Film Review: Marvel's Avengers Assemble (2012)

Back when life was one big adventure...

One thing that many of you may not know about me is that growing up I was a ridonculous fan of all things Marvel. Comic books, action figures, cartoons... the whole shabang; I had it. So when word broke of the official UK release date for 'Marvel's Avengers Assemble' being this month I must say all of the childhood nostalgia came flushing back. 


Let's start with the basics...


UK Release Date: April 26th 2012


Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi


Age Certificate: 12 A


Run time: 2 h 22 min


Directed By: Joss Whedon


Written By: Joss Whedon, Zak Penn, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby


Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Jenny Agutter, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany & Robert Downey Jr.


Produced By: Kevin Feige

My Rating: 8.9/10

Still from movie: The Avengers mid-battle

Synopsis:

The story revolves around the traditional superhero theme: the Earth is in trouble and set to face certain doom without the help of a brave superhero or in this case superheroes. 

Headed by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), S.H.I.E.L.D is a secret organisation that even the FBI & CIA couldn't dictate orders to. A special agency with the sole task of protecting the World's security at all costs. So when even they proved out of their bounds with a sudden extraterrestrial attack, it was time to call on an elite team of superheroes.

Cue the Avengers; a collection of four of the most revered superheroes ever to grace the memories of children and adults alike across the globe: Captain America (Chris Evans); Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.); Thor (Chris Hemsworth) & The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). For good measure two of the worlds most deadliest assassins are also scrambled in to aid the fight for humanity played by Scarlett Johansson & Jeremy Renner. 

I have to say, with all of the hype surrounding this release I was very eager to see whether or not the real film would live up to the hysteria and I was pleasantly surprised to say it ruddy well did!

The first giveaway that the film was going to be good was that it was in 3D, the only thing better than seeing your favourite superheros kick the crap out of some alien pricks is seeing slimy alien blood splash onto the screen as they do it! :-D

Secondly, Scarlett Johansson. Need I even say more? She is easily one of the sexiest women in Hollywood so to see her playing a Russian spy turned American assassin instantly captivated my attention. Not only was she the main eye-candy but more importantly she played her character beautifully.  I must say although I know her suit was padded at the back, boy oh boy did she look great in it! 


Oh yeah!... I would!... THRICE!!!

Scarlett Johansson as 'Black Widow' #Phwoaar!

Anyways.... back to the film, (I often get distracted when I'm perving).


Comical Aspects:

The main thing that I like about the movie is that it actually isn't that cheesy in my opinion, the re-occurring theme is the battle of egos between the avengers (minus The Hulk) which only gets funnier as the movie goes on. In fact, comedy was an integral part of the reason why this film got such a high review, there are some real gems that pop up throughout the film that had me and the audience in stitches.

Engages & builds suspense:

Just when you think the film is about to draw to a satisfactory close and an definite sequel the film shifts it up a gear.

Haven't seen any or all of the respective films?

Don't worry- neither have I. With only previously watching Iron Man 1 & The Incredible Hulk (I didn't enjoy the latter btw), I wasn't sure if I would understand the characters of Captain America & Thor. Again, I'm glad that this misconception was blown squarely out of the water. The movie is great for first time viewers as each of the characters backgrounds and motivations are succinctly explained throughout- something I found very impressive & neatly done.

Those who had watched each of the characters' stand alone films may have been aware that Samuel L. Jackson's character appeared at the end of each of the films (after the credits) which provided the basis for this movie.

Favourite bit? Without spoiling!

Look out for the Hulk, he's the most humble of the superheroes when it comes time to unleash their super powers and with flipping good reason! You don't have to be a comic book geek to appreciate that when a green, giant & wham mamajama gets angry it can't be exactly a good thing. He has one moment in particular where he shows the evil villain Loki, (Tom Hiddleston) the utmost disrespect. With this being said, any additional info on this would be unfair to those yet to see the movie.

Worst bits of the film?

Well, I cannot say I noticed any continuation errors which would have certainly lost ratings. However, there was a moment where someone should have died much faster than they did which I found unrealistic but easily forgiven when you remember the type of film it is. Other than that the film was great.


So why not a 10/10 rating?


The single reason I cannot award this film 10/10 is Spider-Man. Out of all the superheroes, he was my favourite growing up (if you couldn't tell by the first photo) and seeing how Spider-Man was also created by Marvel in conjunction with being like one of, if not the most commercially successful cinematic releases of the Marvel franchise.


So why the heck was he not in the film? 

I mean the action is set in NYC, Spidey's hometown if I'm not mistaken and he's never even mentioned. In the original Avengers comics, he and Wolverine were included in the team along with some noticeable other characters. Now that I have done my research, I've found out that like many problems in this world, money is to blame...

