The Avengers

Mmm'okay. I guess. So this is what everyone was pissing themselves over last year? Sure, there are likable characters here--Captain Steve Rogers is an emblematic, admirable hero, plus there's that ever-reliable ton of fun, Tony Stark--but this film has too many "star" players to allow for anything like real character and/or storyline development. Plus all the pissy conflict among the team members--in the face of an immediate, known, deadly threat, no less--rings false. And then the climactic battle sequence is just plain dumb: an orgy of mindless destruction at the hands (claws?) of pan-dimensional but apparently mentally retarded aliens, who seemingly just show up without any particular battle plan, and are beaten back by a mere six beings (albeit superior or greatly equipped uber-beings). This is what stands as today's greatness? Joss, you'd better do WAY better with the next one, or you may wind up being known as the guy who queered the entire deal for everyone.