What can be said that hasn't already? This is a big, big movie that veers uncomfortably throughout froom awesome to average.

Rating: 7/10 (21 May 2012)

Right. It's too long for a start. Way too long. Partly because director Joss Whedon has chosen to write 6back stories before the actual story begins. But when it does the effects are so off the scale as to mesmerise.
It's funny in parts. Ruffalo as The Hulk has all the comedy gasp out loud adventure moments but Thomas Downie Junior continues to build a body of light comedy work that's slowly making him "best in class". Scarlett Johansonn has an admirable ass but adds little other than that. Cobie Smulders is hot. And so is Gweyneth Paltrow.
The CGI and SFX as the "Aliens" invade New York in the final reel are the best I have ever seen. By a long way. The destruction of Manhattan is actually quite scary reminding us, as it does, of 9/11.
Cinematography by Seamus McGarvey, surely one of Edinburgh's great film exports (despite being an Ulsterman) is a career high of many highs.
Without the back stories this would have been little short of perfection. With them it's too long so gets a seven out of ten.