young and idealistic, but now, pulled into a new century, away from everything he knows and loves, he's a bit lost. He needs to find something new to fight for.
Bruce Banner [The Hulk] is still fighting 'the other guy' for control of his own body and consciousness. Let me tell you, Hulk is SO much better in small doses. I enjoyed his character SO much in this film, more than his other two flicks put together. I think we can all only take so much, "oh woe is me and my gamma radiation poisoning". That being said he gets some of the best lines in this movie.
Thor is still Thor. He's far less arrogant than in his movie, but he is still a freaking God, and a powerful one at that. He's still trying to come to terms with the brother he grew up with to this new treacherous and dangerous Loki that's taken his little brother's place.

Tony Stark [Iron Man] actually has the biggest character arc in this flick. The thing about Tony that we love is also the thing that makes it hard for him to be a member of a team; his outrageous and  narcissistic intelligence. Inside he is a good guy, I mean, you don't don't become a hero if you're bad news, you become a villain. However, over the course of the movie he starts to realise that he needs trust other people's intelligence, like Dr. Banner's and other people's leadership, like Cap's. Don't worry though, he doesn't lose any of that awesome Stark cockiness. 

Black Widow and Hawkeye kind of get the short end of the character growth in this movie. We still don't know that much about them, and not a whole lot is revealed in the movie either. Especially with Hawkeye spending half the movie not being himself. That being said they still show that they can hold their own in the big battle for Earth.
Speaking of that battle, thank goodness for CGI. Poor New York took an absolute BEATING in the final battle sequence of this movie, buildings toppled, rubble EVERYWHERE. It's all kinds of amazing. And even during this all-out battle to end all battles there are still a bunch of laugh out loud lines. It really is the type of action movie I would like to watch every time.
Marvel, I must doff my imaginary hat to you, I think after some mishaps a little while ago with some other characters movies, you've really come into your own. Also, I'm all kinds of impressed that you were able to find time when all of these busy actors were available AT THE SAME TIME to film this movie. Seriously, these are not nobody actors who have nothing better to do than be that character, they're all in pretty high demand!
So, to end this very long and probably overly favourable review, GO SEE THE AVENGERS! And if you've already seen it, go again! Nothing makes us Browncoats happier than seeing our beloved leader succeed, go Joss go! And for the LOVE OF GOD, don't leave before the end of the credits! This is a Marvel movie people, there is ALWAYS something after the credits.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Yes. I know, I'm way behind on my updates. Again. While I try to think of things to write about the movies I've seen in the theatres, let me tell you about a movie out on DVD I think you should watch, 'Captain America: The First Avenger'. And I hear you Canadians, rolling you eyes at me Captain America Andrea? Isn't that just a 124minute propaganda poster? And you might think that, but the fact of the matter is that it you have to remember that Cap's America doesn't exist anymore. This was a country that  had to be dragged into WWII, hard to imagine right? Not only that but their enemies were the Germans and Japanese, countries who are better known for making cars than their militaries these days. What I'm really getting at is that, while even I was initially concerned that it would be a bunch of flag waving, it really isn't, it comes back down to a good ol' good vs evil archetype; where the good is an skinny, idealistic kid from Brooklyn who just happens to be injected with the Super Soldier Serum that makes him practically invulnerable and the evil is a crazy, mutated Nazi who wants to take over the world. Fun, right?
Interesting fact about this movie, Chris Evan turned down the role of Steve Rogers THREE times before agreeing to take it on. Which is pretty amazing, considering how wonderfully he embodies the character. However, it's a pretty big commitment, 6 flicks [down from the 9 Marvel initially wanted] and the pressure to carry the film, as well as the new Avengers franchise on his back. I was a little worried too, while I'm a big Chris Evans fan, it was more his humour that I loved, and I wasn't sure he could be the 'All-American' boy that Cap needs to be. There was no need to be concerned, Evans turns out one the most empathetic and idealistic performances I've seen in a while. Whether it's when he's digitally made into scrawny Steve or after he becomes Captain America he comes off as sincere in his desire to do the right thing, no matter the cost to his own person.
Do you know who Hugo Weaving is? You may say no, but I bet you're wrong, this guy has been in more blockbuster sci-fi/fantasy films in the past decade than most, 'The Matrix' trilogy, 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, 'V for Vendetta', he was the voice of Megatron in the 'The Transformers' movies, you get my point. Anyways, he's back again as the Red Skull, the creepy head of Hydra, Hitler's super secret science division. And he's awesome at it. I'm sure playing a villain, as an actor, must be super fun, but he really pulls off the psychotic, world conquerer thing in a way I'm not sure another actor would be able to.
There are a plethora of great supporting performances in this film as well. Stanley Tucci and Tommy Lee Jones are great as Dr. Erskine and Col. Phillips respectively. Dominic Cooper plays Howard Stark, yes that would be Tony 'Iron Man' Stark's father, and I can almost believe that the two are related. Last but not least in the supporting cast is the lovely Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, Cap's main squeeze.
ALRIGHT! For not really knowing what to say, I have certainly rambled on, as per usual. Needless to say, I think if you should go out and watch 'Captain America: First Avenger', especially, if, like me, you'll be waiting to see the Joss Whedon [EEE!!!] directed 'The Avengers' next summer! See you next time....hopefully sooner rather than later.