Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • May 16, 2012 ‘The Avengers’ (continued from Entertainment page) from another dimension. When Banner eventually transforms into The Hulk, buildings are smashed, cars are tossed about willy-nilly, and bodies are embedded in sidewalks. The sole newcomer superhero, Hawkeye, is a bit more lowkey than his fellow team members, but figures significantly in the plot. Whedon gets the tone of the movie right. It is by no means camp, yet there are frequent touches of humor that elevate the film from a revenge action extravaganza to a clever tale of people with amazing abilities who nonetheless exhibit human foibles. Despite the movie’s two-and-ahalf-hour-plus running time, Whedom moves things along briskly. There are no extraneous scenes, and exposition is kept to the essential details. Johansson’s Black Widow is a solid ally of The Avengers who knows how to handle herself both physically and psychologically. She relies on her enemies to underestimate her, turning that into her strength. It is refreshing to see a female action hero who functions at the same level as the men and is not relegated to the role of white-jacketed tech- nician sitting at a console. Hiddleston’s Loki is quite the villain. With his magical scepter, he creates plenty of havoc and holds his own against the combined onslaught of The Avengers. He has several tricks up his sleeve when the going gets too tough. Hiddleston exudes a sinister charm. In the mold of Darth Vadar, The Joker, or the Green Goblin, he is a crafty, megalomaniacal villain, and a formidable adversary. Special effects are impressive and go into overdrive in the movie’s final 20 minutes, when it looks as if every computer graphics technician in Hollywood worked. This reviewer had to laugh at one shot, which I’m sure was not meant to elicit chuckles. After a chaotic, almost apocalyptic battle in Manhattan, there is a lovely shot of the island, unscathed and unscarred by the devastation that has just befallen it. Shouldn’t there be a few damaged buildings or some smoking debris? However, this is a small detail in an otherwise very exciting picture. Rated PG-13, “Marvel’s The Avengers” marks the beginning of the lucrative summer movie season and sets it off with pyrotechnics. Followers of the Marvel Comics characters will be in heaven, pleased that Hollywood got it right this time, and everyone else will have fun watching this group of angry and determined good guys see that the Earth is saved. (Beverly Dennis), and 15 men who act as guides. Under the direction of William Wellman, the film has its share of laughs as the women struggle with the rough-and-tumble jobs usually done by men. The theme of seeking mates on the frontier would be visited three years later in the musical “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” DVD extras include audio commentary by a film historian, and the vintage MGM featurette “Challenge of the Wilderness.” DVDs (continued from Restaurant page) women seek men. Buck Wyatt (Robert Taylor) is a tough, experienced scout leading a wagon train comprised of two ex-show girls (Denise Darcel and Julie Bishop), a widow crossword