stevinmarshall

Combining Captain Marvel (from the previous film), Ms Marvel (from the tv series) and Captain Rambeau (the newbie) was going to be a gamble from the start. Being the shortest MCU film to date, the action moves along at a brisk pace and the "power swapping" aspect was handled well. The story is both a follow on from Captain Marvel and Secret Invasion (kinda).

Iman Vellani is a joy as Kamala Khan/Ms Marvel, geeking out about being close to her hero, Carol Danvers. The film was obviously written to appeal to the tween audience that Ms Marvel appeals to but thats not necessarily a bad thing.

Samuel L. Jackson is great (isn't he always) but underused. Nick Fury's role in the Avengers seems to be a bit vague.

While not the best MCU film by a long shot, it is miles better than the train wreck that was Thor: Love and Thunder. Or, for that matter, Thor: The Dark World.

It's time for the MCU to start making strides to build momentum again, after the emotional double-whammy of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Those 2 films set the bar so high, others feel like they are not evel close when they should be setting up a bar of their own.

This pointless remake lacks any of the excitement or thrills that the original had. It swerves so far away from the source material that it may have benefitted from a different name and Zach Efron has ZERO chemistry with either his characters wife or daughter. Less Firestarter, more fizzle.

Marvel studios took a leap of faith in handing this project to the brilliant Joss Whedon. After all, his only other film that got a cinema release (Serenity) failed to even recoup its budget at the box office. They must have seen something in him, though, because this film is, in every sense of the word, Epic!

It could so easily have just been Iron Man And His Sidekicks, but Whedon's fine grasp of characters gives everyone involved their fair share of screen time without the film dragging for a second. Tony Stark / Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) is all cock-sure and swagger. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is every inch the demi-god that has Earth "under his protection". Steve Rogers / Captain America (Chris Evans) is a man so far out of his own time he feels alien to the world he now lives in. Most enigmatic of the group is Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansen), who is a master manipulator and reveals only as much as she wants you to know, and Cliff Barton / Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) who is both mentor and partner to her. Their history is one that needs its own film!

The real joy of the piece, though, is Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / The Hulk. Banner lives an isolated life, barely keeping "the other guy" in check, when Nick Fury sends Black Widow to recruit him. In a nice twist, it is Banner who is needed, not Hulk. Ruffalo is, by far and with all due respect to Eric Bana and Ed Norton, the best Banner AND Hulk to date and is given 2 of the films most memorable moments.

Tom Middleston chews up the scenery as Loki, every bit as evil as Thor is good, with a plan for each of The Avengers in turn.

Samuel L Jackson is given more to do as Nick Fury than ever before. He is the master control of The Avengers Initiative, so confident in each of his heroes he is willing to defy orders from his superiors.

Visually stunning with great character developments, awesome special effects and a breathtaking pace, you never feel the 2 hr 10 minute running time. Popcorn will be left behind as you laugh and cheer through this ride.

With the obligatory Stan Lee Cameo (although he is not the best cameo in the film) and Joss Whedon's trademark sucker-punch both in place, Avengers Assemble (as it is known in the UK) is by far the best superhero film to date.

And the sequel? Will someone please put Joss Whedon on retainer? Now!