Avengers: Sensory Overload
Be Happy to Be Witnessing History
If the Lord tarries, these stories and their societal impact will be on par with the heroic epics of the ancients.
Every society comes up with stories, myths, legends, and fantasies to enthrall, thrill, excite, move, and make sense of humanity’s actions. What we are witnessing now is not a new form of storytelling, rather a new way to utilize a relatively medium in which to convey them. Comic book movies have been in existence for several decades. Good comic book movies, not so much. Good comic book movies that are the center point of all visual entertainment, even less. A comic book movie that is both an excellent film and poised to be the biggest movie of all time, one better pay attention, if not for anything else, just for the sake of witnessing history.
I’m not a casual comic book fan, nor a hardcore one. I grew up reading Marvel and DC as a child, teenager, and young man. But when it came to deep, specific knowledge, I have always relied on Wikipedia, trading cards, collections, and summaries (there’s a Marvel Encyclopedia I’m very fond of). But when they started being good, arguably with the X-men franchise, I could smell something special a-brewing. Now, there’s no denying the unquestioned dominance of Marvel comic book movies. It’s like having new Jurassic Park, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings movies every year.
Speaking of these other tentpole franchises, I’d make the argument that LOTR is still the most ambitious movie event of all time. Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and the MCU all started with one movie’s hyper success, then built off that. LOTR took the huge risk of filming three movies all at once, in a genre that wasn’t known for big hits with critical acclaim. Be that as it may, the MCU is bigger than Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Lord of the Rings (eventually all of those combined if they continue their white hot streak), and we are all witnesses to visual storytelling history. Human narrative history will forever be marked by the last ten years of Marvel, and remember DCEU (despite their slow to start but newfound success) as a bunch of Johny-Come Latelies. On to the movie.
I’d like to admit my delight that it’s now becoming uncool to hate popular things. My generation (Xers) are very ironic, sarcastic, and cynical. Too many of us tend to rate things inversely proportional to their popularity. That’s a bunch of grade A baloney. If something is entertaining, it’s not a bold step to demolish it. It’s obnoxious. Rate artistic output based on its entertainment value alone. Leave all agendas and personal biases against the people involved at the door, and you’ll find it very spiritually liberating. As far as entertainment value alone, this movie is not the best ever made, but it certainly is up there in terms of moving, exciting, thrilling melodrama.
Tony Stark is the heart and soul of the MCU. It’s not even debatable. Robert Downey Jr. was more perfect for that role than many other actors in classic roles have ever fit. His disastrous personal life of the late 90’s, along with his subsequent cleanup and comeback is exactly what he needed to be in the head of Tony Stark. His witty charm and punchy dialogue added to the effect. He headlined the first movie in this franchise and greatly elevated every film he’s appeared in. He’s the king of the MCU, no doubt. He is delegated the most touching moments of the film, beginning, middle, and end.
But Captain America is the heart and soul of comics. More than Batman (too dark), Superman (too foreign and powerful), and even his friend Spiderman (too quirky and angsty). Captain America is the physical embodiment of American exceptionalism. He holds himself to a higher moral standard than all those around him. He takes bigger risks than they who are more invulnerable. He is operates out of his time, but is undeterred in his never ending quest for truth, justice...scratch that. He technically doesn’t have superpowers. Rather, he’s the very physical and mental best that a human can be. If that doesn’t describe the American ideal at its peak, I don’t know what does. Comics, while inspired by ancient modes of storytelling (what isn’t), are decidedly American, and he’s Captain A-M-E-R-I-C-A. And so, he is delegated the most satisfying moments of the film. He has the best comedic moments, the most winkingly aware callbacks to his previous films, and the best climactic moments.
Indeed, the scene of Captain America, beaten, battered, broken (shield), but not bowed, struggling to his feet, tightening his shield strap, and facing Thanos alone from across a small bomb crater’s valley as the villain’s hordes flood to his side, is one of those iconic cinematography moments which will forever live in my heart as to what this fictional hero really is. He is America as it should be. Uncompromising in morals, resolute, industrious, and unafraid. The plot development immediately following this pregnant moment is worth the price of admission alone, along with a shout-while-pumping-your-fist moment subtly hinted at in Age of Ultron.
Even the lesser spots of this movie deserve mention. There are a devastating left-cross and squish in the climax that are also cheer-worthy moments. Trust me, you’ll enjoy them almost as much as I did. The change in plot formation bears mentioning. Most of these movies have diverse and escalating action pieces as they build to their climax. This movie is so sparing on the first and second act action (there’s an obvious nod to the elevator scene from CA2 that nearly goes there but uses Cap’s wits to defuse) it’s almost jarring. So the climax of this movie, in all its ridiculous, female empowering, choreographed moves, emotionally crescendoing glory, is really the climax of ten years’ worth of movies. It would be draining if it wasn’t so doggone fun. Oh and yes, the fatherless kid from Iron Man 3 shows up at some point. This movie headed to Home Depot, bought all the kitchen sinks in stock, and threw them in. And yet, we are left wanting more. At the very least, to see what’s next, and if they can even think about topping this.
This is all to say, come on haters, lighten up and put some respect on the MCU’s name.
