Avengers: Age of Ultron - Review

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