Avengers:
Age of Ultron Review
Director
– Joss Whedon
Stars
– Robert Downey Junior, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans
As everyone predicts, Age of Ultron will
probably be the biggest film of the summer, if not 2015. This is largely due to
Marvel’s efficiency at marketing and overall stranglehold on the blockbuster
market. Since the first Avengers way back in the distant past of 2012 people
have been waiting for another hit of the gag filled, action packed, epic cinema
experience. So as I waited in line at the midnight showing I was slightly
hesitant about what was to come, although I have enjoyed most of Marvel’s
exploits I have to admit the First Avengers felt boring and slightly overdone.
I was unsure about the way they could revitalize this group of near indestructible
heroes and give us a real fear for their lives.
Age of Ultron started out strong, it dives
right into the action showing our heroes battling foes in a glorious montage, reintroducing
these characters and showing how much they have changed and developed since
their inception. As the film progressed I realized that Marvel were being the
most tactical and cleaver than they had ever been, as they were centering much
of the plot around Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye. Hawkeye is known to most as either
that guy with the bow and arrow or everyone’s least favorite Avenger.
Personally I always backed him from the start; however after introducing a
complete back-story and family for him it seems that he is now everyone’s
favorite character (Posers). You have to hand it to Joss Whedon, he effectively
gave Renner more screen time than Robert Downey Junior, and people loved it.
Much in the same way we see Bruce Banner (hulk) and Black Widow begin to form a
close relationship, and they to are given center stage to play this out. Given
that none of the trailers showed quite how predominant these subplots would be,
it’s amazing how effectively they worked. Other characters appearing were
Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth
Olsen) normally referred to as ‘The Enhanced’ by most characters, these two
wreaked havoc for the Avengers alongside James Spader’s Ultron. As the main
antagonist, Ultron worked extremely effectively, he was too powerful for each
character alone, thus making a reason for all to unite despite growing
differences. As a whole the film was darker to its predecessor, it showed the
cracks that could easily form between these people and how Ultron literally
could ‘tear them apart, from the inside.’ The films finale delivered what
everyone wanted and more, it gave us a sense of believable danger and left us
with a sense of anticipation for the next installment.
Overall Age of Ultron has to be one of
Marvels finest ventures yet, it will take its place alongside; Guardians of the
Galaxy and the Winter Solider to highlight how great Marvel can be. Although at
times it felt like there was maybe too much going on, and with slight battle
fatigue setting in it was hard to follow some of the sub plots. However the
Ultron even shows how clever it is when it pokes fun at itself, in the films
climax we see Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch speaking in the midst of the action, she
stares at him and states ‘This doesn’t make
sense.’ To which he replies ‘The city
is floating, We are fighting robots and I have a bow and arrow…none of this
makes sense’. This sums up the best of this franchise, its not afraid to
see how ridiculous it can be in the middle of its most dangerous moment. Age of Ultron was fantastic but you can’t help
but want just slightly more, it doesn’t help that Marvel have released their
schedule for all their future movies, which slightly detracts from the will
they, wont they die? When you can clearly see that all the actors have signed
on for another 2 or 3 movies. This is an almost petty comment, as we all want
to know when the Avengers will next assemble.
RATING 4/5
