Expansive superhero teams present filmmakers with a unique
challenge. It’s hard enough to tell the
story of a single character. Trying to sufficiently
handle a group of said characters can be a logistical nightmare. How does one divvy up the screen time in a
way that appeases general audiences and remains true to the source
material? How can multiple subplots and
characters arcs be organized into something resembling a coherent and streamlined
story? Logically, the most popular
and/or marketable characters will take center stage while the others are
relegated to the background. Such
problems have plagued both the X-Men
and Fantastic Four film franchises to
varying degrees. In the face of such
odds, Marvel Studios presses on with the grand experiment that is The Avengers, the most ambitious production
of its kind thus far.
The Avengers is,
of course, the massive superhero team that consists of Marvel’s most
recognizable characters. Nick Fury
(Samuel L. Jackson) recruits Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris
Hemsworth), Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), and Clint
Barton (Jeremy Renner) to be a part of the “Avengers Initiative.” Operating under the close supervision S.H.I.E.L.D,
the Avengers defend the earth from all manner of threats, be they superhuman, supernatural,
or extraterrestrial. They must also
learn to work together effectively as team.
This just might prove impossible, seeing as how their divergent powers,
backgrounds, and temperaments make for a truly volatile mix.
Joss Whedon has been entrusted with bringing this superhero
ensemble to the big screen. That’s no
small honor, considering the sheer weight of the undertaking. This Herculean effort represents the
culmination of Marvel Studios collective efforts over the past few years. Pretty much every film they have released
since May of 2008 has been leading up to this.
Iron Man was a runaway success while The Hulk, Thor and Captain America
enjoyed relatively modest returns by comparison. Now that all of these characters are
appearing in the same film, it will be interesting to see just how each ones
mythos will be incorporated into the overall mix. Three characters are firmly grounded in
sci-fi and superhero lore, while one is a transplant from Norse mythology.
The trailer reveals a film that seems to have been
constructed by a fairly steady hand clasping firmly on a short leash. The visual style isn’t particularly distinct,
nor does it seek to maintain fidelity with that of previous Marvel Studios
films. Visually it exists in a sort of
limbo that makes up the nucleus of the Marvel cinematic Universe. The scale is visible right from the
outset. A series of explosions carpet
bomb a Manhattan street, flipping cars like dominoes. The pyrotechnic
display starts at the furthest end of the street and progresses forward towards
the camera. Interior shots of
industrialized military bases and so forth are shown. Everything has an angular, detailed air to it. Each character is revealed in strobe-like
montage fashion. They are then shown
during combat reveling in large scale destruction while saving the earth.
The Avengers looks
and feels very calculated, as though it was conceived as a decisive military
strike instead of a summer blockbuster.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it shows that Marvel means for
this film to be a resounding success.
Nothing is being left to chance.
There will be ample amounts of large scale action and a superhuman brand
of heroism. Still, it’s slightly
troubling how precise and regimented this trailer feels. Iron
Man and Thor were informed by their
main characters respective personalities.
They carved out their own niche while still seeming part of a larger
whole. It’s reassuring to know that Joss
Whedon and company are taking this seriously, but one hopes they allowed
themselves to have at least a little fun along the way.
Click here to view the trailer over at apple.com.
Click here to view the trailer over at apple.com.
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