I’m hardly the biggest comic book fan, but you can bet I was foaming at the mouth for The Avengers, which hits theaters May 4. Though anticipation for the superhero extravaganza has been building for years — in fact, more than 42% of fans polled on the Marvel’s The Avengers Facebook page said they planned on seeing the movie “more than twice” — I have to admit, I was a little skeptical it could be pulled off. Yet, I knew if anyone could prove me wrong, it was screenwriter/director Joss Whedon. And boy, did he deliver!

Here are my top five reasons why The Avengers was everything I was hoping it would be (and more!):

#1) It has a script that actually makes sense: All too often, producers think audiences will ignore gaping plot holes if they throw enough special effects in our faces. Can anyone say, Iron Man 2?  But The Avengers is different. The movie has a well thought-out plot that’s easy to follow, a great villain in Thor’s brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), and a satisfying resolution. I really have to hand it to Joss for not sacrificing substance for style.

#2) It gives everyone in the ensemble their due: Like you, I can’t get enough of Robert Downey Jr. as “billionaire playboy philanthropist” — and smart-ass — Robert Stark/Iron Man. (Not surprisingly, 37% of fans chose Iron Man as the superhero they would most like to be.) Nevertheless, I was going in to see an ensemble film, not Iron Man 3. Thankfully, every character in The Avengers has a clear purpose and gets plenty of screen time. Even more importantly, the six leads — Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr. — have amazing chemistry.

#3) It’s action-packed: The Avengers boasts some of the best action sequences I’ve seen in years. The epic final battle between the Avengers and Loki’s army of alien invaders that takes place smack in the middle of New York City will literally have you on the edge of your seats!

#4) It has heart: The Avengers might not be as gritty or as philosophical as Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight, but its message is one that will resonate strongly with audiences of all ages. Watching a ragtag team of superheroes put aside their differences and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds reminds you what we can accomplish if we work together — not to mention what’s worth fighting for.

#5) It’s funny: Sure, Robert Downey Jr. is hilarious, but he’s hardly the only member of the cast who had me cracking up. In fact, several times throughout the movie, the whole audience burst out into laughter.

Bottom line: You have GOT to see Marvel’s The Avengers opening weekend. Run — don’t walk — to your local theater. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Now that you’ve read my list, HollywoodLifers, I want to hear your first impressions of the The Avengers. Leave a comment below letting me know what YOU think of the film!

– Josh Rosenblatt

Attention, all guys! After your girlfriends have forced you to go see The Lucky One or The Vow, it is time to payback the favor and take your girl to The Avengers. But here is the hook: they will love it too! Whether you have seen the other Marvel films like Iron Man, Thor, Captain America or not, this film puts the best of all those films in one great superhero package!

The best thing about The Avengers is not that it’s fun, funny and action packed — but it’s all of that combined and mixed with originality, in a sea of movies that are often cookie cutter and the same boring blockbuster. Stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo seem to be genuinely having a blast playing Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Joss Wheedon‘s script and direction of Hollywood’s heavyweights is amazing, as we never get a shortage of the stars we came to see.

And we never get tired of caring about how they all deal with saving the world from the evil Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Speaking of Tom Hiddleston, he may have the best and most important part in the film, since he is the sole bad guy. He irks all The Avengers in his own certain way, which also allows every one to have a different reason to kill him or keep him alive. The main reason: he is Thor’s brother, who obviously wants to reason with what his brother is trying to do in killing Earth as we know it.

Now I know I haven’t really addressed any spoilers, and I will not because everyone should go into the theater expecting an amazingly good time. Most likely what you will get when you leave the theater is a ticket to the next showing. This film is for everyone and everyone should go see it.

So HollywoodLifers, If you don’t have tickets to The Avengers this weekend you are simply doing the wrong thing. I can’t stress enough how awesome this movie was to watch. I can’t wait to see it again multiple more times. Trust me, you will not be disappointed!

Russ Weakland

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A brand-new trailer for next summer’s super-hero epic The Avengers has hit the web — and we’re more excited for this Marvel mash-up than ever! Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth and the rest of the team dodge explosions and bust some heads in this never-before-seen footage. So what are you waiting for? Watch it, already!

It’s been a while since Hollywood has released an exceptional law drama, so Puncture is an extra special treat! HollywoodLife.com checked out the film at the premiere hosted by Gucci on Sept. 15 at the Angelika Film Center. The film tells the true story of Mike Weiss (Chris Evans) and Paul Danziger (Mark Kassen), friends and partners of a small personal injury law firm in Houston.  The fate of their firm suddenly changes when they meet Vicky (Vinessa Shaw), a nurse who has contracted a deadly disease at work after being pricked by a contaminated syringe.

These two dedicated lawyers seek to change the pharmaceutical industry for good by introducing a new contractible “safety needle” that cannot be used more than once, making it impossible for diseases to spread amongst those who touch them.  However, as Weiss struggles with a severe drug addiction, both he and Danziger are forced over the edge and fear for the future of the case, their firm, and even their lives!

Here are the top 5 reasons to see Puncture when it hits theaters Sept. 23:

• Chris Evans proves he can execute more serious, intense roles.  We smell some award nominations coming his way soon!
• Vinessa Shaw is drop-dead gorgeous–even in a hospital gown!
• In addition to Evans and Shaw, this film boasts a talented cast including brothers and co-directors Mark (who also plays Danziger in the film) and Adam Kassen, Rent’s Jesse L. Martin, and The Terminator’s Michael Biehn.
• When we said true story, we meant it–some of the “actors” in the film are actual lawyers who worked on the real-life case and were chosen to play themselves!
• The ending is so shocking, it will make your jaw drop!

