The One Glaring Flaw With The Avengers No One Admits

2. Why Avengers Looks 'Different'

So, for those who've perhaps missed Avengers' unique look, the film was actually filmed in an aspect ratio of 1:85:1. Most other films, however, are filmed in 2.39:1, and it makes the film stand out for the worse. The reason for this, apparently, was so that the Hulk could fit into all the scenes without much adjustment, but given how most other Marvel films haven't struggled with that same issue in 2:39:1, Avengers sticks out like a sore thumb.

Everything just sort of looks squashed together - compacted even - and though the Battle of New York is every bit the spectacle today as it was back when it first released, there's something of a TV feel to The Avengers. The action isn't quite as boastful as it should be and, much like a TV movie, the scale is somewhat stunted; you never truly get the sense that humanity is at stake, and while the aspect ratio isn't to blame entirely, it's still a big reason as to why The Avengers feels somewhat lacking when revisited today.

One could surmise that Whedon's past experiences with TV meant he was more comfortable with the 1:85:1 format, but even 2005's Serenity was filmed in the traditional 2:39:1 ratio.

So really, Hulk is to blame for why The Avengers looks 'off'. Whether to instil a sense of continuity or just because Marvel Studios themselves acknowledged how jarring the change was, 1:85:1 was never used after the fact and 2:39:1 was reinstated as the primary ratio.