The Marvel/Disney money train just keeps on rolling. Avengers:Age of Ultron represents the eleventh film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is a very satisfying sequel to writer-director, Joss Whedon’s 2012 Marvel’s Avengers. The story this time centers on Tony Stark’s (Downey Jr.) ambitious yet well-intended peacekeeping initiative that goes array and threatens that very peace. Warning spoilers ahead…
It doesn’t take long for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye) to go into action as the film opens with a crowd pleasing and stylized battle against a Hydra stronghold. It’s at this stronghold that we’re reintroduced to future Avengers, the Maximoff twins from the post credit scenes of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Pietro aka Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Wanda aka Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). At this point in the film they are anything but heroes as they hold Stark or his weapons to be more precise, responsible for the lost of their parents.
What started out as a good idea of creating an “armor” of sorts to protect the Earth from further alien invasions, the mixture of alien technology and Stark’s computer program gives way to the AI villain of Ultron (voiced by James Spader). Ultron with the help of the mind controlling Scarlet Witch to try and spilt apart the Avengers by making each one face their inner fears and destroy them from within. The twins will soon find out that Ultron’s intentions go well beyond the destruction of the Avengers.
Age of Ultron, was to serve two purposes, one, to lay the groundwork for the next Captain America film, Civil War in which Cap (Chris Evans) and Iron Man find themselves at odds against one another. I don’t think it went far enough though in doing that. Secondly, it also continued the Infinity stone story arc that will conclude with the two-part Infinity War due out in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
A Joss Whedon film wouldn’t be one if it didn’t have its fair share of one-liners and quips. Some worked, some didn’t but overall Whedon is a fanboy at heart who is quite good at giving the fans what they want. Comparing Ultron with its predecessor isn’t easy and perhaps not even fair. The first film was colorful and cartoon like with its Whedon-esque humor. It was also several years in the making so when it finally came to be, the excitement of seeing all of them together for the first time, made many of us comic book fans overlook some of its flaws.
Ultron is very different in that regard. You’ll never have that “first time” feeling again but the thrill of being them fight will always be there. It’s bigger, bolder and brasher in scope and presentation than the first and in between the humor, there’s a serious tone at its core. Ultron is also more personable as we see a side of certain characters that we didn’t know existed. Hawkeye is given a much more deeper role that many would be able to relate to. Then there’s the Hulk-Black Widow, Beauty and the Beast-type romance that comes to light that feels real if not tragic.
Ultron is very different in that regard. You’ll never have that “first time” feeling again but the thrill of being them fight will always be there. It’s bigger, bolder and brasher in scope and presentation than the first and in between the humor, there’s a serious tone at its core. Ultron is also more personable as we see a side of certain characters that we didn’t know existed. Hawkeye is given a much more deeper role that many would be able to relate to. Then there’s the Hulk-Black Widow, Beauty and the Beast-type romance that comes to light that feels real if not tragic.
The epic finale much like its opening scene is an eye popping good time and not one dull moment to be found. In the end, our heroes are once again united in victory but the global threat as seen during the post credits is never too far away and they know it.
Age of Ultron is a fun-filled thrill ride that doesn’t disappoint.
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo & Jeremy Renner.
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON – **** (out of 5 stars)
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
