Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson

Directed by Joss Whedon

Synopsis:
In wanting to create peace in the world, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) decide to build an artificial intelligent robot named Ultron (James Spader), which goes terribly array when Ultron decides the only way to bring peace to Earth is by eliminating the Avengers and everyone in the world.  Now they must work together to take him down, along with enhanced twins Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Wanda (Elizabeth Olson), who are working with Ultron to get revenge against the Avengers.

Review:
When the first "Avengers" came out, people were doubtful they'd be able to bring together so many big names and big characters into one film.  Not only did it succeed, it became the third highest grossing movie of all time.

Now director Joss Whedon returns again with the original cast to give another go at movie gold, and personally I feel "Age of Ultron" far exceeds the original, and I wouldn't be surprised if it surpassed the original in sales.

Often sequels suffer at the hands of the original, in a formula I call the Second Movie Syndrome (SMS).  Very often the sequel abandons story for other aspects, since everyone has already been introduced in the first film, so there's no need for additional character development.  With "Age of Ultron," they didn't abandon this much-needed aspect, as they continue to delve into the lives and relationships of Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, and especially the minor characters from the first film - Black Widow, Hawkeye and the Hulk.  They face their dark pasts, and their future fears as they unite to fight the ultimate enemy.  Without giving anything away, we learn a lot about their lives, especially Hawkeye, who received a bum's deal in the first film.  He emerges here as one of the most integral characters, which was fascinating to see since his first "Avengers" outing he was pretty much nothing more than Loki's brainwashed henchman.

Along with the six Avengers, we're introduced to four new characters, and even though some may seem it's too overdone, I feel that Whedon has once again managed to really balance all the characters so they all get decent screen time.

First is Ulton himself, voiced by the brilliant James Spader, who is the best Marvel villain since Loki.  He's not just an artificially intelligent robot, but he's got the snark and wit that his creator - Tony Stark - also possesses.  He's an unstoppable villain, who sets out to destroy the world in order to save it.

Then there's the Maximoff twins, which I will go into a little more detail with here.  Due to Sony owning the rights to the "X-Men" franchise, Disney couldn't use the term "mutants" or "Magneto" in "Avengers," so instead of Pietro (Quicksilver) and Wanda (Scarlet Witch) being the mutant children of Magneto, they're instead enhanced humans born from H.Y.D.R.A.'s testing.  Pietro has super speed, and Wanda can manipulate minds and use telekinesis, or as Maria Hill put it - "He's fast and she's weird."  These two have the best relationship out of everyone, as they're totally alone in the world, and only have each other to rely on.  Plus their powers are wicked cool in a movie where the only fighting abilities are punching and shooting.  Their powers come to full fruition in the film, and are used in stunning and amazing ways.

Finally there's The Vision, played by Paul Bettany.  I will not reveal anything about his character because he's integral to the story, and saying anything about him would spoil the story.

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" manages to grab you at the very start and, as Thor did with Tony Stark, grab you by the throat and refuse to let go.  The action sequences parallel the final scene in "Avengers," where each scene could've been the finale of a regular movie.  The much-hyped Hulk vs. Iron Man Hulkbuster was all I imagined it would be and more, and by far one of the best action scenes in any recent action film.  The bookend fighting sequences are both equally amazing and filled with nonstop action and quick-witted dialogue that you've grown to love about Avengers.  Even the quieter moments in the film keep you glued to the screen, never wanting to look away or even blink in fears of missing something important.

Summary:
After years of hype and excitement, "Avengers: Age of Ultron" not only met my expectations, but far exceeded them.  Words cannot adequately express the spectacle I witnessed.

My Rating: A+