Avengers: Age of Ultron (Film Review)

The first ‘Avengers’ movie is essentially the film that puts Marvel to the position where it is now. It is a celebration of everything the studio sets up with multiple stand-alone movies, and still stands as the best comic-book movie to date. ‘Age of Ultron’, culminating the Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, doesn’t rely much on the films coming before it. It instead goes on its own routes while at the same time teases bigger threats for its characters.

Director Joss Whedon, stepping on as the director for the last time (he will be replaced by the Russo brothers for the two-parter ‘Infinity War’), and his banter-fest trademark we all love from him is present, and at the same time providing the perfect balance of action and humor amidst the film’s darker tone. While the film isn’t close to being great as its predecessor, ‘Age of Ultron’ is satisfyingly tasty from start to end, starting off with an impressive long-shot action sequence in a fictional mid-eastern city Sokovia.

The movie interestingly explores the changes within its characters. Tony Stark believes that artificial intelligence can be the answer to peace in Earth, creating Ultron as an experiment with Dr. Bruce Banner as a global defense program. But things go awfully awry when Ultron unexpectedly goes after Tony and the Avengers, believing that to change humanity was to eradicate it: starting with the Avengers extinction. Black Widow and Bruce Banner develops some sort of romance that works really well. Captain America still plays as the team leader, while Thor… well, he doesn’t do that much.

It’s a good thing I didn’t expect way too much for this film because I was let-down by it. Seeing the film twice already, I thought the movie goes way a bit long. Whereas the first movie is essentially one, gigantic action scene, I don’t think the movie will be that enjoyable after multiple viewings unlike the first one. But there’s no denying it’s still a hell of an entertaining movie. The movie, like the first film, reaches its peak during its quieter moments where its characters banter each other. The argument of the team at the hellicarrier about Loki’s scepter on the first movie was the best part of the movie, and I just wish there’s more of that with this movie.

Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye might not get a stand-alone movie anytime soon, but we get to see his personal life explored on-screen. Hawkeye, admittedly being silly with just “a bow and arrow” in the film’s climax, made the cut as the best part of the sequel. Newcomers Pietro and Wanda Maximoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen) were welcome addition to the big cast, as well for Paul Bettany’s brilliant the Vision finally being introduced to the team. Bettany brings new flavor to the Vision, while still retaining his J.A.R.V.I.S roots.

As for James Spader’s Ultron, it’s honestly not that menacing as the trailers promised he will be. The movie really forgot to develop him more up until the last hour, and unfortunately treat him as the big baddie with the recipe to destroy the world. But he’s mostly likeable; I just wish the movie explores him more.

The visuals and action sequences were unsurprisingly great. The main highlight of the film, the Hulk squaring off with Iron Man with his “Hulk Buster armor” was a fun moment, but went too chaotic. Those poor buildings.

‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’, while still being completely entertaining, didn’t really live up to its predecessor. Still a great time with the movies though.

The geek rates it 8/10!