Avengers take the world by storm

Fade in on a cube, blue and white energy swirling within. A deep voice overpowers; its raspy, confident tone resounding with one simple message. The end of the world as we know it is near.

Joss Whedon, iconic science fiction director best known for his work on Serenity, Angel, and quirky mini series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, has left audiences around the world speechless after last night’s highly anticipated release of The Avengers.

The Avengers assembled at midnight with one of the largest releases since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 in the summer of 2011. Fans clad in Iron Man and Captain America masks, heavily muscled men painted green, and women in heels and tight Black Widow attire crowded into the theatre, awaiting the introduction of the earth’s mightiest heroes.

Before the release, many were skeptical that Joss Whedon could take on such an immense project. Incorporating six star characters and weaving their stories together to form one coherent plot line proved a difficult task, but one in which Whedon successfully prevailed. The six superheroes, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Hulk together stole the show. Whedon cleverly staggered the introduction of each hero throughout the first half hour of the film, a tactic that was able to give each character the quick back-story refresher they deserved. Even viewers who had not seen the plethora of prequel movies were able to easily follow along without missing a beat.

If there is one thing Joss Whedon does best, it’s crafting a story with the perfect amount of action and humor. The comic relief of The Avengers brought a lighthearted juxtaposition to the darkness and devastation of war brought down by the demigod, Loki. The storyline contained a generous balance of hot headed competition for superiority between Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America, with appropriate sex appeal brought to the table by Black Widow, sharp shooting from Hawkeye, and the captivating battle of the brothers, Thor and Loki. The intersection of stories represents four years spanning five different films--a large risk considering the amount of star power needed to bring the characters to life. The Avengers nailed it. Each hero experienced the interpersonal and developmental arch needed to make a character successful.

The Avengers appeals to the entire Marvel fan base and beyond. It’s sure to top the box office by the end of the weekend, and it is no stretch to imagine that it has the potential to remain there for several weeks to come.

The Avengers is currently playing at Regal Theatres at the Shops at Ithaca Mall. Be sure to stay through the credits!