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1
DIRECTED BY: Joss Whedon
CERTIFICATE: 12
RUNNING TIME: 143 mins
COUNTRY: USA
YEAR: 2012
KEYWORDS: heroism, representation of male and female heroes, director Joss Whedon,
superhero franchises
SUITABLE FOR: 1419 media/flm studies
Marvel Avengers Assemble
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2
SYNOPSIS
When an intergalactic force jeopardises the future of the human race, just one of Earths best
Superheroes isnt enough to deal with the threat. Super Agent Nick Fury hastily assembles a team
of heroes to face the problem egotistical Tony Stark (Iron Man), noble Steve Rogers (Captain
America), volatile Bruce Banner (Incredible Hulk) and God of Thunder Thor along with superspy
Black Widow and sharp-shooter Hawkeye. But the teams combustible personalities and their
troubled histories collide, threatening the stability of their mission. The stage is set for a massive,
destructive showdown in New York City, but will The Avengers be battling the evil Loki, or each
other?
BEFORE VIEWING
TROUBLED HEROES
In the late twentieth century, superhero flms rarely dug beneath the surface of their protagonists.
However, since the frst X-Men flm and Spider-Man flm (which both closely coincided with the
events of September 11th 2001), superhero characters have been deeper, darker and more
troubled. In many movies, our heroes spend as much time battling inner demons as they do
fghting villains. Do The Avengers have the same faults and faws as other superheroes? Are
heroes originally found in DC Comics more damaged than their Marvel counterparts?
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3
Fill in the table that follows; two have been flled in already but you may have more to add, as well
as more superheroes.
Superhero Marvel or DC?
flms featured
in
powers/
strengths
weaknessess/
fears/faws
troubled
history
Batman DC Tim Burtons
Batmans; Joel
Schumachers
The Dark
Knight Trilogy
armoured suit,
vehicles and
weaponry,
unlimited funds
Not
superhuman
therefore
vulnerable
Saw parents
murdered
Daredevil Marvel Daredevil
(2003);
possible
Daredevil
Reboot (2014)
heightened
sense of
hearing, smell,
balance and
touch
blind; over-
sensitive to
sound
father killed;
crisis of faith
Spider-Man
Green Lantern
Elektra
Wolverine
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Film Education 2012. Film Education is not responsible for the content of external sites
4
Superhero Marvel or DC?
flms featured
in
powers/
strengths
weaknessess/
fears/faws
troubled
history
Professor X
Magneto
Superman
Iron Man
The Hulk
Captain
America
Thor
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5
AFTER VIEWING
Why Joss Whedon?
You may be surprised to learn that a flm as huge and expensive as the Marvel Avengers
Assemble was directed by someone who had made only one flm before (Serenity, 2005). But
a closer look at Joss Whedons writing and directing history reveals that he is perhaps the best
person for the job. Use the internet to fnd out a little more about Whedons credentials.
What popular TV series has Whedon created and how is one of these related to Serenity?
How did critics and fans receive Serenity and what genre, narrative and character
conventions does it share with The Avengers? Watch the trailer of both flms to get an idea.
On which popular flms was Whedon a script doctor?
To what extent are the careers of the directors of the original (and forthcoming) Avenger
movies similar to Whedons? Are they new directors? Do they have experience in sci-f/
fantasy or with television? Why might the Avenger flms that they each directed suit their
particular style or thematic interests?
- John Favreau (Iron Man and Iron Man 2)
- Kenneth Branagh (Thor)
- Joe Johnston (Captain America)
- Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk)
- Shane Black (Iron Man 3)
- Alan Taylor (Thor 2)
- Anthony & Joe Russo (Captain America 2)
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6
SCENE ANALYSES
The Avengers Assemble has the task of re-introducing several big characters from a range of
previous flms, most of whom have never met, and some of whom may be unfamiliar to average
moviegoers. Imagine the challenge Joss Whedon faced in bringing together a god from another
dimension, a missing Hulk, a soldier frozen in ice since the Second World War and an arrogant
billionaire who doesnt work well with others! Think back to how all the Avengers are introduced as
individuals and how they are each given identities to distinguish themselves before they team up.
