Earlier this year, I wrote a series of blogs detailing my favourite films that I watched last year – both those released last year, as well as those released before that I saw for the first time. I would like to take this time to make a very humble apology to a tremendously huge film that dominated 2012 – The Avengers.
I’m so sorry I didn’t mention you, Avengers, in either of my lists. I’m so sorry I didn’t give you an honourable mention, or a mention at all. I’m so, so sorry.
My girlfriend and I watched this movie for the third time the other week and we both sat there, still blown away by the awesomeness that embedded each scene. I would be very willing to state that The Avengers wasn’t just one of the best superhero movies of all time, but one of the best action films too. The film is so well crafted, very well written, at times absolutely hilarious; but the real marvel of this film was the fact that it was decent at all.
I mean, did we really expect it to be as good as it really was? When you really think about it, did we really expect it to exceed our expectations, integrate the multiple characters organically and make the Hulk not only an interesting character, but the ensemble darkhorse? I’m serious, try to remember your thoughts before you saw the film – did you really expect it to be as awesome as it turned out to be.
There are plenty of films that tried to do too much and ended up going too over the top or falling too flat. The Avengers hit it right on the mark, it sat exactly where it needed to be. Where we needed it to be.
I think that trying to compare The Avengers with the other superhero giant that came out last year – The Dark Knight Rises – would be unfair to both films, as they were attempting to do different things, and they both achieved things that the other didn’t. My love for Nolan’s film is well documented and I stand by my decision to name it my second favourite film of last year, but it did have faults, and it did have some faults that The Avengers managed to overcome.
What The Avengers did was capture my attention and entertain me for the entire run time, it portrayed all of the characters in an interesting and faithful way and didn’t turn it into ‘The Robert Downey Jr and Friends Hour’ which it very well could have been (some could argue that Iron Man got a bit more attention than others, but I felt that it was quite well balanced).
Honestly, I still can’t get over the fact that they actually did it. And from what I recall, a lot of reviewers felt the same. I’m actually excited about the fact that there’s a sequel coming! I never get excited about sequels (well… except for the aforementioned Rises… and all the other sequels I get excited for… shut up).
So here is my heartfelt apology, The Avengers, I hope you find it in yourself to forgive me.
If only I could forgive myself.
Crazy is Perfect 