Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • May 16, 2012 ‘The Avengers’ sets off season with pyrotechnics by Dennis Seuling Lately, there has been such a glut of movies about superheroes that they all seem to run together in memory. It’s rare when a superhero movie hits the right balance of action, witty dialogue, casting, and story. Chris Nolan’s “The Dark Night” accomplished the task in 2008 and Richard Donner hit pay dirt with “Superman the Movie” 30 years earlier. Now we have “Marvel’s The Avengers,” a movie that brings together a slew of costumed and non-costumed heroes and heroines who join forces to save the Earth from dictatorial domination. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), head of the peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., and former Russian spy Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) recruit a superhero team to combat Thor’s dastardly brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) after he brainwashes deadon archer Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) while stealing a pure energy cube from an underground base. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must learn to work together alongside scientist Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), who has the ability to track down the cube’s gamma rays. The first concern with making so many superheroes Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) combat a common enemy in ‘Marvel’s The Avengers.’ share screen time is that none will be properly showcased, but director Joss Whedon manages to spotlight each one, providing each with good dialogue and an impressive illustration of his or her special abilities. How and why each protagonist possesses such abilities has been addressed in previous movies dedicated to each of the heroes. Assuming that the audience comes with that knowledge, this movie wastes no time on history, and the plot moves forward with lightning speed. The actors all seem very comfortable in their roles, having found the right tone from the earlier pictures. Tony Stark/Iron Man is glib, sarcastic, and arrogant: qualities that often miff his partners in heroism. Steve Rogers/Captain America is ever the patriot, still trying to grasp 21st century technology, but unwavering in his dedication to protecting Earth. Thor, hammer ever at the ready, is the Asgard warrior bent on eliminating the threat posed by his wayward brother. Bruce Banner/The Hulk appears to have controlled his anger sufficiently to accomplish the necessary task of homing in on Loki and finding means to defeat him, despite Loki’s ability to summon an army (continued on Crossword page)