How is Captain Americas isolation from others and from the modern world emphasised
through camerawork and mise en scne in the sequence where he is hitting a punching
bag?
What characteristics does Bruce Banner display and what activities does he engage in in
order to suppress his alter ego?
Is Tony Starks billionaire lifestyle and technology shown as a help or a hindrance in the
flm?
How is Thors otherness emphasised through costume, dialogue and story?
REPRESENTATION
One of the challenges of The Marvel Avengers Assemble was ensuring that no one actor or
character dominated. Many expected Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man to overshadow the flm.
However each superhero has their own moment to shine on screen. Each character has a
narrative function and brings an ingredient to add to the flms broad appeal. In addition, many
conventional representations of women and of masculinity are challenged the males in the
flm are arguably more vulnerable and fawed than the two main female characters, and while
were used to seeing deep, dark superheroes not many of them have been quite so arrogant and
juvenile as this bunch!
What kinds of humour are used through each different character?
How do the male characters clash?
What stereotypical attributes of masculinity, both positive and negative, are present in
each hero?
In what unexpected ways does Black Widow exploit notions of feminine sexuality and
vulnerability to outwit enemies?
What narrative function does each of the Avengers team have? How do they ft in to the
plot?
What faws, traumas or vulnerabilities does each team member have to overcome in
order to be effective as a hero?
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7
RECEPTION STUDY
A huge weight of expectation met The Avengers Assemble upon its release. The flm needed to
be a rewarding smash; many had invested in these characters before and paid to see a range
of related flms. The Avengers is perhaps the most humorous of recent superhero movies, a big
contrast to the two other major comic adaptations of 2012 - the moody and serious Dark Knight
Rises and the gritty and emotional Amazing Spider-Man. The Avengers had plenty to satisfy a
range of moviegoers.
Find out what time of year The Avengers Assemble was released in UK cinemas. Why do
you think this release date was chosen, in relation to all the other huge blockbusters
released in 2012?
To what extent did the flmmakers and distributors attempt to appeal to audiences who
had not seen the previous Avenger flms? Had you seen them before watching this? Did it
affect your enjoyment of the flm?
To what extent are the following blockbuster conventions present in The Avengers
Assemble?
- spectacle
- humour
- romance
- engaging characters
- sequel potential
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Film Education 2012. Film Education is not responsible for the content of external sites
8
ACTIVITIES
THE JUSTICE LEAGUE
After the success of The Avengers Assemble and The Dark Knight Trilogy, it is rumoured that
Marvels rival DC Comics is planning to make a Justice League flm the Justice League is a team
of superheroes that belong to DC Comics and unite, much like The Avengers, to defeat evil. The
Justice League has included such characters as Batman, Superman, Wonder-Woman, The Green
Lantern and The Flash.
While The Avengers Assemble has the beneft of following a series of successful original movies
that each focused on one of the team members (and were each designed to lead up to The
Avengers Assemble), DC Comics movies have had varying degrees of success from the hugely
successful (The Dark Knight Trilogy) to the critically and commercially derided (The Green
Lantern).
Whats more, DC Comics flms are not explicitly linked and a number of the characters have either
had a wide range of flm and TV interpretations (Batman, Superman) or have had little mainstream
exposure outside of the comic book world.
What challenges might DC Comics have ahead of them if they are to produce a Justice League
flm? Consider the questions below in order to focus your class discussion...
What previous or forthcoming interpretations of the following DC characters can you fnd
across flm, television and other media?
- Batman
- Superman
- The Green Lantern
- Wonder-Woman
- The Flash
What reputation and presence do the characters have in popular culture?
How is director Christopher Nolan associated with the Justice League?
PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN
Design a series of posters or thirty-second teaser trailers that promote either a new
Justice League flm or a series of reboots for each character. Consider actors, directors and
release dates.
Film a thirty-second post-end-credits sequence for one of the Dark Knight flms which
hints at a forthcoming Justice League flm
Written by Gareth C. Evans
