Brow Beat

I tend to think superhero movies get worse when they get crowded. How will The Avengers—the Joss Whedon-directed popcorn flick that includes Iron Man, Captain America, Nick Fury, The Hulk, Thor, Natasha Romanoff, and more—possibly find time for all its stars? Who knows. But this trailer for the movie (which is scheduled for release in May 2012) is an elegant machine: Simple and well scored, it introduces all the relevant parties in a brisk couple of minutes. Plus it has plenty of Robert Downey, Jr., being quippy, always a happy thing.

On a seprate note: What to make of Downey's one serious line, "If we can't protect the earth, you can be damn sure we'll avenge it." Combined with the shots of the New York City skyline, that comment takes on an odd, and potentially troubling, resonance. Or am I reading too much into it? What do you think?