Movie Review: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Courtesy: Marvel

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Mark Ruffalo

Directed by Joss Whedon

Rated PG13

My Rating: ****1/2:5

The summer movie season is off to a spectacular start with “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

The sequel to the massive hit superhero film is everything a sequel to “The Avengers” needs to be.

Director Joss Whedon has not only managed to deliver a satisfying follow-up to his adaptation of the

Marvel comic ensemble of the same name; but also craft a film which can stand against its predecessor

on its own.

After a dazzling opening fight scene in Eastern Europe; the Avengers are overwhelmed

as a team. Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) attempts to jury-rig a dormant peacekeeping program cobbled

together from the ashes of HYDRA. This program becomes self-aware as Ultron (James Spader); who

instead seeks to destroy the earth and rebuild it in his image. Ultron is also a much more active villain

than Loki. He takes great pride in driving a wedge between Tony and fellow team members Thor

(Hemsworth), Captain Steve “America” Rogers (Evans); and Bruce Banner (Ruffalo).  

The portrayal of Ultron is easily one of the most frightening things about the movie; even when he isn't murdering

those who stand in his way.

As a man who had extensive TV work under his belt (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,”

“Angel,” “Firefly”); Whedon more than understands how the technical aspects of film work. In

essence; Marvel's films have been the films the live-action “Transformers” films wish they could be

ever since the first “Iron Man.” This is largely due to the fact that the human characters are given

equal worth to the machines they coexist with; rather than merely being glorified extras for when

the special effects and action scenes take over. In obvious fact, Whedon never forgets the human

element behind his $250 million globetrotting adventure with an ensemble cast of costumed heroes.

With a fight scene featuring the Incredible Hulk and Tony in his new “Hulkbuster” armor; every punch

hits with the force of an emotional brawl between two friends as it does raw thrill. As Natasha “Black

Widow” Romanov (Scarlett Johansson) and Clint “Hawkeye” Barton (Jeremy Renner) are evacuating

civilians in South Korea and the final battle in Eastern Europe; you feel everything they go through

as massive set pieces crumble around them. Even new characters Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson)

and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) are given emotionally powerful backstories that help fuel their

speed and sorcery in this 141-minute successor to an already great film.

As Tony remarks “this is the end of the path I started us on;” this is also Whedon's last film he

is making for Marvel. For the two-part “Infinity War” this film helps set up (both entries are due out

in 2018 and 2019; respectively); the reins will be handed to Anthony and Joe Russo. As they already

directed the superb “Captain America: The Winter Soldier;” it will be in good hands. For now;

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” ends his take on the story with a bang and kicks off a season filled with

films hoping to achieve the bar for success Marvel has helped set. If other Marvel films in the coming

years (such as “Ant Man,” on the docket for July 17) can be as intense and slickly-produced as this

one; then Whedon's work with their studio will definitely have finished on a high note. Much like how

“The Dark Knight” improved on “Batman Begins” while also being a great film on its own,

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” is an incredible follow-up to “The Avengers” as much as it can possibly be.