2. A Very Public Assembly Marvels The Avengers
After five films over the course of four years, Marvels The Avengers delivered the payoff fans had been waiting for ever since Nick Fury first approached Tony Stark. By all laws of science, mathematics, and movie making; this mammoth undertaking should have been a mess. At least, that's how we're used to these sorts of things going down, what with DC
still trying to get the Justice League off of the ground, and even with the original Marvel films for The Punisher, Captain America, and The Fantastic Four. However, as if he were a superhero himself, Joss Whedon stepped into the writer/director's chair and wove together the threads of the Marvel Cinematic Universe into one amazing masterpiece. For once, someone promised us the Moon, and we got flung to Mars. After a good two acts of solid in-fighting, and the tragic death of Agent Coulson, Earths mightiest fighting force finally unites into the cohesive unit that we all know from the Comics. Whedon, realizing how prolific this event is, sweeps his camera around our heroes in a circle as he shows them preparing for war. Each in their own individual way, our heroes ready their weapons and size up the opposition; all the while creating a unified front of protection for New York/Earth. It was a moment that not only solidified the formation of the super group, but a moment that also signaled Joss Whedon's arrival to Hollywood's Blockbuster Elite. His Phase 2 is going to have a lot to live up to, but considering he bucked the odds the first time, it's a safe bet he'll do it again.