The Avengers

Over the past couple of years Marvel Comics have been making films to set up the individual characters from their stable which are building up to this ensemble superhero film.
I need to say upfront that I am a huge fan of the writer/director of this film Joss Whedon. While I have not loved everything he has done, I still think he is one of the best writers working in Hollywood today. He has an especially witty style which I respond to and is not afraid to make some bold writing choices which give the ultimate emotional impact.
I have a great deal of respect for Joss and his co-writer Zak Penn in being able to create this film and the story they have come up with. Being able to take all these different characters and the stories we have seen set up in their individual films and then bring that to this ensemble film. In some ways the easy part is that the characters have already been set up all they have to do is to put them into an interesting and challenging situation. I think that Joss and Zak have succeeded in that respect. They have been able to create a story and plot which lets each character have their own moment in the film. It also lets them not only fight a common enemy but each other. Address problems that arise when a group of such different personalities comes together. These clashes are what make the film so enjoyable. My favourite moment in the film is an emotional one in which a character we have come to love over the series of films leaves. It was a moment I did not expect and I was surprised at how emotional I got. But that is part of the power of Joss and his writing.
Being a film with big characters all coming together means there needs to be big action and that is what the film has in a big deal. Joss has created some brilliant action scenes in the film which are awesome to  behold. While most of his work has been in television, Joss knows how to use the cinema screen to make a big impact and show a spectical which we are entertained by. It is definately a film you need to not only see on the big screen but in 3D for the biggest impact.
As with most ensemble films you have many different characters fighting for space and as a result you have actors fighting for screen time as well. Each of the main Avengers gets a nice little moment and each of the actors playing them does an excellent job. Mark Ruffalo is the newer one here and I think he makes an excellent Bruce Banner. Mark has always given great performances and does so again here. He plays the conflict of his character well and you can see that conflict in the way he carries himself. I was also quite impressed with Scarlett Johansson and think this is one of her better performances. It is no secret that Joss likes strong female heroes and so he has made the Black Widow a strong character here. She has many witty lines and subtle moments which I found delightful and Scarlett more than takes advantage of. 
Marvel have now set the bar quite high with this ensemble superhero film. DC must now try and follow suit with their ensemble the Justice League.