This week I am singing the praises of Empire, my favourite magazine! One of the reasons why I have chosen this oh-so-informative of monthlies as THE source of film facts for the past 5 years - yes, I have every issue since November 2006 - is their consistently beautiful front covers and oh what a display we have this month. Every now and again they supply their loyal readers with alternatives. A few months ago we had Batman vs. Bane, for "the Dark Knight" we had Batman vs. the Joker and this month we have an "Avengers" selection, with the options of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Black Widow (though why anyone would select the last choice I have NO idea,well not NO idea).Now the big question you have to ask yourselves, other than which cover you are going to chose, but are you prepared for the coming "Avengers" film? Have you watched "Iron Man" 1 and 2, "The Incredible Hulk", "Thor" and Captain America"? If not, I am here to rescue you. I will give you a brief overview of each film to keep you up-to-date - look away now if you don't want any spoilers! - Though I'll try not to go into to many details, I don't want to ruin some very fun films for you.
Iron Man 1 and 2:
Tony Stark's father designed basically all American weaponry and had his hand in almost every technological jar. Now Stark Sr. is dead, Tony is the company's leading man, a "genius billionaire playboy philanthropist" as he rightly reminds us in "the Avengers" trailer. While held captive, wounded with shrapnel in his chest, in Afghanistan, Stark designs a robotic suit which not only magnetically prevents the irremovable shrapnel from piercing his heart, but enables him to kick some serious butt! In both 1 and 2 Stark faces opponents wearing similar suits, usually based on his own. At the end of 1 he reveals himself to be Iron Man to the press and has since helped Nick Fury to drum together fellow Avengers. Other important characters: PA Pepper Potts, Stark's love interest (Gwyneth Pultrow) and best friend and, after 2, fellow suit owner, James "Rhodey"Rhodes (Terrence Howard in 1, Don Cheadle in 2). You'll see references of, and even appearances from, Tony and his father, Howard Stark, and their business "Stark Industries" in the other Avengers films (e.g. Dominic Cooper plays Howard in "Captain America"), pretty much whenever weaponry or money is mentioned.
We also have an appearance from Scarlett Johansson (the Black Widow) as undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Natasha Romanoff, in Iron Man 2.
Iron Man 1: ****
Iron Man 2: ***1/2
The Incredible Hulk
This version of the Hulk skipped the intro story because Ang Lee's "Hulk" (2003) covered that part, but basically, Bruce Banner (Edward Norton, now to be played by Mark Ruffalo in the "Avengers") is a scientist helping the military, who are trying to create super soldiers (boy, does that sound familiar), and who accidentally transforms himself into a great green goliath of a monster. This transformation only occurs when Banner's pulse reaches 200bpm, so he is not allowed to get angry or make love to his beautiful girlfriend (Liv Tyler). Banner is on the run from the military, knowing the dangers of his new form, because he does not want the magic formula that makes him mean and green to become a weapon.
***
Thor
There is a long-standing animosity between Odin, King of Asgard, and the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, whom the Asgardian warriors defeated in a battle long ago to prevent them from seizing the nine realms, including Earth. Odin is Thor's father. The Asgardians are not Gods as many would believe, but merely incredibly powerful aliens. Thor is set to soon take his fathers place as king, but when he disobeys direct orders, he is banished to Earth, seperated from his source of power, the hammer Mjolnir. There he befriends scientists Natalie Portman and Stellan Skarsgard. Thor must return to his home, where his father is in a comma and which is under threat once again from the Jotunheim. At the end of the film, Thor returns to Asgard, his path to Earth presently severed.
****
Captain America: The First Avenger
In 1942, all Steve Rogers wants is to become a US soldier, but his tiny stature and slight build, despite his great courage and perseverence, holds him back. Meanwhile, an evil Nazi, Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving), invades Norway and is clearly up to no good. The US army need a test subject for a super soldier (surprise surprise) programme, a brave, loyal citizen, to fight for their cause. And guess who is the perfect candidate?? In his new and improved form, Roger becomes the poster boy for American heroism and the USA's only hope against the Nazi terror that confronts them. The end of the film sees Rogers crashing a plane in the Arctic. Supposed dead but actually frozen, Rogers is found and reawakened in the present day - explaining his failure to age between WWII and the "Avengers" - and recruited by Nick Fury.
***1/2
I would find it hard to chose between the Iron Man cover and the Thor cover, but as I have a standing order for Empire magazine, I receive it monthly in the post with a special, members only front cover. It's well cool. So I didn't have the tough, though admittedly exciting, decision of picking a cover, I got this bad boy instead...
Avengers News: In an interview with Empire magazine, Neal McDonough, who plays Dum Dum Dugan in "Captain America" has declared that, as well as "Iron Man 3" and "Thor 2", which Marvel already has set for 2013, a "Captain America 2" and a "Nick Fury" or "S.H.I.E.L.D." film may be on the cards for 2014. Watch this space!
@empiremagazine
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