Year: 2015
Director: Joss Whedon
Screenplay: Joss Whedon
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo,
Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Aaron
Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders, Anthony Mackie,
Hayley Atwell, Idris Elba, Stellan Skarsgård, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson.
Synopsis is here:
I found Age of Ultron to be a bit of an oddity. It’s a film
in which, like a Chris Nolan feature, piles on a heavy amount of exposition and
characters explaining themselves in the simplest of terms. Yet when
watching the likes of Inception (2010) or The Dark Knight Rises (2012), I
always find myself quite satisfied with those film’s final acts. I found myself
befuddled by the last third of Age of Ultron. Near the very Tony Stark devises
an improvised plan to save the world, and the other Avengers comply and react
accordingly. Yet once our heroes put the plan into action, I can’t say I was able
to follow it.
It’s difficult to explain. I “got” what was happening in the
overall sense. However, I found myself staring at the screen glassy eyed through
most of the film's finale. Then again, I felt that for much of the films slightly
clunky action set pieces. I never fully got with the rhythm of the film. Joss
does well to balance Age of Ultron as much as he can. This is no simple task. Whedon
does manage to inform the movie with a decent sense of scale (it certainly
feels bulkier and more substantial than the other Phase Two features). However,
the vast array of characters and the tricky issue of what to do with them all,
is starting to show. I’m not surprised the film concludes in the way it does.
All this makes it sounds like I sat in the cinema with a permanent
grimace on my face. Far from it. Age of Ultron excels in its character beats
and developments. Whedon’s screenplay gives the likes of Thor permission become
more ponderous and investigative. Hawkeye is allowed to become the human heart
at the center of the team. An unlikely romance blossoms between characters and
it’s not only the most remarkable element, but also the sweetest. I’m not
surprised that Whedon’s character beats are the most effective aspects of the
film. As someone who limited their consumption of film’s buzz and marketing to
only the trailers, it didn’t shock me in the slightest that the quieter, less
excitable scenes, are the ones I was drawn to.
Whedon’s sense of humour has not succumbed to the same
fatigue I’ve had for superhero movies as whole (thanks constant hype!). The screenplay's punchlines and witticisms push the film along at a lively pace. Whedon also gets
the best out of the cast. Both returning and newcomers. Elizabeth Oslon (Scarlet Witch) and Aaron
Taylor-Johnson (Quicksilver) gives far more ample performances than they did in Godzilla
(2014). Original heroes Pine, Downley Jr and Ruffalo, all come out the blocks
fighting. Johansson, Hemsworth and Renner have the chance to show the most
growth and do so with gusto. James Spader gives a delightfully quirky
performance as Ultron, the A.I. with a god complex. As with Avengers Assemble
(2012), Marvel’s most entertaining villains appear to be saved for this sector
of its cinematic universe.
It’s a shame that the film’s narrative buckles under the
sheer weight of everyone involved. I’ve not mentioned all the returning
supporting cast, new characters and other characters who’ve appeared in other Marvel
films and are returning. Everyone is fighting for space and it shows. Two major
plot revelations occur and did little to elevate the heartbeat. It doesn’t help
that every blog and film site did their best to eliminate any element of
surprise. However, there’s just not enough time for everyone to breathe. I’m
sure there’s a few comic fans who are happy to see everyone stuffed into the films
141 minutes. But I did find myself contemplating how well established, some
characters were compared to others. After reading just how hard Whedon worked in the cutting of the film to give it a sense of order, you realise just how
well he’s done to keep all the plates spinning.
Yep. It still sounds like I have too many misgivings. But
honestly, watching Iron Man don hulkbusting amour and go toe to toe with the
green giant is a huge bunch of fun. As is the musings of Ultron in general.
There’s still much to unpack in Age of Ultron. It does seem that I’ll be
leaving that to the hardcore fanboy audience. Age of Ultron didn’t leave me
with an immediate wish to watch it again like the first film. But I did leave
with enough of a smile on my face.
