Maybe I'm just getting too old for this stuff.... I miss the pre-CGI days of Superhero movies. I have fond memories of Christopher Reeve in SUPERMAN, Michael Keaton in BATMAN, and even Lynda Carter as television's WONDER WOMAN. I still think the greatest superhero movie ever made was 1978's original SUPERMAN THE MOVIE. Great cast, incredible script, and fabulous effects for it's time. I have seen and enjoyed all of the recent movies that led up to THE AVENGERS. I enjoyed both IRON MAN films, liked THOR, endured both HULK outings, and waited thru the endless end credits to see Samuel L. Jackson make his 30 second appearance to remind all of us of this 2012 blockbuster. I just wish the final result was better. It's not bad, it's just dull. The exposition is absolutely endless and until the 90 minute mark, I was bored to death. The final 45 minutes are outstanding and the entire movie should have had that same excitement and wonder. Robert Downey Jr is clearly the best actor of the group and the screenwriter clearly knows that. I never go into one of these movies expecting a script by Pinter or Albee, but this screenplay is especially bad. The plot just isn't exciting and the villain that we already suffered thru in THOR isn't interesting or evil enough to sustain suspense for two and a half hours. Plus, aren't we bored with seeing Manhattan destroyed in these movies? Aren't we tired of seeing innocent New Yorkers running down a street with a huge fireball chasing them destroying all of the cars in its path? Yawn. It's time for a change of location for these films. Jeremy Renner makes the most of his biceps and his screen time as does Scarlett Johannson who looks gorgeous. Mark Ruffalo is the best Banner yet out of the three live action Hulks and Chris Hemsworth does admirable work as Thor. However, the bad dialogue is made even worse coming out of Samuel L. Jackson's mouth. Yikes, he is awful here. But look, I know we go to these movies for sheer escapism and fun. I just didn't find THE AVENGERS particularly fun. It is excruciatingly slow until the final big battle and since that's what the majority of the audience is there for, they will forgive THE AVENGERS huge and many shortcomings.
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