The rights to the Spider-Man (film) isn't owned by Marvel but rather Sony so as this is a Marvel Studios release, it would have been impossible to get Spider-Man in the film . Besides, Peter Parker has so much other ish on his plate, I would't blame him for being too busy for an Avengers link up. Sadly for me and the other fans alike, I don't think Spidey will make an appearance but then again never say never...

I hope you've enjoyed this review and that I didn't give too much away. Even then it would more reason to watch it for yourself but don't make the rookie mistake of watching it in 2D, films like this need to be appreciated in their full cinematic glory.

Anyways, why are you still reading this? Go and buy your tickets to watch it! After all, Orange wednesdays are always a good shout  ;-)

God Sees You

Something that I learnt from this Sunday's service @HillsongLondon:

When questioning if God sees you during your despairs just remember that God never stops seeing you.

Using the example of ordering food in a restaurant, the pastor was able to explain how we should view God:

"If you know the one in charge of your bill has the resources to cover it, it changes how you look at the menu."

In other words, when you know that someone's got your bill covered, you can really go to town with your menu, ordering three of the most expensive courses you can barely manage to pronounce.

The same can be said for God.

If you remember that God always has the resources to cover any aspect in your life, it changes how you look at the problem.

At no point should you think you're alone... God sees you.

Long time no write!

So, its been about 9 months since I last wrote anything and that truly is shameful. I could list a billion some-what true excuses of why that's the case but it would make more sense to go back to what I know best, and that's ranting about topics I feel are relevant and that I can personally talk on.


I can assure you that I am now re-committed to writing as well as I can so know that the best is yet to come.


If you enjoy any of my posts, please follow me whether it be on Blogger, Twitter, Facebook or whatever, I take pride in knowing that at least one person finds my words somewhat useful as this motivates me to continue something I enjoy.


WATCH THIS SPACE!

Y.O.L.O.... (apparently)

....There is not one topic or theme more relevant at the moment than *drum-roll* please...............

Y.O.L.O.

So. I've done my homework, checked official records and have reached a shocking conclusion. Apart from those who believe in reincarnation, good ol' Drizzy Drake is right, you do only live once*

*please note, anyone who says otherwise is a wizard!

Now how many of us, (emphasis being on us as a collective) go absolutely buck-wild when we hear 'The Motto'? 


I mean.....

 "you only live once, that's the motto n!**a Y.O.L.O!" 

Like just saying it again then made my left foot and my right shoulder start to move in-synch with each other. It was officially one of the hottest tunes out this new year and up till now- no matter how many times you hear it whether it be when you're driving, partying, studying or doing something completely un-Y.O.L.O, you just have to go innnnnnnnnnnnn.

Well if that's not you, then please do take extra time when reading this article as everyone else should be aware that Y.O.L.O is an epidemic that should be regarded as more concerning than global warming, (I mean at the end of the day, who cares if the sea levels rise and we run out of coal? Y.O.L.O!"

This phrase is dangerous!


You see what I mean? Even then when trying to reflect on something of a serious nature I used Y.O.L.O to justify not giving a flying monkey. It is this type of mindset which is the cause of this ever spreading disease which is eroding all common sense and moral values out of society as we know it.

"I do have a man...but tonight I wanna Y.O.L.O."

As funny as that might sound, that is a true statement and a representative account of how we as young adults are living today. 

                                         

So it took a tatted up drug addict bouncing around in lime green space boots and printed leggings to let you know that you only lived once? So before that you just assumed that you're like a cat with 9 lives yeah? Cooooooooool.

On reflection, that seems funny, and so obvious. Of course we all knew that life is short and you should seize the day but that doesn't mean you should use it as an excuse for throwing all logic out the window.

The above quote about having a partner but wanting to Y.O.L.O just sums it all up. So because you don't live more than once, you have reason to sleep with anyone and everyone regardless if you're single or not? 

Yes we only live once but STD's are real and that sortta mentality will see to it that you definitely only live once... Albeit, painfully.

One of my boys asked me recently: 

"Adz, what do you think the biggest issue affecting relationships nowadays is?"..... 

and oh shit son, you already know what I said!

From when you have guys in multiple relationships and girls saying things like: 

"He's like Nando's. You can't just have him alone- you need some sides!"

 (again, true statement!), why wouldn't I say the biggest issue is Y.O.L.O?

Hear me out, like I too am guilty of saying the infamous phrase when I'm making a spur of the moment decision and doing something I wouldn't normally do if I was using my head, and quite frankly there's nothing wrong with that.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow"

That's a quote I read on someone's BBM status update which I feel links nicely with this theme. When I think of Y.O.LO, I look at it literally and as an instruction/reminder to always do 3 important things.

