A decade ago, the first phase of the MCU came together after years of planning and seed planting when the cinematic outing for Earth's Mightiest Heroes, The Avengers, debuted. The ensemble brought together the already established heroes, as well as some previously unseen, to battle Loki and the army of Chitauri as the slighted trickster God tried to enslave the Earth.
Now 10 years on, how does one of the biggest events in superhero cinema at the time stack up today? Considering where the MCU has gone and the new heroes and villains that have arisen, does the original assembly hold up to scrutiny?
The MCU began as an idea by Marvel Studios in 2005. Immediately a money-making machine, the first ensemble film The Avengers ended up grossing $1.519 billion dollars at the box office, making it the third highest-grossing film of all time, the highest grossing comic book movie of all time, and the highest grossing comic book movie of all time. It was clear that what Marvel had been building was more than paying off.
Iron Man, the first building block in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was released in 2008. The movie not only performed extremely well, but it also relaunched the career of Robert Downey Jr., cementing him as a mega star and presence to be reckoned with. Following its success a string of films introducing more Avengers heroes were released with Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger swiftly following suit. By the time The Avengers came out, the Marvel marketing machine had created a hype black hole that sucked fans in and made new fans along the way. Theaters were packed and a new age of superhero movies was officially in motion. 10 years later, that original team's journey has ended in the MCU, but its debut still holds a special place in the hearts of fans.
Upon rewatching, the opening of The Avengers has lost none of its charm in the opening. There is very little setup; audiences know these characters and know about the Tesseract. Apart from the opening scene of The Other sending Loki on his mission to Earth, it's action right from the start. Only 10 minutes elapse from the time that Nick Fury and Maria Hill arrive at the S.H.I.E.L.D base in a flurry of frantic personnel and helicopters, until the base explodes and taking a large portion of the landscape with it.
The setting up of the relationship between Natasha and Barton, however, is bittersweet considering what eventually happens to their characters and the direction they take in future films. From the beginning, the fanbase wanted Natasha and Clint to be together, and the architecture of their characters' relationship seemed all but confirmed throughout the first film. Both of them are fiercely protective of the other, and Natasha wears a small silver arrow necklace in the films between this and Age of Ultron — where questionable choices were made with both of the characters.
With the introduction of Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, there is still a tangible excitement surrounding the scene. Ruffalo has gone on to be a fan favorite, and yet still continues to have no solo venture for his character. Ruffalo's Banner is sweet and understated, and funny. He plays the role well, communicating the conflict between him and his inner green giant through his presence.
While audiences know the characters, the way in which the team is brought together is a short but necessary re-introduction to the heroes. Steve Rogers, the lantern-jawed man out of time and morally righteous defender of justice; Tony Stark, the arrogantly intelligent wise-cracking billionaire; Natasha Romanov, the cunning and deadly spy; Bruce Banner, the tortured genius hiding his battle with his inner demons. All of these traits are communicated effectively in a few short scenes, effective enough that even with no prior Avengers knowledge, new fans can get a handle on whom these people are.
Of course, one of the incredible breakouts of The Avengers was Tom Hiddleston's possibly unwilling villain Loki. From his appearance in the first Thor, Loki became a popular character. Turned from a stalwart supporter of his brother to a maligned adopted orphan finding out his life is a lie, Hiddleston brings a depth and sensitivity to Loki that is still striking to watch 10 years later, even knowing his character's path. Of course, the chemistry between Hemsworth's Thor and Hiddleston's Loki is another piece of the puzzle that fits to make the original film what it is.
The film never feels slow. The pacing and dialogue still feel fresh. The script is equal parts funny, touching and dramatic, and the touches of humor are what sets the film apart, even 10 years later. Of course, the dialogue style is a trademark of Joss Whedon (who in the ensuing years has become disgraced from Hollywood due to allegations of his inappropriate conduct).
As for how the film looks a decade later, it mostly holds up. 10 years is a long time when it comes to VFX advancements, and looking back on the model for Hulk, he still looks excellent. Over the years his model has changed and become even more infused with Ruffalo's characteristics, but the original design is still a classic and familiar take. When it comes to the finale and the battle with the Chitauri, the VFX fairs a little less well, but is still great. With an army of aliens and giant monsters to render, certain compromises have to be made. While some areas may not be as sharp, they are where it counts.
Where The Avengers continues to succeed a decade later is ultimately in its script, characters, and cast. All the heroes are well-rounded, not just as comic book heroes but as people. They all have their reasons for the fight, they are all individuals that come together to make a balanced team. While Phase I of the MCU is already long over, the original team that started it will be remembered for a long time to come.