Hey – what’s up largest grossing opening weekend of all time? I mean, what’s two hundred million dollars to a boss? The Avengers had an amazing level of hype. Marvel didn’t just put advertisements into print, television and online… they made movies to promote this beast. The success of Iron Man was a game changer. The sequel as well as the Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America movies brought upon a campaign previously unrivaled. You had to expect that The Avengers be pretty amazing. But was it over hyped?
Maybe. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It delivered on many levels. I’m a long time fan of the Hulk and to see him as more than a glorified Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde remake was a long time coming. The banter between the heroes and their inability to get along, especially between the Cap and Tony Stark played out well on screen. One pivotal scene shows a Mexican standoff on steroids between our team of heroes and it is brilliant.
However, for the past couple of weeks, everywhere I turned, it was The Avengers. The foreign market got the movie a week before the United States, so I had to dodge spoilers from my Australian/European friends on Facebook. That wasn’t so bad. I had to be reminded via a rap song by Ripynt titled “Avengers Assemble” that kept showing up on my Twitter feed. That was cool too, I suppose. But I also chose to wait until after opening weekend, because I hate squeezing into a crowded theater.
By the time I sat down, I had pretty much fell victim to the hype machine. I was expecting the best ever. I wish I hadn’t. I wish I could have just stumbled upon the film. I really wish I wasn’t groomed to be in that seat, because I expected greatness. I can’t lie. It was great. It wasn’t a game changer for me like Kick-Ass or Sin City. It didn’t deliver the drama of The Watchmen or The Dark Knight… but what it did bring, it brought bigger and better.
The fan service was unparalleled. There wasn’t a dull moment. I will even see it again in theaters, I’m sure. I just got so hyped over the buildup, part of me expected to leave that theater a superhero. And sadly to say, I’m no Phoenix Jones. I did bust the lenses out of my 3D glasses and walked around the rest of the day as Clark Kent though. That was fun.
Required Snacking: The Avengers goes the distance. At nearly two and a half hours of nonstop action, you’re going to need to stock up. Get something sweet, maybe some Junior Mints. Get some popcorn, extra butter because extra is flavor too. And get a large drink. Who cares if you finish it. You don’t want to leave for any reason during the movie. So maybe scratch the large drink if you’ve got a tiny bladder. Just be prepared to sink into the flick from start to finish. You can always skip the concession stands and get a post-movie shawarma.