1. Go out and see the world.

I recently went to the Big Apple all off the back of me and my homie saying we wanted a holiday and within 3 weeks of that Y.O.L.O moment we were in a sexy apartment in the middle of New York. 

 

It was a fantastic experience and a well-needed break, I can only hope that in my life I will be able to see more of the world and that's a wish we should all share because believe me, the world is too big to contain yourself to a postcode or city for your whole life, go and live small *Naija accent*.


2. Expand your horizons.

"What do you fancy for lunch? I might go and have some Nigerian".

I overheard this being said by a middle-class, half Italian, half French colleague of mine and it truly blew me away, out of all the dozens of things he could eat for lunch, he opted to go to the food market and try some traditional Nigerian grub.

    

Seeing about 2 dozen non-nigerian office workers in suits and ties queue up for a small box of jollof or yam porridge almost brought tears to my eyes. These people didn't have to scream Y.O.L.O but were showing that life's too short to be sticking to the script all the time, go out and do something different. Even if it is just eating something you'd normally not look twice at.

3. Live more.

Life is for living, not existing. 

Don't ever forget that, take new opportunities when they arise and remember that the window of opportunity hangs on small hinges so act fast. Whilst we're still young, get the most out of life while we still can as you don't wanna be a bitter old person just reminiscing on all the things you could have, would have or should have done with your life.

So... What was my point again? Oh yes...

As opposed to using YOLO in the current context and doing something stupid, why not just practice what it actually means. Do things that enrich your life. Actively strive for change, progression and anything that will add to your life and the life of those around you. 

Because, at the end of the day, you only live once! (I just couldn't resist saying it once more).  

Quote of the Week...

“Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better” - King Whitney Jr.

Change

One of the most relevant and indeed one of the more discussed themes is that of change. I couldn’t count on all of my hands and even toes the amount of times this week alone I’ve thought about and even experienced it.

The most basic definition of change is to make or become something different than to a previous state. If you think about it like this, change may seem like an impossible mission. It may not always be possible to alter a current situation that is relatively small, not to talk about even thinking about changing ourselves.

I realised yesterday that the reason I was having trouble writing this post was because change is such a massive area to focus on, I couldn’t possible cover everything in one go. So I’m gonna do something new and break this into three parts. If you ask me (well by you reading this I’ll assume you have asked me), when it comes to change, there are three key types of people:

1)Those who are reluctant to/afraid of change:
2)Those who actively try to change
3)Those who think that change will come along and slap them in the face

Today, I’m going to talk about the first one-Those who are reluctant to/afraid of change- (a category I too fall under at times)...

Those who are reluctant to/afraid of change.


In my opinion, the issue with most of us is not about the situation itself but rather our reluctance to change.

One of my closest friends goes by the motto of: “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”. There are times when this is true and I can’t lie I’ve often referred to this very saying to defend my hesitation towards change. But in reality, we usually use this saying to mean: “it’s broke, I know it’s broke, but I don’t want to fix it, it’ll do like this”.

Take myself for example, I started work and since doing so I have realised that being forced to adapt to new surroundings can only be a good thing. I am very different to my new colleagues in various ways, for the first time in a long time I felt out of place.

The working environment and the lifestyle I’m used to are worlds apart. Learning how to carry myself in a formal setting, interacting with very important people and socialising with people from completely different backgrounds is a scary prospect. This was the case until I realised that I was not actually scared of the new environment waiting for me, rather, I feared the idea of becoming someone that wasn’t me and having to put on a front for a year just to get by or even worse was the fear of not being able to fit in.

Sure, I could use the old excuse of “I’m the only black person on my floor” but that would be just a defence mechanism to some degree (this concept will be discussed in an upcoming entry).

In reality it is more of a case where I and many of you reading this will have done in the past, tend to be most secure when I am surrounded by people who I BELIEVE I can relate to. More times or not, these will be people of the same race.

This is such an ignorant yet common thing to believe and it boils down to not knowing anything out of our comfort zone and not ever being forced to branch out of this zone or being reluctant to do so whenever an opportunity presented.

Expanding your horizons.


A lot of us see change as such a big issue because the idea of it goes further than the horizons we have set for ourselves. To tackle this, I have thought of a few pieces of advice/made some observations:

1. Don’t be afraid to take bold steps… You’ll never know if you never try!

2. Open your eyes… Life is too short for the same old routine and just sticking to what you’re used to.
In the space of a week I’ve eaten Caprese (which is basically juicy tomatoes and mozzarella. The freshest mozzarella I’ve ever eaten was from Pizza Hut so this was heaven to me :), a Carne Picante Calzone (this is like a pizza rolled up and baked) and yesterday I accidentally tried Calamari (baby squid). The funny thing is that although I am anti-fish, it actually wasnt that bad.

