The Avengers - 2012

Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures, Albuquerque Studios

Directed by Joss Whedon

Cast:

• Tony Stark / Iron Man – Robert Downey Jr.
• Steve Rogers / Captain America – Chris Evans
• Thor – Chris Hemsworth
• Bruce Banner / Hulk – Mark Ruffalo
• Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow – Scarlett Johansson
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye – Jeremy Renner
• Loki – Tom Hiddleston
• Nick Fury – Samuel L. Jackson
• Agent Phil Coulson – Clark Gregg
• Agent Maria Hill – Cobie Smulders
• Pepper Potts – Gwyneth Paltrow
• Professor Eric Selvig – Stellan Skarsgard
• Jarvis – Paul Bettany (voice)

Story: Loki, the half-brother of Thor, has teamed up with an alien race to conquer and enslave the Earth. In exchange, he must provide the aliens with the Tesseract, the ancient cube of power once hidden on Earth by Odin, later discovered by the Red Skull to power his evil weapons, and now in the hands of SHIELD, thanks to the efforts of Howard Stark, Tony's father. He steals the Tesseract, and uses its power to gain control of Professor Selvig, who is experimenting with it, and Hawkeye, who is assigned to protect it. When Loki steals the Tesseract, Nick Fury reaches out to assemble the team of superheroes to retrieve it, but he faces an uphill battle from the Commission and the Superheroes themselves. Will the Avengers Initiative fail, or will the superheroes conquer the aliens?

Review: Yahoo! The legacy lives on and the story is great! I know there were some concerns out there regarding the former creator of Buffy and Angel doing the screenplay and directing, and there were also a few eyebrows raised when Disney took over the Marvel brand. But everyone can relax, because this flag is up the pole, and everyone is saluting.
Robert Downey Jr. is especially his arrogant self as Tony Stark, and I loved the scenes where he and Gwyneth Paltrow are acting like a couple. His interactions with Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo set the stage for the internal conflicts with each other and Samuel L. Jackson. The dynamics of the characters could not have been any better.
And speaking of the newest member of the Marvel character crew, hats off to Mark Ruffalo who took a role once played, poorly, by Eric Bana, and somewhat better by Ed Norton, and not only made it his own, but made Bruce Banner come to life in realistic ways. His persona as the more aggressive scientist with self control and determination lends to the idea such a being might be controlled, or at least directed.
Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston play beautifully off one another, which gives us the impression of the Asgardian egos and the depths to which they extend. Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner are perfect as the bodyguards nee assassins who are as courageous as they are talented. And Clark Gregg reprises his role from Iron Man and Thor to remind us there are always dedicated men who are simply trying to do their job, in spite of extraordinary circumstances.
The story is fast paced, and wastes little time in exposition, with smidgens of personal lives and assignments interspersed in the film. Overall, the cinematography is exceptional, the graphics are phenomenal, and the entire film has the flow and character of the Comic Books (okay, Graphic Novels) of our misspent youth. I went in expecting an epic, and was not disappointed. Rated PG-13 for violence and a mild reference to drugs, anyone who ever read the stories and those of us who love the prequels (let's face it, folks, Iron Man, Thor, etc. were all prequels to this event) will love this film. I've already reserved a copy for my collection, and you should, too.

We Bought A Zoo - 2011

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, LBI Entertainment, Vinyl Films

Directed by Cameron Crowe

Cast:

• Benjamin Mee – Matt Damon
• Dylan Mee – Colin Ford
• Rosie Mee – Maggie Elizabeth Jones
• Duncan Mee – Thomas Haden Church
• Kelly Foster – Scarlett Johansson
• Peter MacCready – Angus Macfayden
• Lily Miska – Elle Fanning
• Walter Ferris – John Michael Higgins

Story: Based on the true story of the Mee family who operate the Dartmoor Zoological Park in England, this touching story is a treat for the entire family and a must see for all Damon and Johansson fans who think their only abilities lie in beating people up. Benjamin Mee is a writer who lives to record adventures. His articles are published by a national paper, he has written a few books, and he is well known in the journalism community. But when he loses his wife, Katherine, his life begins to come apart. His brother, Duncan, is a practical man, an accountant who wants to help his brother, but Benjamin is looking for a new life. When Dylan becomes a problem in school, he must find a new place to live so his children can get back into school. As he and his daughter travel out with the real estate agent, they happen upon a closed down zoo, complete with animals and a staff. As they move in and begin to renovate, they discover things about themselves, and learn to deal with many of the issues between them. By the time they are ready to open, they have reunited as a family.

Review: Okay, so I don't review a whole lot of family films, but I am happy to make an exception here. This is a delightful, well thought out, and thoroughly enjoyable film that touches on some very sensitive subjects and shines like a beacon through it all. Matt Damon and Thomas Haden Church have a charisma which bonds them on the screen and helps the audience to identify with them as brothers. Damon's charm and gentle personality is disarming, and his ability to transcend the “Bourne” image shows just how capable and talented an actor he has become. Scarlett's role is equally challenging from past performances, particularly with her “Black Widow” persona about to be displayed across the big screen in the Avengers, but she plays the part of the zookeeper with a sensitivity that reaches off the screen and into your heart. Elle Fanning, Colin Ford, and Maggie Elizabeth Jones all give excellent performances in their roles as the younger generations dealing with the realities of loss, life, and just being kids. John Michael Higgins and Angus Macfayden lend an air of comedy with out going over the top, giving just the right tones to this impressive film. Since family films rarely make it to the Oscars, we probably won't see this one on the dais next year, but it is a shame, since the film is a testimony to great cinema. Rated PG for language and theme, I can't see why the preteens wouldn't enjoy this as well as the rest of the family. Definitely a collectible film, especially for fans of Matt, Scarlett, and just plain good theater.