Matty's Movies: The Avengers

I have seen the best movie of the year... so far. And it's going to be really tough to knock this one off the top step.

That's right, "The Avengers" is fantastic. And barring an incredible film sneaking up from out of nowhere and punching me in the face (like last year's sneak-attack film "The Artist"), this movie will end up staying perched upon its pedestal, high above any other film.

Alright, sometimes I type without thinking. I know there will be other great films out there this year, (especially "The Dark Knight Rises") but in the heat of the review, I usually get emotional about the film I've just seen.

"The Avengers" has it all. Great actors, great acting, great story, (great movie previews) and great special F/X. If you're not getting my hint, this is a GREAT movie!

There's a lot to talk about, so just bear with me here.

The story is about an international peace-keeping agency called S.H.E.I.L.D. run by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). This agency holds a cube called the Tesseract, (it kind of looks like a glow-in-the-dark rubik's cube) which has so much energy and power in it, that an evil being from another realm named Loki (Tom Hiddleston) wants it for himself so he can control the planet.

When Loki steals the tesseract, Nick Fury decides to put "phase 7" into effect. What's "phase 7"? Well that's when a group of superheroes are called in to save the world.

The superheroes who are called in are: Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). When you put a supercrew together like this one, you can't lose, correct? Well, this is the first time that most of these people are meeting each other, and boy, do their personalities clash. Captain doesn't like Iron Man's sarcasm and rebeliousness. Hulk doesn't understand Thor at all. Thor is lost because he's from a different realm - Earth isn't even his home planet (Asgard is). Black Widow is a woman, so none of the guys understand her. And so on, and so on, and so on.

So instead of fighting Loki, who, mind you, is Thor's brother, (he's adopted) they are fighting with each other. This is exactly what Loki wanted, to divide and conquer. But remember, this is a movie, so it all eventually comes together and makes for a climactic finale.

What I really liked about this film was the dialogue between all the superheroes. The way they interacted with each other was both very interesting and, at times, very, very funny. I liked that Iron Man/Tony Stark liked to talk with Hulk/Bruce Banner because they were both of superior intellect. I liked that Captain America/Steve Rogers was a straight-laced soldier who stood for good and had a strong set of morals. I liked how Black Widow/Natasha Romanov could retrieve information from people by manipulating them during a random conversation... and I loved her leather suit. I liked whoever wrote this film... which was Joss Whedon (director) and Zak Penn.

Now, with so many huge-name actors in this film, you might think that one would step on another's foot. You know, maybe try to steal the film from the other big names. Not the case. This movie flowed from scene to scene with all the main characters getting what seemed to be evenly matched screen time. Eveybody had a skill and every skill was used. It was just magnificent.

This is a film that was rolled together from other films created before it. "Iron Man" 1 and 2, "Thor," "Hulk" and "The Incredible Hulk" and "Captain America" were all made in hopes that someday "The Avengers" would be made... and boy-oh-boy, am I glad they made it because it was the best two hours and 22 minutes I've had in the theatre in a long, long time. I went on opening day, in a packed theatre, and I'm telling you, when a great fight scene was going on, the audience was going, "Hoopie!" We were so excited! I love a theatre when it starts thumping like that. The last time it was that crazy in the theatre, I was seeing "Rocky IV." I'm still fired up about the movie, and all I'm doing is typing right now!

Okay, let's get to the most important question: Who was the best superhero? Well, I've asked a lot of my friends (novice movie reviewers) and many of them had different answers. A lot liked Iron Man for his witty sarcasm and his genius. A couple guys liked Captain America because he was a stand-up guy. A few of the girls liked Thor (I don't know why, but I think he kind of looks like me). But me, I LOVED THE HULK!!!

I liked the first two "Hulk" movies, but I don't think they were correctly cast. Eric Bana was good in the first one, but somewhat forgettable. Edward Norton was the Incredible Hulk in the second one, and as much as I like Ed Norton, (he is one of my top five actors of his generation, see "American History X" and "Fight Club") I just didn't love him in that role. They got it right in this movie casting Mark Ruffalo in the role. He plays it perfectly. Soft spoken and smart as hell, he delivers the goods in this film. He, and the special-effects team, that is.

Towards the end of the movie, the superheroes are telling Bruce Banner to hurry up and get angry. Banner says, "There's something you all don't know about me... I'm always angry, ROARRRRRRRRRR!" And he instantly turns into the Hulk and starts kicking arse! It was awesome! I was so pumped up I was punching the guy next to me! I didn't even know him.

I read competitors reviews on this film and they are all quite positive. The L.A. Times loved it, Entertainment Weekly loved it and The Boston Globe thought it was great. They gave it a whole 3 out of 4 stars! I don't know about you, but I think they should've given it 4 stars. That's why you must read my reviews, I'll tell it to you like it is! No one's going to chicken-wing me!

My favorite number is 33 because of Larry Bird, so my review of "The Avengers" on a scale of 1 to 33? I give it a PERFECT 33!

So there's your "seat apart" Reel Review, from a real, honest reviewer.

HULK SMASH!

Matty W. Kelley, Norwood Patch, reporting.

Fun Fact: Lou Ferrigno voices the Hulk in this film. He played the Hulk on the TV series.

Fun Matty Fact: When I was 19, I went to a Halloween party dressed as Captain America... I'd show you the picture, but I think my editor wouldn't allow it, seeing that I was only wearing red thong underwear and a rubber Captain America mask. But trust me, the chicks dug it.