The Avengers (2012)

Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army.

Director:

Joss Whedon

Writers:

Joss Whedon (screenplay), Zak Penn (story),

Stars:

Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson

Top 250 #145 | Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 59 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Tony Stark / Iron Man
Chris Evans	...	Steve Rogers / Captain America
Mark Ruffalo	...	Bruce Banner / The Hulk
Chris Hemsworth	...	Thor
Scarlett Johansson	...	Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
Jeremy Renner	...	Clint Barton / Hawkeye
Tom Hiddleston	...	Loki
Clark Gregg	...	Agent Phil Coulson
Cobie Smulders	...	Agent Maria Hill
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Selvig
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Nick Fury
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Pepper Potts
Paul Bettany	...	Jarvis (voice)
Alexis Denisof	...	The Other
Tina Benko	...	NASA Scientist

Storyline

Nick Fury is director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency. The agency is a who's who of Marvel Super Heroes, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster.

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Plot Keywords:

Thor | Shield | Captain | Captain America | Army | 

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Genres:

Action

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook [gb]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

4 May 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Marvel's The Avengers

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$220,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$207,438,708 (USA) (4 May 2012)

Gross:

$623,279,547 (USA) (28 September 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

143 min

Sound Mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital (Dolby Surround 7.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders's co-star from How I Met Your Mother, suggested to director Joss Whedon that he get Smulders to read for the part of Maria Hill. Hannigan had also worked with Whedon on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

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Goofs

During the final battle, Iron Man explodes a "Leviathan" - one of the big Chitauri monsters - from the inside, labeling his attack 'Jonah-style'. He falls and hits a cab, which stops him. The camera angle then changes, and the cab is nowhere to be seen.

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Quotes

[first lines]
The Other: The Tesseract has awakened. It is on a little world. A human world. They would wield its power, but our ally knows its workings as they never will. He is ready to lead. And our force, our Chitauri, will follow. The world will be his. The universe yours. And the humans, what can they do but burn?

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Crazy Credits

SPOILER: There is a scene part way through credits: Marvel Character Thanos appears with The Other by his side. They are both looking down on Planet Earth with Thanos smiling, stating that they underestimated Earth.

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Connections

Referenced in Mad: Super 80's/Captain America's Got Talent (2011)
Mark Ruffalo mentions being the third actor to play the Hulk in a movie.

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Soundtracks

"Black Dirt"
Written by Emile Millar, Michael Baiardi, and Mick Flowers
Performed by Emile Millar
Produced by Michael Baiardi
Courtesy of Soundfile Productions Inc.

User Reviews

A Comic Book Triumph!

I was lucky enough to be included in the group to see the advanced screening in Melbourne on the 15th of April, 2012. And, firstly, I need to say a big thank-you to Disney and Marvel Studios.

Now, the film... how can I even begin to explain how I feel about this film? It is, as the title of this review says a 'comic book triumph'. I went into the film with very, very high expectations and I was not disappointed.

Seeing Joss Whedon's direction and envisioning of the film come to life on the big screen is perfect. The script is amazingly detailed and laced with sharp wit a humor. The special effects are literally mind-blowing and the action scenes are both hard-hitting and beautifully choreographed.

While all of these things (script, action, special effects and so on and so forth) are important... it's no good having them spot on if you don't have a cast that just isn't right. But fortunately, for fans and for the actors involved, Whedon's cast not only work brilliantly together but are perfectly comfortable wailing on each other and threatening each other all day and night.

The actors' performances in "Marvel's The Avengers" are simply captivating and there are many instances where we get a glimpse further into their characters pasts and innermost feelings. Robert Downey Jr. will have you in stitches. Scarlett Johansson will have you staring in disbelief as she winds her way through sticky situations. And Tom Hiddleston will have you simply shaking in your seat with fear.

All in all, Marvel's The Avengers is a visual delight and I cannot wait to see it again, and again, and again. Marvel fans will not be disappointed, and something tells me that most of you will agree with me wholeheartedly.

The Avengers, assembled and awe-inspiring. Ten out of ten.