I finally got a chance to see the most anticipated movie of the year; "Avengers: Age of Ultron". After seeing the original "Avengers" movie in 2012, I had high expectations for this sequel. Unfortunately, it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. It's pretty much the same story line as the original movie: the "Avengers" have to save the world by fighting an entire army of robots. The city gets destroyed again, but at least this time they evacuate the city before fighting "Ultron" and his robot army. Of course, it still has excellent cinematography, realistic CGI graphics, awesome super hero powers displayed and epic action sequences! In fact, the movie begins with the "Avengers" running through the woods in Germany somewhere and fighting "Hydra" soldiers (when are we going to stop hearing about "Hydra" and "Loki's" scepter??!). "Hydra" was the villain in both "Captain America" movies and "Loki's" scepter is in both "Thor" movies and featured in the original "Avengers" movie.
"The Avengers" must come together harmoniously as a team in this movie to stop "Ultron". It shows them working as a team in the very beginning with an opening action scene, as the "Avengers" break into a "Hydra" facility to retrieve "Loki's" scepter. (How did it get there??) But, of course there is still some conflict within the team (to keep it interesting) and they fight each other again just like in the original "Avengers" movie. The two genius members, "Tony Stark" and "Bruce Banner", develop an artificial intelligence program (just like "Jarvis") designed to protect Earth from another alien attack. This backfires on them, as they have accidentally created "Ultron", voiced by the incomparable James Spader. The other two villains in the movie, "Quicksilver" and "Scarlet Witch" both quickly realize that "Ultron" is crazy and decide to join forces with the "Avengers". A younger version of "Quicksilver" was featured in the most recent "X-Men" movie; "Days of Future Past". Aaron Taylor Johnson (from "Kick-Ass" and "Savages") plays an older and completely different version of "Quicksilver" in this film, and he sacrifices himself to save "Hawkeye". (I thought he could move WAY faster than a bullet?) There is a new focus on "Hawkeye" and his family that no one ever mentioned before. It's a waste of screen time and should have never even been in the film. Also, using his personal home as a "safe house" when "Nick Fury" is flying around in that giant, base / ship makes no sense.
Sam Jackson reprises his role as "Nick Fury", but he doesn't show up until the end of the movie. There are other familiar faces featured such as; "Falcon", (from "The Winter Soldier") played by Anthony Mackie and "War Machine", (from the "Iron Man" movies) played by Don Cheadle. They are the two new additions to the "Avengers" team along with "Vision", who is the most exciting character introduced in this film. He joins the "Avengers" at the very end and looks just like he does in the comics! He was actually an original "Avenger" in the comic books too. In this movie, "Vision" is the only one that can destroy "Ultron". My favorite scene is when "Iron Man", "Thor", and "Vision" blast "Ultron" with beams all at once using their powers. That, combined with a blow from "Hulk" shuts "Ultron" down. I also love when "Hulk" hijacks his jet and you just hear James Spader's voice saying, "Oh, for the love of God" before you see "Ultron" thrown out of the jet.
Apparently, there is a budding romance between "Black Widow" and "Bruce Banner" in this movie, she is the only person who can calm the "Hulk" down and turn him back into "Bruce Banner" with a "lullaby". "Banner" disappears at the end, after saving "Black Widow" ... I don't know where that leaves him in the next "Avengers" movie.
The marketing behind this film release was brilliant! For the past four or five months, I have seen "Avengers" merchandise everywhere on practically everything. There was so much hype leading up to the release of this blockbuster on April 22, that the movie made $84.86 million on its opening day! Its the 10th highest grossing movie of all time in America and the 6th highest grossing film of all time outside the U.S. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" has earned rave reviews from several critics and publications including, The LA Times, The New York Times, Chicago-Sun Times, & Rolling Stone. Even Rotten Tomatoes gave this movie a 6.7 out of 10 (74%), and they're quite possibly the harshest of critics.
MARVEL announced that there will be a two-part sequel to this second "Avengers" movie, making it a four-movie franchise. "Avengers: Infinity War Part 1" is scheduled to release in 2018, and "Avengers: Infinity War Part 2" is scheduled to release in 2019. All characters will return (under contract) and more new MARVEL characters will be introduced. "Loki" is also rumored to return in one of the two upcoming movies. Like ALL other MARVEL movies, there was a "secret scene" after the end credits. This scene shows a clear sneak peak a the next alien villain, "Thanos". I'm already excited for the next film - it will feature a different and larger team of heroes and there will be even more characters introduced!
Overall, I loved this movie! To be fair, I grew up reading MARVEL Comics and collecting character cards, so I may be a little bias when I give "Avengers: Age of Ultron" 8/ 10.
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