Is 'The Avengers' movie kid-friendly?

Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, is the director of SHIELD, a government agency. He, with his team of agents, assemble the extraordinary people that become the Avengers.

Iron Man/Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey, Jr., is a "genius billionaire playboy" with an armored suit and a device in his chest to prevent his heart from failing.

Captain America/Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, was a World War II science experiment to create a super soldier. He crashed in the arctic, cryogenically freezing until found and thawed in the modern age.

Hulk/Dr. Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo, is a scientist who you wouldn't like when he's angry. As a result of an experiment with gamma rays, Banner turns into a big green monster (Hulk) when angered.

Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, is an alien the Norse believed to be the god of thunder. Only he can lift his powerful hammer.

Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, played by Scarlett Johansson, is an highly-skilled assassin turned SHIELD agent.

Hawkeye/Clint Barton, played by Jeremy Renner, is a master archer and SHIELD agent.

Phil Coulson, played by Clark Gregg, and Maria Hill, played by Cobie Smulders, are both SHIELD agents with important supporting roles to the Avengers team.

Loki, played by Tim Hiddleston, is Thor's adoptive brother with major issues that make him want to rule the world, like any good supervillain.

The Avengers movie was the biggest thing at the theaters its opening weekend, but will your kids enjoy it as much as you?

First, let me be clear the movie is rated PG-13, most likely for the superhuman violence and destruction. If your child is used to watching superhero movies or television programs, they will be able to handle this movie.

My five-year-old son sat on the edge of his seat for a good portion of the movie, and only jumped in my arms in fear when it appeared a hero was about to be squashed by a rampaging Hulk. This same child, moments later, was cheering on the Hulk as he squashed the bad guys.

In fact, in reviewing the movie, my son said his favorite action moment and funniest moment both featured the angry green monster-turned-hero.

The movie starts right away with Loki, quickly introduced as Thor's brother, arriving as he makes it clear by attacking a SHIELD lab and base that he is the bad guy in the movie. There is then some set up as the Avengers team is assembled, so those who haven't seen the previous movies (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Hulk, Thor and Captain America) know who these guys are. Some of these set-ups include action, like Black Widow beating up the bad guys while tied to a chair, ala Drew Barrymore in Charlie's Angels.

The story goes on to show how a group of people with very different personalities can come together and work as a team to achieve a goal. They fight with each other- super fight and verbally fight- almost destroying themselves in the process. Once the heroes realize what they must do, they seamlessly work to defeat Loki and his army.

There is plenty of action throughout the movie leading up to the main battle scene to keep kids entertained, as well as humor on their level. Although these scenes are not as gory as they could be, there is one scene in which Loki stabs a device into a character's eye to gain access to a needed item, as well as a scene in which a main character is killed by a weapon stabbed through his back and through his chest.

Your child will love this movie, and may even learn something about teamwork in the process.

Note: There are two after-the-credits scenes, so stay in your seats until the very end!