Photo: Walt Disney Pictures
The reviews are starting to descend upon the planet and the resounding response is glowing: "Marvel's The Avengers" is sizing up to be the next must-see action blockbuster this year.
Landing in theaters on May 4th, the timing couldn't be better—as box office enthusiasm for "The Hunger Games" will have presumably finally waned by then.
"Avengers"-watchers so far seem to agree the action sequences are astounding in 3D. Most reviews offer high praise of writer-director Joss Whedon for making a film that will please both comic book geeks and general audiences alike.
Here are the highlights, which include praise and some criticisms:
"Pays off in extravagant fashion... escapism of a sophisticated order... Production is technically immaculate."
—Justin Chang, Variety
[PHOTOS: 'The Avengers' Los Angeles premiere]
"...not only does this eye-popping 3D display of visual effects fireworks feature an enormously high proportion of action scenes, but director Joss Whedon has adroitly balanced the celebrity circus to give every single one of the superstar characters his or her due."
—Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter
"...the inspired manner in which writer-director Joss Whedon springs the element of surprise is the trump card of the picture..."
—Leigh Paatsch, The Daily Telegraph
"...a successful amalgam of skilful actors, witty banter, top-of-the-line effects, bigger-is-better action sequences and giddy good cheer. Though overlong and inevitably burdened by the need to juggle so many protagonists..."
—Tim Grierson, Screen Daily
"As serious as the stakes get, Whedon's never afraid to let a joke out... and it gives the film a light, bouncy tone that makes it such a pleasure to watch."
—Oliver Lyttelton, Indiewire
[RELATED: Will 'The Avengers' assemble again for a last-minute scene? ]
"With so many characters, it's somewhat inevitable that someone get shortchanged and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is notably underused here."
—Eric Goldman, IGN
"...overall Avengers Assemble [the film's title in Britain] is by far the most spectacular superhero ever made in terms of a visual extravagance, and is truly something that has been worth waiting for..."
—Jay A. Ottley, Movie Web
"...smart, funny and dramatic, but with all the trappings of a sci-fi action movie presented fully intact."
—James Hunt, Den of Geek
"I have never been to a film that brought out so much enthusiasm from the audience, engaging with them on a level that brought out true emotion."
—Yahoo! Movies resident comic-book-nerd-turned-movie-reviewer Galen Sturgess, who attended the Sydney premiere
Watch 'Marvel's The Avengers' Clip:
