I have seen a lot of “exhibits” tied to film properties. Most of the time, I end up disappointed. Many times the exhibits will be static or other times the film property is just a flimsy overlay to make people excited for what otherwise would be a fairy pedestrian display. I had to say I was nervous when I first heard about the Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. exhibit in Times Square. Knowing that space is at a premium in Manhattan, how big could it be? I was also leery of the stigma of “tourist bait” that looms over Times Square attractions.
I am happy to say that the exhibit far exceeded my expectations. The exhibit is a bigger experience than you might be inclined to believe. I was also thrilled to see that the exhibit lives fully in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was not just a mish-mash of Marvel characters slapped onto walls. You can sense when and where this exhibt takes place. In fact, the whole experience was more like a pop-up Disney attraction than an exhibit. There is storytelling, consistency of theme, and attention to detail that I was not expecting.
Let’s start at the beginning S.T.A.T.I.O.N. stands for Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network, which means someone really wanted it to be called S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (pardon the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. reference). The exhibit takes place prior to the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier as S.H.I.E.L.D. is still alive and well. Agent Blake (Titus Welliver) is also alive and well as he serves as the orientation leader to all guests as they enter the exhibit.
Once inside the themed rooms, there are a wide range of memorabilia from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Artifacts include Captain America’s rebirth pod, Loki’s scepter, a hermetically sealed Chitauri, and Agent Coulson’s Captain America trading cards. The items are not displayed as props from a film, but as actual historical artifacts from the earlies days of the SSR through the Battle of New York. I have seen many exhibits featuring props from films. If you have been to the El Capitan Theatre, you know what I was expecting. I have never seen a wider array of artifacts from one franchise, than I have here. I cannot stress this enough…. This exhibit is more impressive than I could have imagined.
The themed rooms include interactive exhibits that use the pseudoscience of the Marvel Universe to teach real science. Learn the science behind the Bruce Banner’s transformations. Ever wonder how Thor’s Mjolnir conducts electricity? Now you can find out. Guests are giving S.H.I.E.L.D. ID cards that are used to activate the interactive experiences. These experiences were a lot of fun, so be careful not to make the mistake I made and not give yourself enough time to thoroughly enjoy the exhibit.
Protip to Disney fans: The exhibit is only two blocks away from the New Amsterdam Theatre, home to Aladdin. It is also near the Madame Tussauds which also features a Marvel exhibit and Iwerks 3D attraction. You are also a stone’s throw away from the Times Square Disney Store. So basically, it is a good time for Disney fans to visit Times Square.
The only disappointment was the merchandise selection. There was little merchandise special for the exhibit. The fairy large shop felt like a parade of various Marvel licensees. I do not know if this was a result of seeing the exhibit early on or not, but I would have enjoyed an Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. t-shirt.
I hope my enthusiasm for this exhibit encourages you to experience it. I enjoyed it more than I could have possibly imagined. It is not a theme-park attraction, but it shows the potential of what a Marvel Cinematic Universe based experience could be.
For tickets to Marvel’s Avengers: S.T.A.T.I.O.N. visit http://www.