After the film guests celebrated the film’s debut at the swanky CO-OP Penthouse at The Hotel on Rivington. Trust us when we say, it was quite the way to end Fashion Week!

– Olivia Perdoch

Are you ready to have a rollicking good time with Chris Evans as delicious man candy? Then snap up a ticket to Captain America and settle in to a Raiders of the Lost Ark experience set in WWII.

Chris plays 98 lbs. Brooklyn boy weakling Steve Rogers. Steve is desperate to enlist in the U.S. army in 1941 to fight the Nazi bullies. He’s been bullied all his life and wants his chance to fight back. The only problem is that he’s asthmatic, among other health disqualifying things.

Luckily, when he tries to enlist on his fifth try, he runs into German escapee Dr. Erskine (Stanley Tucci) who sees potential in Steve to be his first “super soldier.”

The brilliant doctor has developed a serum which can take a weakling like Steve and turn him into a big buff superhero, who hilariously earns the name Captain America.

The two bonuses with Steve are that he has the brains to match his new brawn AND he has an incorruptible kindness that makes him the perfect match for Dr. Eskine’s nemesis, the Nazi Scientist, Red Skull, who reads the evil Nazi deep science division, the Hydra organization Skull, who has voldemort-style nose issues, has harnessed a mythical and dangerous Raiders or the Lost Ark style power source that Captain America must discover and battle.

Let the action begin. And watching the action is fun, but fortunately, unlike Transformers, doesn’t take over all the screen time.

Chris strikes romantic sparks with beautiful British drill Sergeant/ secret agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and banter chemistry with a gruff American Colonel who looks like he’s having a blast through the whole thing, Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones).

I can guarantee you two hours of fun with Chris Evans and a deep desire to see the sequel. When is it coming out?!

— Bonnie Fuller

Everyone in Hollywood wants to party with Prince William and Kate Middleton during their short-but-sweet stay in sunny Los Angeles! HollywoodLife.com had already reported that celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez would be mingling with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the BAFTA gala on Saturday night, but even more A-list attendees have been announced, including heartthrob Zac Efron!

The BAFTA Brits To Watch event, which is celebrating 42 emerging British actors and actresses, will take place at the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles and already has a number of big-named celebs scheduled to attend.

People.com is reporting that the list of confirmed attendees for the event is growing larger by the day, and now includes Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony, Zac Efron, Jack Black, Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, Barbra Streisand and husband James Brolin, Chris Evans, Ginnifer Goodwin, Judd Apatow and wife Leslie Mann, Jason Bateman, Nigel Lythgoe (who is an organizer for the event), Cat Deeley, Derek Hough, Mekhi Phifer, Maria Bello, Gemma Arterton, director Jason Reitman and Zooey Deschanel.

Now that the question of who’s attending has been somewhat answered, we are left wondering what the stunning newlyweds will wear and who the royal couple will be most excited to meet! What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Sound off below!

Blair Moylan

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Ashley and Joe barely avoid an encounter at a LA hotspot — while Ashley was with her rumored new man Chris Evans!

Ashley Greene and Joe Jonas are learning that Los Angeles is a very small city, as the exes missed each other by mere minutes while both out at the same club! So awkward!

People reports that Ashley and Joe both attended the vaudeville show Beacher’s Madhouse inside the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel the night of May 12 with Joe arriving just after 1 a.m. — minutes after Ashley left!

Joe was surrounded by his entourage at the show while Ashley was hanging out with rumored new boyfriend Chris Evans who “sat nearby.” Luckily Ashley managed to get out before her ex, who actually had seen the show the week before!

So HollywoodLifers, do you think Ashley left because she knew Joe was on the way?
GET THE LATEST NEWS ON ROB & KRISTEN!

1. IS KRISTEN HEADING TO THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL?
2. KRISTEN STEWART & ROBERT PATTINSON DO THEIR OWN ‘BREAKING DAWN’ STUNTS!
3. ROB PARTIES WITH SIENNA MILLER IN LONDON!

Most young men would kill for a life like Joe or Nick Jonas! Money, fame, talent and a chance to date any woman in Hollywood! From Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez to Taylor Swift and Ashley Greene, these two seem to have been with every major young player in Hollywood — and then dumped them! So who is the bigger heartbreaker, Joe or Nick?

Joe Jonas

• Taylor Swift: The country crooner and Joe had a storied relationship, until he dumped her in 2008 — via cell phone. Unfortunately for Joe, Taylor got her revenge via a hit song with some less than nice things to say!
• Camilla Belle: Joe moved on from Taylor to this gorgeous young actress, though it was reportedly she who left the singer — and was possibly unfaithful!
• Demi Lovato: Joe and his BFF became something more in early 2010 but were over by May of the same year. She ended up in treatment after suffering a breakdown while on tour with Joe — and his new girlfriend.
• Ashley Greene: Joe and Ashley spent the latter part of 2010 and beginning of 2011 inseparable, and then it was over. Ashley seemed to get over her heartbreak by partying with a bevy of young stars like Jared Followill and Chris Evans.

Nick Jonas

• Miley Cyrus: The young stars were so in love that they became an item the second they met Miley claimed — and later said she cried for a month straight when they split!
• Selena Gomez: The on again, off again couple officially broke up in March of 2010, and Selena slowly moved her way towards Justin Bieber!
• Samantha Barks: Joe met his English girlfriend when they both performed in Les Miserables in London, and then their relationship fizzled in March of 2011.

So HollywoodLifers, who do you think is the bigger heartbreaker — Joe or Nick?