avengers: Age of ultron
2015 review number 67:
Avengers: Age of Ultron: (Action/Adventure/Science Fiction): 65 out of 100: The sequel to the smash hit "The Avengers" from 2012 reunites all key cast members and introduces several more. With so many characters, that comes at a price with character development sorely lacking in this sequel.
All the heroes from the original are back including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). They don't waste any time by going straight in to the action trying to retrieve Loki's scepter which possesses powers that can control the destiny of the world. Once this falls into the hands of the villainous Ultron (James Spader), it is up to our heroes along with new additions Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) to save the planet.
The main problem with this movie is the number of characters rendering the character development obsolete. What made the original a better film was that the audience got to know the characters even without having seen the standalone superhero movies. The sequel is more interested in having the characters bantering with each using one-liners which don't always work.
For a superhero movie to succeed, you need a villain you can despise. Here you have a 'computer' taking shape in a physical presence that wants to rule the world. It's rather a boring set-up. James Spader provides the voice of Ultron and just isn't menacing enough when delivering his lines.
The movie succeeds on a technical level. You would expect that from a superhero movie. Kudos to the visual effects, sound, editing and set design. Even though CGI has been used in the majority of effects, the movie is not swamped by computer imagery. It's convincing enough to make the viewer believe in what they are witnessing. The action scenes near the end actually breathe some life into the film.
The music score is also impressive and creates a suitable aura. It doesn't intrude at all and seems to be a natural fit for the visuals. However, there isn't a theme song that you will remember like the original "Superman".
Is it worth seeing it in 3D at the IMAX Theatre? Even though the visual and sound quality are excellent, 3D is just a gimmick. The screen size though helps you appreciate the action scenes and visual effects more.
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" is definitely not as good as the original. It doesn't matter what I say anyway as it will still make a fortune at the box office. However, from a critical perspective, it underwhelms. Hopefully the next sequel will return to winning form.
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson
(141 minutes)
Parental advice: Violence
Additional scene during or after credits: Yes, during the credits we see a character named Thanos put on the Infinity Gauntlet and say “Fine, I’ll do it myself”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAUoeqvedMo (Movie trailer)
(Reviewed on Sunday 3rd May, 2015)
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