Amateur Reviews: Avengers Assemble

Today marks the preliminary round of voting for the 2013 Empire Film Awards. The best thing about these awards is that it’s all down to the real movie fans of this world, not in the hands of an Academy. Obviously there are going to be a great many more films that will be released before voting closes, so this is our opinion as it stands. It would be premature to list The Hobbit and Life of Pi already given the fact their worthiness still hangs in the balance! Similarly, the typically award-like films are being with held for later in the award season. Therefore, a lot could change between this vote now and the Jameson Empire Awards!

Follow this link to vote for the Awards!

BEST MALE NEWCOMER

Dane DeHaan

From his explosive debut in Chronicle to his supporting role in Lawless, this young actor is showing that he's far from being type-cast. This is going to be a tough category this year, we also considered Craig Roberts (Submarine, Red Lights, Jane Eyre) but Dane just pips him to the post!

BEST FEMALE NEWCOMER

Elizabeth Olsen

Feel free to disagree with our labelling as 'new'. Although Martha Marcy May Marlene was released last year, it seems like 2013 has really been Elizabeth's year. Despite having few films under her belt, it already felt like her character in Redlights (alongside Cillian Murphy) was too small for her!

BEST SCI/FANTASY

Chronicle

Would not like to be fighting it out in this category this year. With films like The Avengers, Prometheus and Looper it was very hard to pick - but Chronicle was a refreshing take on super powers because the kids become the opposite of super heroes.

BEST COMEDY

American Reunion

Perhaps you have to be a long time American Pie fan to appreciate the sheer nostalgia of this beauty, but it packs many a laugh no matter what. Fingers crossed for many more reunions for Stifler and the gang...

BEST HORROR

The Woman In Black

If anyone votes for the Devil Inside they will get a virtual tap on the wrist... The Woman In Black, however, was a classy remake of a classic play and novel. Plus who doesn't love Daniel Radcliffe?

BEST THRILLER

Contagion

As if the outstanding cast wasn't enough, Steven Soderbergh's disaster movie was laced with doom and anyone who didn't feel scared to touch a door handle after watching Contagion is a very brave person...

JAMESON BEST ACTOR

Tom Hardy

No surprises here then! Just look at Lawless, This Means War, The Dark Knight Rises... This man can act anything! Close contenders for the title were Michael Fassbender (Prometheus, Haywire) and Javier Bardem (Skyfall).

BEST ACTRESS

Jessica Chastain

Gracious and believable in the majority of her films, especially Lawless and Corialanus.

BEST DIRECTOR

Christopher Nolan

Making people choose between Sam Mendes and Christopher Nolan hardly seems far, but any man who managed to round off the Batman Trilogy after the dizzying expectations set by its predecessor deserves the award. Well done Mr Nolan.

BEST BRITISH FILM

Skyfall

How can it not be Skyfall?

BEST FILM

The Dark Knight Rises

With a plot twist to rival all Nolan plot twists and a stellar cast, it's hard not to be excited by this film. Absolute class.

THE ART OF 3D

Avengers Assemble

Outstanding use of 3D by director Joss Whedon, managed to avoid the issues which have plagued 3D in the past. Dark and lacking in detail are not phrases you would use to describe The Avengers

Follow this link to read the review of Skyfall

The Dark Knight Rises Review

Prometheus Review

Avengers Assemble Review

The Woman In Black Review

Chronicle Review

Avengers Assemble

12A

Directed by Joss Whedon

Starring: (basically everyone) Robert Downey-Jr, Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson

Unite fan boys and girls, Avengers Assemble has landed on our shores and will excite anyone who has shown even the smallest interest in a comic book. When the Asgardian villian Loki threatens earth with his army, it's up to Nick Fury and his Avengers to join together and use their super skills to fight back. We're working with the elites in this film and at first it's slightly surreal seeing these characters in the same film. But Whedon brings them together with ease and the massive personalities (who are used to their headlining films) gel and bounce of each other without fighting to be the main man.

However, if there was a main man, you're looking at Tony Stark. Downey Jr. is at his charming best and his comedic timing is en pointe. He is the heart of this Marvel Universe that has been interwoven into one massive movie brimming with action, laughs and emotion.

Chris Evans' Captain America is the traditional superhero in a world which he doesn't quite understand - which lends to some pretty funny jokes. Chris Hemsworth and his hammer have a fair share of the air time sorting out his sibling issues while Mark Ruffalo plays the complete opposite to his rage filled Hulk. It's nice seeing how improved computer graphics have made the green menace even more menacing. Jeremy Renner gets a taste of both sides of the battle field, and Hawkeye is joining the realms of hot men with a bow and arrow (alongside Legolas, of course.) Scarlett Johansson is the token female, but in our opinion Black Widow didn't have much to work with - where was her shield, bow or hammer!?

The villain of the peice is Loki, played by newcomer Tom Hiddleston. Any man who manages to look cool in that get-up and hair-do goes a long way in our books! Looks aside, his portrayal is refreshing as we all know the derranged and crazy baddies are the most fun. Agent (first name) Phil Coulson is incredible and is one of the coolest people. And that's saying something, because the whole film is cool.

If you've been awaiting Avengers Assemble, you will not be disappointed! It's probably worth mentioning, you don't need to have be familiar with comic books, or even the previous films to enjoy this movie - there are a lot of references for the fans which may account for some of the enjoyment. But really, it's a solid action blockbuster regardless! A clever blend of heroes, jokes and sheer unadulterated action.

Rating: 8

Meet the Avengers: