“If we can’t protect the Earth, you can be damned well sure we’ll avenge it.”~Iron Man, The Avengers
The Avengers, one of the most highly anticipated superhero films of the twenty-first century, has certainly received as much hype as it deserved. The movie has been hinted at over the past few years, with certain Marvel Comics movies adding in the entry of an unknown persona named Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, immediately following the credits.
The crew was comprised of the man-machine hybrid, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), supersoldier Captain America, (Chris Evans), The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Asgardian god, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), master assassin, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and quiver king, Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). This team of superheroes packs a heavy punch against the forces of Loki, exiled brother of Thor, who threatens to rule the Earth and enslave all of mankind.
The plot of the movie is formed around the efforts of Loki in retrieving the stolen artifact known as the Tesseract, which could bring in a galactic army large enough to rule the entire world. After each of the heroes is gathered up, their cooperation with each other and with the organization they are employed by, SHIELD, is rocky at best. Arguments break out, causing each hero to act on his own and even against each other; coupled with a surprise attack launched by Loki, the Avengers appear to be divided and conquered.
But a good superhero movie can’t end this way. After an epiphany from each member that their motives and differences mean nothing compared to the necessary defense of the entire planet, they get back together and stand united against a massive wave of galactic troops, the size of which the Earth has never seen before. Iron Man, constantly bashed throughout both Iron Man and Iron Man 2 as well as this movie as the self-centered billionaire who refuses to play with others, goes in for a suicidal run, planning to nuke the other side of space while the gateway is still open and using himself as a necessary sacrifice. His last-second fall back to Earth leaves each Avengers member intact, and the world safe.
The end? Not for those who stayed to watch the after-credits scene, displaying the outerworld messenger who corresponded with Loki as an unknown and unnamed figure. Many may wonder who this dark figure is, but fans of the Avengers know that it is Thanos, notorious Marvel villain who represents death. The appearance of Thanos at the end of the film suggests that there will be a sequel in which Thanos tries to accomplish what Loki failed to do, and crush the Avengers who foiled his plans for the domination of Earth.
The Avengers, according to boxofficemojo.com, is officially the highest grossing film of all time for its opening weekend. Don’t forget to see your favorite superheroes fight side-by-side in theaters, and get some Shawarma after.