Marvel’s The Avengers: How does it impact Infinity War?

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 01: Actors Tom Hiddleston and Clark Gregg ring the opening bell at The New York Stock Exchange as part of a celebration of the release of Marvel Studios ‘Marvel’s The Avengers’ on May 1, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Six years after it blew the superhero genre wide-open, what is the legacy of The Avengers and what impact could it have on Infinity War?

It can be argued that the first Avengers movie is the most important of all the Marvel films. While Iron Man breathed life back into the genre and Guardians of the Galaxy seemingly proved there was no limit to its potential, the first true team-up served as the linchpin for much of the storytelling that has followed, and, in a more tangible way, proved during its ultra-successful test run that multi-hero movies were not only viable, but that they could be well-received and stunningly profitable.

Simply put, until The Avengers came roaring in with its impossible array of larger-than-life heroes, the MCU was little more than a pipe dream, a proposed flirtation with a kind of global entertainment dominance never before dreamed. This movie not only galvanized the Marvel machine and made real a thousand desperate hopes of cohesive world-building, it gave birth to the superhero movement–a cultural phenomenon that has dominated cinema for the last half decade.

While other movies hinted at what might come, the real revolution started right here.

What worked?

Joss Whedon has taken some heat in the comics industry lately. After questionable decisions in films like Avengers: Age of Ultron (according to some) and Justice League (according to many), as well as some bad press concerning his once-sterling reputation as a card-carrying feminist, Joss is no longer the golden boy he once was, but we would do well to remember exactly why he was once held in such high esteem.

In a word: Marvel’s The Avengers.

With a swirling array of moving pieces and battling egos, distinct properties and astronomical studio pressures, Whedon had the unenviable task of mashing all of these things into a coherent, accessible film that would delight both hardcore fans of the genre and casual moviegoers. Not an easy feat, just ask the folks over at DC.

But Whedon, with his combination of charming storytelling and witty banter, absolutely crushed it, managing to craft an adventure for the ages, creating a narrative that satisfies its own inner mechanics and the demands of the greater MCU at large.

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The heroes are, to a one, magnificently portrayed. Iron Man, played by the disgustingly perfect RD Jr is spot-on, even if taking a backseat at times seems against his protocol. Chris Evans proves himself a more than capable Captain America. No minor accomplishment, as Cap is a deceivingly complex individual whose subtle emotions and could have come off as bland in the hands of a lesser actor. Ruffalo as Banner/Hulk is nothing sort of a revelation. His quiet, empathetic take is a stark contrast to the smoldering intelligence and seething anger others brought to the role and it combines with a suddenly believable CG Hulk to deliver a smashing performance fans of that particular hero had long since abandoned hope of.  Thor is more two-dimensional, but Hemsworth slays both sides of the demi-god. Even Barton, Fury, and Black Widow, who are more limited in screen time, make their moments count, and each emerges as distinct and nuanced–purpose-driven in a narrative that calls for characters as much as carnage.

Though there is plenty of the latter. While the build-up is slow and focuses on building necessary tension between the group of unlikely saviors, the payoff is nothing short of astonishing. The Battle for New York is on par with the ending of The Return of the Jedi in terms of great cinematic conflicts, with multiple battles fought simultaneously by different heroes, each fight with its own stakes, all answering to a single stalking doom, the ultimate sacrificial moment where Tony Stark truly becomes a hero. The effects are still glorious today, and harken back to the groundbreaking work we saw in films like Independence Day and Jurassic Park.

The finale is loud, beautiful, and thrilling, but without losing the human element.

In a long line of summer blockbusters, The Avengers stands beside any of them shot-for-shot, scene-for-scene. It is large scale comic book fun of the grandest sort, and it is magnificent.