Scarlett Johansson in Avengers: Age of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Directed by Joss Whedon
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle
Review by Jordan – for Eddie’s Take click here
Avengers: Age of Ultron is a competently made and entertaining entry in the vast Marvel cannon, presenting well known and loved characters and surrounding them with a world on the brink of devastation caused by a dastardly villain who knows no compassion. It’s escapism, and as expected it’s shallow both thematically and in it’s narrative, despite it’s best intentions to fool the audience with some convoluted plot details and drawn-out needless scenes.
As entertaining as it may be however, in beginning and ending on a cliffhanger, footnotes which sandwich moments of suspense, action, romance and the token tragedy, what Joss Whedon and his technical team have arguably made is the most expensive episode of all time of a series that appears to have lost its purpose, and is instead clinging onto fan service and it’s many stars for resonance. I say episode because it certainly lacks the substantive feel of a fully formed feature. I watched and enjoyed the fist wave of Marvel titles, back when Tony Stark’s arrogance was fresh and Thor’s honor endearing, and I hoped that the first Avengers film would be the exciting, epic blockbuster that tied the package up in a satisfying manner, so its disappointing then that despite some charming dialogue and impressive special effects, as well as a much improved usage of Hawkeye, I’m still feeling unsatisfied.
I question why a pointless and predictable scene in which a beefed up Iron Man must subdue a mind-warped Hulk before he destroys an entire city seemingly goes for an eternity, or is even included at all, when later what is designed to be an extremely important character transformation takes place and is given hardly any devoted screen time at all. I think back in curiosity at why Black Widow was kidnapped by Ultron only to be saved with little fanfare shortly after, and above all else, I wonder what has become of Don Cheadle. An intended box office hit is always restricted to a defined running time, so it frustrates me when seconds and even minutes are wasted on uninteresting components, especially when that time could be better spent on Elizabeth Olson…
Avengers: Age of Ultron will be seen and enjoyed by many; it’s lighthearted and can encourage a smile or two, but if this series of superhero films fails to reach an indisputable pinnacle soon I fear that it will exist as only another issue of a comic that sits near the bottom of the pile.
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
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Yes! More time was needed with Elizabeth Olsen 🙂
Happy that there are others, ha.
Jordan
They did seem on auto-pilot for a lot of the movie, agree was very lacking
Yeah there were no brave decisions or real exciting elements, but it was enjoyable enough none the less.
Jordan
I think eddie summed you up in his opening.. a bit too spoilt to enjoy.
Its not flawless, and maybe it is only a 3/5 (I disagree myself) but surely you can come away with a few good things to say!
Its a comic book movie.. it’s set like a comic and actually based on a series of comics about ultron. Of course its going to feel like a comic!
Ground breaking? No. Enjoyable? Definitely – especially if you like marvel
Enjoyable: for sure, and I certainly can be criticized for searching out detractors too often; the problem being that I didn’t have to look too far here.
It worked well as what it was intended to be, but I’ll save my stars for a movie that is willing to take risks to earn them.
Jordan
Had a lot of issues with it myself. The only actual moment the characters were in a state of true danger, and a literal deus ex machina shows up from the skies.
I’m almost convinced AoU might be Whedon’s subtle satire of all the previous Marvel movies.
That is a great point. Just like its predecessor, there was never any real suspense or awe, and without any true danger it robbed itself of any relevance.
Jordan
” I think back in curiosity at why Black Widow was kidnapped by Ultron only to be saved with little fanfare shortly after, and above all else, I wonder what has become of Don Cheadle.”
Yes I completely agree with you on this one. The scenes switch from one to another too quickly I can’t catch up and develop feelings on it. And chemistry between Black Widow and Bruce Banner/Hulk is pretty much unnecessary
The film stops and stutters to a climax we’ve seen before. I left the theatre feeling nonplussed about it.
Great review. I loved Elisabeth Olsen in this movie- stole the show for me. Also noticed how long the Iron Man/Hulk scene took (my butt fell asleep). Poor editing.
I think if Marvel had the choice, they would have put off this movie. I know that sounds stupid but this movie seemed rushed and not in “the plan” that is being set-up with better films like Cap America 2 and Guardians. I think Civil War will actually be The Avengers sequel we all wished Ultron actually had been.
Be interesting to see mate, I do wonder when Marvel fatigue will set in. I think Ant-Man will have a tough time selling itself to Box Office glory.
E
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