In 2008, Marvel began their journey to creating a film universe where the stories we have been watching were taking place in one continuity.
They began that year with the films "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk", each providing a minute amount of detail and background to something called "The Avengers Initiative".
These little easter egg's carried on through "Iron Man 2", "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger" and now come to fruition as the ensemble film "The Avengers".
The job was always going to seem large for any director. It is a team film, which already complicates matters, as each character needs to shine rather than one or two leading the way.
But it is also a superhero team film. This is a world filled with things beyond our own, exaggerated characters of man that with the current audience still need to feel "real".
And who better to take the reins on this than Joss Whedon, beloved by fanboys of many mediums, particularly that of the comic book world.
If you look back through his profile, this is a man who has wanted to produce a great comic book adaptation, charged by the vision he has had for many of these (At one stage, he was attatched to a "Wonder Woman" film of which he wanted Cobie Smulders in the lead role).
Joss Whedon brings the majority of the previous actor's back for this film; Chris Evans returns as Captain America, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
Mark Ruffalo steps in this time as the Hulk, being joined by Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, carrying on from his small cameo in "Thor" and Cobie Smulders joins as Nick Fury's right hand Agent, Maria Hill.
One other character also returns, a small role, but one that has been key to binding the universe together and that is Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, who first joined us in "Iron Man".
As previously said, the scope of this film is large and while the story does as best it can to make these larger than life things seem real, it is the action and set pieces where this film shines. The battles, the fights, the locations are all glorious, superheroic things brought to life.
It is impressive to see, and at no time does it feel too over the top or forced on us in the sense of "LOOK! WE HAVE AWESOME CGI!"
Overall, it does a great job at bringing a team of super powered beings together in a world similar to ours, but the strength of it lies in the way it portrays these individuals and the epic set pieces that really show how super this team is.
Avengers Assemble, indeed.
SO DAMN KEEN!!!
Boo-ya. Send them to afganistan!
Can't Wait MAAAANN!!!
Oh Yeah The macho Man randy Savage!!!
This is going to Rock
. . .
Hope it will be greater than the sum of the parts. Most of the origin movies were great but capt america sux
Yeah, Can't wait!! SAMUEL.L JACKSON!!
This looks real good...I can not wait
omg yes!!!
boo yah
Not so keen on the music. But Joss Whedon! I have high hopes. However it could easily be a flop.
AWESOME! Cant wait.
I < <3 it but not!!
WOW cant wait to see it hurry up may 2012
Can this much awesomeness be contained in one movie??
Yes it seems my awesomeness meter is broken because of too much awesomeness
Looks pretty good, too bad Edward Norton isnt playing Hulk
look up under Awesome in the dictionary/thesaurus n. Avenger, pl. Avengers
*giggle!!* It's the Avengers!!!! *giggle*
wow can't wait
Hell yeah, can't wait
OMG.
Looks bloody awesome
Good to see they finally sorted out ScarJo's hair!
Ed norton? The best Banner ever and they replaced him?!! NOOOO!
Seriously cannot wait!!
OOH UUh .... well i CAN wait!
Well we now know why the worlds ending in 2012 (too much awesome)
i hope they have the wolverine too in it
cannot wait! looks awesome!
Wow. Of course I need to catch up with all the associated movies first.
it looks awesome
if Thor gets his shirt off again I will very much enjoy this movie.. lol!!
wow
Where's Optimus Prime?
MORE Tony Stark...YES PLEASE!
Yo ! bring it
Yes! We get it before the US release date haha. Can't wait
Avengers Assemble!
oh yeah....soooo cant wait 4 this one. yes
so want to see this, but so dont like the new erick banner
wow this is awesome! so want it out now lol...
Brilliant! I LOVE Chris Evans!:)
Gah!!! I cant wait
Cant friggin wait! This is gonna be the cinematic event of the year, i cant beleive its been around 4 years since Iron man first came on.
JOSS WHEDON!!!
the avengers is a group of hero's that we all love and read in comic books but it would be great if they was to add the transformer's in it
sweet!!
