The Avengers: **SPOILERS**

Just got back from a midnight showing of The Avengers, am so freaking in love with this movie!

My particular showing had previews for Expendables 2 (Chuck Norris AND Van Damme? VAN DAMME STRAIGHT IMMA SEE THIS MOVIE), Frankenweenie, Dark Knight Rises, some cop movie with Jake Gyllenhal, something called Prometheus, and that Dictator Sasha Baron-Cohen flick. The first 3 listed are the only ones I really want to see. There was another one I think but I can't remember it OH WELL.

EDIT: GAH IT WAS THE SPIDEY TRAILER I KIND OF WANT TO SEE IT EVEN THOUGH I'M STILL AGAINST IT.

TL;DWTR (Too Long;Didn't Want To Read): Great movie, highly recommend it, see it. SEE IT NOW. Don't forget the mid-credit and end credit scenes!

Everyone else who doesn't mind spoilers, here's a basic run-down because I don't actually want to give too much away. Yes. It is that good. You need to see it for yourselves!

Story: I would have expected nothing less than a potential global -perhaps even universal- disaster to bring a team of mighty heroes such as the Avengers together. We're slowly introduced to our Avengers, first to Widow, Hawkeye, and then Bruce Banner/Hulk, which makes the most sense since 1. they were not major characters with their own movies already so we want to be introduced to the "new" guys and B. because what movies a certain character already had were...less than favorably remembered.

Loki, having survived his fall from Asgard (LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY) teams up with an alien race known as the Cha'tari(?) in an attempt to take over the world and rule it from on high using the ever-powerful force known as the Tessarect (aka THE ODINDAMN COSMIC CUBE). (I can be mistaken but I think they are the Kree from the comics, but with their own species name like how we call ourselves Humans but aliens would call us Earthlings or something.) Naturally, SHIELD gets the Avengers together to be, er, the Avengers and through tons of manipulation and action scenes, manage to win the day.

Now, this is just my opinion, but from what I can tell, the movie seems very well-balanced with so many characters to introduce and get to know on screen in such a short period of time. Everyone gets at least 1 funny line, 1 emotional scene, and 1 great action/fight scene. Now I say at LEAST 1 of each for all of them because some do get more than others. I mean, jeez, RDJ as Stark always steals the scene anyway, am I right? But otherwise, it's never JUST Stark or JUST Cap or JUST Thor or JUST anyone else. Everyone gets, for the most part, equal screen time. If ever DC can get their Odindamn act together to make a JLA movie, Avengers is a fantastic example of how to do an ensemble movie right.

Casting: Oh like I need to really fill in this space, do I? Everyone who was anyone in the Iron Man, Thor, and Cap movies comes back and knocks it out of the Odindamn ballpark.

I would like to point out the appearance of Colbie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, which was unexpected because I didn't realize she was going to be in it, let alone to be one of Fury's right-hand men for the whole movie. Now, if I remember correctly, Agent Hill is actually Spanish in the Marvel-verse, so I'm not sure how I feel about Smulders playing her. On one hand it sucks that a PoC character got white-washed, but on the other hand I think she did a fantastic job in the role. I'm going the naive route and think that she got the job simply because she was a great fit for the role.

SHE CERTAINLY WAS A GREAT FIT IN THAT BODY SUIT A-HUR-HUR-HUR.

Costumes/Designs: Again, not much to say here...for the heroes at least. I am kinda really digging the look they went with for the Cha'tari/Kree weapons and armor.

Special Effects/3D: Now, I am a known advocate against 3D in movies, and I was forced to watch it this time, I still stand by my views. There are a few fight scenes in shadow that don't pop as much as they should and maybe it was because there simply was too much action going on but I stop noticing the effects after awhile.

The action scenes are not only intense but extremely well done. There are some great moves to be seen and the coordination/choreography was pretty spot on. To say this was a decent action flick would be to do it an immense injustice.

Easter Eggs/Everything else: Not too many Easter eggs to be noticed this time around, but I did try to catch them where I could.

The beginning of Avengers tower at the end.

Stan Lee's cameo was quick, and near the end, but it was a good one!

Agent Phil Coulson's last stand...he went out like the Avenger I knew he was meant to be. I guess because he helped bring them together they *sniffle* didn't *sob* NEED HIM ANYMORE *full on wailing*

The Odindamn Hellicarrier! I figured that was the Triskelion they blew up in the beginning (aka the Ultimate-verse version of SHIELD headquarters) but I was not expecting them to bring in the Hellicarrier (the Marvel-verse version of SHIELD headquarters). I was seriously so freaking happy to see it rise out of the ocean like it did. So much love.

The Hulk. Just...seriously, I can't decide which scene to love with him in it. The Space-whale punch. The Thor sucker-punch. The confrontation with Loki. THE GRIN ON HIS FACE WHEN CAP TELLS HIM TO SMASH. When he saves Iron Man mid-fall. When he "revives" Tony after said fall. NAKED RUFFALO. He's another scene stealer.

AND FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT INFO OF ALL...THE MID AND END CREDITS SCENES!

Mid-Credits: We get a sneak peek at what the Avengers will be fighting next...Thanos. I smell the Infinity Gauntlet saga a'brewing.

End Credits: I refuse to describe it more than as what the Avengers do after the battle for New York and the world has ceased. It is too perfect to spoil. Unless it's on youtube and even then DON'T. It is far better after watching the movie.

Loki/Avengers (c) Marvel