"The Avengers" review by Chris, Illustration by Tim

            There are hundreds of ways to approach a review of "The Avengers," but the most important aspect of this film is its potential to influence movies and the super hero genre as a whole. Rarely has something of this scope been attempted by Hollywood. The concept of bringing together four distinct super hero franchises into one movie that encompasses them all and more is daunting. If done correctly, this film could inspire many more like it, and change the way Hollywood functions, but if it fails it could stop anything like it from happening again.

            Luckily, Director Joss Whedon was more then up to the task. He honors each of the original five movies without lingering too long on any one. The film’s focus is on how the team interacts and slowly grows together. Whether it's the lack of communication or clashing personalities, it is clear early on that none of the heroes are going to be instant best friends. Their arguments help each character grow as a team, but also supply the humor of the film. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) is particularly hilarious, and hopefully this level of comedic writing will transfer into his next film.

            But never you fear: this film isn't all about drama and character interaction either. The fights are plentiful and diverse. Each character gets a chance to shine in battle, bringing their unique styles and personalities into play. Captain America's (Chris Evans) amazing agility is spectacularly over the top, and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) brings a brutality the others can't match. Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is the only one left out of the spot light, but during the final fight he's entertaining enough to make you wonder what Marvel will do with him next.

            "The Avengers" isn't without it's minor flaws. There’s a not unexpected reliance on knowledge of the past films that may leave newcomers confused. All of the heroes get their moment, but none change drastically for better or worse. The comedy, although brilliantly written, is almost non-stop and comes from all sides at once, making it a bit much at points. But my gripes with this film are few and far between, and none of them keep it from being fantastic.

            Only time will tell if "The Avengers" succeeded at changing the way the genre works, but it proved the potential is there. Stellar acting, an amazing script and brilliant direction make this one of the best superhero action films to date. Fans, nerds and regular Joes get more than they could ever ask for, and I personally can't wait to see what's next.

            4.5 “Super Heroes” out of 5

Written by Chris

Edited by Aaron

Illustration by Tim

"Captain America: The First Avenger" review by Chris, Illustration by Tim

This summer someone in Hollywood seems obsessed with making movies about super heroes whose comics I haven’t read. And so enters, "Captain America: The First Avenger." Is this Marvel’s newest super hero masterpiece, or just another prelude to “The Avengers?”

Don't let the "First Avenger" part of the title scare you. This movie is all about Captain America. The Avenger part is only at the beginning and end to create a framework for the coming "Avengers" movie. The remaining film length is spent following Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) in his growth from a weakling wannabe warrior to the embodiment of America. For the first hour he barely sees any action, but these movie minutes are far from wasted. His dedication to freedom pushes him into overcoming adversity and learning to control his abilities. He soon becomes a hero everyone can root for.

Helping him on his journey is Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), who sees the hero he can be from the very beginning. Even when Steve disappoints her, she stands by his side and ends up unwittingly inspiring him to become the hero the world desperately needs. Standing in his way is Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving), also known as the Red Skull. His villainous plots rival those of the Nazis he works for. The Red Skull becomes the embodiment of pure evil, making him the perfect counterpart to Captain America.

Evans, Atwell and Weaving create a solid core for this film to revolve around. Joining them is Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci and Dominic Cooper, who all deserve mention for their performances. Although Evans could have progressed Steve as a character without them, these side characters are what give the movie heart and soul, and create the world that Steve inhabits. They do such a great job that it's disappointing that the Avengers movie takes place seventy years later because consequently, this is their only chance to shine.

Captain America stories have felt dated for years. His best moments take place during WW2 or when he's alongside the Avengers. The creators seem aware of this, and the script takes a wartime film approach with comic book style dialogue. Don't expect the same non-stop wit of earlier marvel films — although there is plenty of humor to keep you smiling, this movie is all about Steve’s personal growth.

Everything isn't perfect with this latest Avenger epic. The action is well crafted and the Captain America’s unique shield fighting style works well on screen, but the balance of story and action is off. The first half of the film is extremely story heavy causing the second half to be mostly action. Many of the battle scenes feel unnecessarily long or unnecessary. Beyond that over compensation, the overall action is solid. There are a few moments of poor pacing and random cuts that slow the film down. It also seems like the inclusion of many traditional Captain America characters comes down to fan service and adds to the overall length of the film.

"Captain America: The First Avenger" is a solid addition to Marvel’s movie portfolio. It has a great story, exciting action and a hero for the ages. Its sprinkling of flaws keeps the movie from becoming the next big comic movie, but it's still a must see for fans of super heroes, action, or fun action films.

I give it four "Star Shields" out of five.

Written by Chris
Edited by Aaron

"Thor" Review by Chris, Illustration by Tim

First let me say that I don't like the "Thor" comics. As a series, "Thor" is filled with mythology and terminology that many aren't familiar with. Can the movie adaptation balance out a deep history with accessibility?

If it isn't obvious, "Thor" is about the god of thunder, Thor, and his banishment to Earth (sometimes called “Midgard”) to learn what is needed to be a king. Here he meets Jane Foster and he gains a new perspective on life. Although most of Thor's scenes take place on Midgard, a significant amount of the story is also spent in Asgard, the world of the gods. Loki, Thor's adopted brother, uses his brother’s absence to gain power and take his father's throne. The multi-world story telling helps make Thor relatable as a character, while also keeping the viewer abreast of changes in Asgard.

The visuals of "Thor" are different for each of the explored worlds, but all of them are a treat. The glowing magnificence of Asgard and its rainbow bridge shows the godly world Thor is used to. Asgard’s glory is balanced out by the vast emptiness of the New Mexico deserts of Midgard. The ice world of Niffleheim is dark and practically screams evil. The battles are brilliantly coordinated, and no motion feels wasted. Sadly, none of these visuals are enhanced by the 3D effect. A few shots gain amazing depth from 3D, but the majority will make you wish you hadn't spent the extra money.

Chris Hemsworth is the living embodiment of Thor. He looks and feels exactly like comic book super hero, but with modern touches to keep him accessible for new audiences. Natalie Portman as Jane Foster is a strong balance for Thor, but doesn't have the same depth as a character. Tom Hiddleston and Anthony Hopkins as Loki and Odin respectively keep the events in Asgard heart wrenching, even after the main character departs. Hiddleston creates a unique villain, finding a balance of simple mischievousness and true evil. Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings and Clark Gregg fill out the human cast and keep information and humor flowing.

The movie keeps close to Thor's source material, and makes small changes to modernize it. The biggest change is the removal of Thor's human counterpart Donald Blake. Blake had no knowledge of being Thor and had to use a stick to transform into the god. Though fans might be angered by this change, it wouldn't have worked in the film. Fans will get plenty of hidden references in exchange, such as a cameo from Hawkeye and the Cosmic Cube. The humor heavily plays off Thor's lack of knowledge of Midgard, but about half the jokes are based on pop culture and probably won't stand the test of time.

"Thor" hasn't converted me to a fan, and I still can't recommend the comic books, but the movie is entertaining, and anyone can enjoy it. Its references to the approaching "Avengers" movie are light, keeping the focus on a solid origin story. If you like comic books or Norse mythology this movie will speak to you more, but it can be enjoyed by all.

I give it 4 "Mjolnir hammers" out of 5!

Written By Chris
Edited by Aaron
Illustration by Tim