Gimme tickets NOW.
I have waited my whole life for this. Collected the comics since I was a kid. Ok no Wasp or Hank Pym but still...AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!
Is Tom Hanks in this one?
Heck yes!
It may have been said already.. but.. HULK SMASH!
this movie has some big shoes to fill, not sure if it will successfully but I cant WAIT!!!
he just casually says "we have a hulk". this movie looks sick
This looks pants changingly brilliant!
if there is a chance to see thors abs again Im in!!
HAWKEYE BICHZ!!!!
um YAH!!!
I have a Hulk... in my pants, after watching that trailer.
phil thats hilarious
Ooo! Can't Wait! Black Widow AND Hawkeye!
THOR!
Can't wait!! the best of all?
is it too far? thor with iorn man?
that comes out on my b day
Oh God yes, Chris Evans!!
O man trailer looks so good cant wait to see the movie
I AM BATMAAAN! oh wait, wrong movie..
Omg I love this movie can't wat
Joss Whedon making, Super "Men" acting, should be EPIC!!!
Seriously, whats the guy with the arrow going to do?
JUST AWESOME
....awesome
Gon be a sweet 1 to watch wasted
The trailers keep getting better! It LOOKS great. Let's hope the whole film follows suit!
best movie ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am rock solid right now.
Mmm, yes... but can I also say... Best trailer this year. There you are. I said it....
I don't think I've ever seen 80 comments on a trailer here before. This is the kind of hype I pay attention to.
Mavel + silver screen = AWESOMENESS
The HULKS gona kick everybodys ass!!!Spoiler alert.
Is this the guaranteed NZ release date? I need to know to get tickets to a potential midnight screening...
OMFGFANGASIM :D
this looks hot just like Scarlett
so there
the guy who plays hulk in this doesnt suit it he is verry calm hulk needs to be angry
& it's on ANZAC day how cool is that. To all the service men & woman thankyou for serving our country :)
Line up of a lifetime and a good runtime as well 2hrs 25mins= Win Win!!!
Needs more girls in the team but Im excited to see what Joss Whedon does with it :)
Screw uni tests. Im so watching this on the 1st screening!!
Might have to rewatch all their other movies before this one.
mean ! :)
@evldna - yep, tickets on sale now at Event, Hoyts, Reading and independent cinemas.
Definitely checking it out. I think Dark Knight Rises will kill it though. Nolan > Whedon
watching it on 25 apr. cool release date is on a holiday
damm she is good. can't wait to see it :-)
THIS IS AWESOME
MINE
Looking forward to this, but agree with Bluestar that Dark Knight Rises will be better!
Why? Why would these men fight? Can't they just get along? Be Wednesday next week already!
love it!!
I just wet my pants with excitement
AWESOME! Tony gets headbutted by Thor! So far every clip is a ten!
WOW all the clips look awesome. Thank goodness it gets released on a public holiday =)
GO THOR!! hehe
Hah, its like batman and superman all over again. Superman should win but batman does. Annoying.
I can't wait to see the movie :) AWESOME
AWESOME MOVIE
are we able to buy tickets on line, any1?
Seeing that today!
My bro's bday today!!
saw it last night, absolutely amazing, a must see
Absolutely amazing!! Hot male characters! (Thor and Captain American:) ) Awsome action scenes! A definite must see!!
Hulk Smash!! Very very cool and slick. Its like reading a comic on screen! Yeeahhh Boi!
Clench up, Legolas!
Stink, there was no Batman.
of course there was no batman.. he is DC, this is Marvel.
Where is the Trailer?
MAUSALIII!!!!!!!@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO
So excited... seeing it tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Going to see it again
Need to see it Again
Puny God.
awsome hulk
i so want t o take my boys to this...
My gf went to this movie with someone else :(
You'fdahhhhhhhhhhhhhhe got 140 characters...go!
TO MUCH DRAME AND NOT ENOUGH ACTION
I MENT DRAMA