3. See the world...A friend of mine mentioned that she wanted to take a tour around London even though she’s lived here her whole life. At first I laughed at her because it sounded silly but when you think about it, how many of us actually can say we’ve seen the whole of London? Certainly not me. I’ve seen more parts of London in a week than I have in the whole of last year! (serious tings be dis!) It’s imperative that we take the opportunity to see as much of the world as possible, even somewhere as small as London is not a bad place to start.

4. The other side of change may be so close and yet it may seem so different- the various bridges across the cirty are all perfect examples. For instance, it’s remarkable how different each side of Tower Bridge is. At work, I overlook tall office blocks and just a few hours later once I get home I’m stuck staring at a block of flats that just over a year ago suffered from a fire that killed several people.

What I’m trying to say is that a bridge can represent change. You can stay on one side of the bridge and learn to accept whatever situation you’re going through and accept that shit wont change for you. Or you can decide to cross that bridge and see what life has to offer you on the other side.

It is possible to make that leap across from what your used to to something new, provided you're willing to take that first step because being reluctant to change does us no favours in the long run. Given the fact that life is so uncertain, it’s time to understand that change is natural and something to strive for.

Look out for the other two parts of change:

2)Those who actively try to change
3)Those who think that change will come along and slap them in the face

Turning Negativity into Positivity

I got a placement!

So today was my first day at work on placement. WOW! I was nowhere near ready to be thrown into the fire straight out of the sizzling frying pan that was my 2 years away at university. Apart from me being disgustingly ill last week and the passing of my grandfather... I was actually quite ready for whatever my first day could throw at me.

I had on one of my fine Hawes & Curtis shirts, new cufflinks, shiny leather shoes, new suit complimented only by my freshly trimmed hair and sharp shape up... to be frank...I was looking the part (I must sound so arrogant- oh well ;-)

I had given myself just the right amount of time to get to work but as it was my first day I was quite eager and anxious to be on my way. When I finally got on the bus that would take me directly to work, I found myself welcomed by a surprisingly cool breeze. This was perfect! I mean who really wants to start work with sweat patches anyway?

Then it hit me.......

“Since when did buses get air conditioning under the seats?” The pleasant cascade of air soon turned to a disturbing nightmare...

I had somehow managed to rip my brand new pair of Burton trousers *BBM crying emoticon* Just my flipping luck! I mean what are the odds of me realising that my brand new trousers were ripped on route to my first day in the office?

I was not at all impressed and thought about doing something real predictable and kissing my teeth and complaining about it for the whole day with the acceptance that I was doomed to have a terrible first day at work.

Then another thought hit me......

If I look at the glass of milk as spilt let alone half empty then it will be just that. But if I looked at that damn glass as being half full or better yet spilt all over the place and appreciated that at the end of the day it was just milk. Then I would be right also.


Optimism.

What I’m trying to stress is that whatever you feel... you’ll be right. You can look at the day ahead as being against you and ultimately just another one of life’s blows or you can just laugh it off and say that the day can only get brighter.

Funnily enough, when I arrived at the office, I waited in the reception with a rip in the groin of my trousers just smiling to myself. Then about half an hour later and with nobody appearing to have remembered it was my big day, the phone rang... it was my new employers.


My lucky break!

They rang and said that an emergency meeting had come up and that I was free to come back in an hour. Remembering I had noticed a dry cleaners on my way, I decided to head back in order to get my trousers repaired and avoid receiving embarrassing names from my new colleagues such as ‘Rippy McDonald’ or something to that effect- (don’t ask me where I thought of that name).

When I got to the dry cleaners, I realised that I had no spare trousers that I could wear whilst the tailor mended my emergency wardrobe malfunction. LOL- I was in a tower bridge dry cleaners chilling in my boxers with a shirt and tie on.................................................................. #casj!

It was actually funny and very humbling to sit there whilst the tailor sewed away at my trousers, funnily enough I had not heard one of the employees mention to me that I could change in the fitting room behind the till- #double LOL.

So I went into the fitting room and the tailor handed me my trousers... at that point he was like a miracle worker who had just healed a sick man in front of my eyes. Ironically, the amount I paid to fix my trousers was exactly the amount I saved when I purchased the suit with my student discount and even more ironic, an emergency meeting had permitted me the chance to be able to even contemplate repairing my trousers as I started an hour later than I first expected.

From that point on, I knew my day would be good and good it was. I had a nice time just immersing myself within the work culture but soon became tired as it had been a long while since I had worked.

The moral of the story is to remember one thing. No matter how you look at something, you’re going to be right- it’s the old story of a self-fulfilling prophecy. So next time you think you’re having a bad day, just remember thinking positive takes less energy and you can end up having a great day you wont forget.