4 1/2 Stars

Rating: Null/10 (23 September 2013)

Review
Joss Whedon is often jokingly referred to as "God of the Nerds" but his title is apt considering his ludicrously extensive experience in the so-called "geek" genre. The creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly, Joss Whedon has been knee-deep in the nerd world since he began directing and writing in 1997. A widely popular aficionado of the comic book world, he has been known for his unique characters, stories, and usage of cheap practical effects instead of heavy CGI; though he is an accomplished director, it still came as a welcome surprise for comic book fans everywhere when he was chosen to direct the comic-book movie of a lifetime: Marvel's The Avengers.
Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Iron Man: these are The Avengers, Earth's Mightiest Heroes. It was the opportunity of a lifetime for Marvel to undertake the daunting endeavor of bringing all these well-known heroes together in one feature film. This type of movie had never been made before; it consisted of a legion of famous actors that all had to be balanced perfectly with an interesting plot with running over each other or crowding the big screen. When Marvel announced in July of 2010, fanboys everywhere breathed a collective sigh of relief. Of course, there was some doubt due to his inexperience with such strong actors and a huge budget, but Joss Whedon, of all people, was going to get it right.
The creator of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog promised a spectacular show, and he delivered with compliments. The Avengers went on to be one of the top grossing films of all time, shattering records by flimsy franchises such as Harry Potter, Twilight, and Titanic. The Avengers received praise from a wealth of critics, highlighting the powerful storytelling, camaraderie between actors, special effects, and intense actions sequences that paid homage to its heavy comic book origins while remaining grounded in reality. I personally have seen the fil over seven times and each time I notice new nuances in the plot and little "easter eggs", or special treats a director inserts into a film that only true believers notice. Unlike anything ever done before, The Avengers blends dozens of famous actors into an engaging plot full of action that is contrasted by the subtle points of human reflection and punctuated by brilliant special effects and superb acting. Yes, Joss Whedon promised a comic-book movie like never before, and he surpassed even my expectations. In truth, this masterpiece of pop culture and cinematography leaves only one thing left to say: Avengers Assemble!