Without a doubt, this is my new favorite film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Here's how I’d rank them: 1. The Avengers 2. Iron Man 3. Thor 4. Captain America 5. Iron Man 2 6. The Incredible Hulk I had the chance to see this movie in Sydney almost three weeks before its American release, at a special advance screening for fans and a few critics. My friend HRV and I drove up and back on a day trip, spending over $400 between us…and it was absolutely worth every penny. I think my expectations for *The Avengers* were probably too high. Even so, I feel like the movie almost managed to live up to them. Nearly all of the worries I had about this big production disappeared completely. Initially, I was concerned about Mark Ruffalo taking over the role of The Hulk/Bruce Banner after Edward Norton’s departure following his first appearance. Those concerns were entirely unfounded; Mark Ruffalo delivers a Marvel hero who is at least as good. In terms of pure entertainment, *The Avengers* represents an incredible achievement. At the screening I attended, I missed several lines because the entire cinema was laughing uncontrollably at some classic humor from Joss Whedon (Director - *Buffy*, *Angel*, *Firefly*, *Dollhouse*). The interactions between these larger-than-life characters aren’t quite as strong as those in Jon Favreau's *Iron Man* and *Iron Man 2*, but overall, they are among the best I’ve ever seen. The only real shortcomings I can think of are fairly minor and might be addressed in future MCU installments. First, Thor’s return to Earth (which was visually dramatic and impressive) felt a bit weak in terms of explanation. However, it's not a *Thor* movie, so we don't need all the details. There's also a good chance we’ll learn more about those early scenes in next year’s *Thor 2*. Secondly, Loki’s army seemed rather underwhelming. For those familiar with Marvel lore, I won’t spoil anything by saying who they are supposed to be, but generally, the entire army felt like a simple obstacle used to fill out scenes where The Avengers get to fight. It was an enjoyable part of the film, but it didn't really advance the plot much. I honestly can’t think of a way to adequately express how important it is that you see this movie in cinemas. For those who understand me, you know I intensely dislike Blu-Ray technology. Yet, I am going to buy a Blu-Ray player, an HD television, and some Blu-Ray discs just so I can get more special features when *The Avengers* comes out. I’ve never even considered doing something like that before. *The Avengers* doesn't invade your mind in the same way as films like *Revolver* or *Donnie Darko*, nor does it stir up nostalgic violence like *Doomsday* or *Outpost*. Instead, it touches your heart and leaves you wanting more—needing more. Long live the MCU! 90% -Gimly

Source on TMDB