As a long time fan of both comics and comic book movies, I’ve been excited for The Avengers movie since it was first alluded to back at the end of Iron Man. Though I set a high bar for the ensemble action movie, it did not disappoint. The film is the culmination of the last few years of Marvel Comics movies, combining plot points from Iron Man, Thor and Captain America. The Avengers, to those who do not know about the comic book superhero team, is the story of a government intelligence organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. (led by Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury) that brings together a group of six heroes to defend the world from an alien threat. These heroes are Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). Their nemesis: Thor’s villainous brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). The Avengers is simply fantastic. The action scenes are plentiful but not overwhelming, and each one is, in a word, epic. The script is tight and well-done, covering a lot of ground and giving just enough information on each character to make them compelling. Ensemble features can be tricky, but this one is able to balance each personality and meld the characters into one strong storyline. Written and directed by Joss Whedon, famous for his niche shows such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” that are full of quippy dialogue, the script is also hilarious. One-liners, dry wit and visual and physical gags fill the movie, making it one of the most comedic action films ever. The cast is perfect. Fans have already seen Downey’s witty Iron Man and Evans’ strong and solid Cap, as well as Hemsworth’s practically Shakespearean Thor. The Avengers also showcases Ruffalo as the newest Bruce Banner, this time a subtler and self-deprecating scientist whose moments bonding with both Black Widow and Iron Man are some of the best of the film. Johansson’s Black Widow is perhaps the biggest badass of the film and is more than deserving of a solo movie. Renner’s Hawkeye is stoic and awe-inspiring with archery moves that put Katniss Everdeen to shame. But the best part of the film is Hiddleston as the complex Loki. Coming off of his family drama with Thor, Loki is funny while juggling a dark side and an endearing vulnerability. It is no surprise that fans of the film seem to gravitate toward Loki despite him being the film’s main villain. Though it can be difficult to seamlessly weave together a compelling story from so many sources and multiple moving parts, The Avengers does it with ease. Simply put, The Avengers is not to be missed. –Aliza Weinberger