Joss Whedon returns to write and direct the follow-up to
the ultra successful Joss Whedon film. The picture completes Marvel Studios'
Phase 2 films, which includes Joss Whedon, Joss Whedon, Joss Whedon, and Joss Whedon.
~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo,
Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson
Release Date: May
01, 2015
Rated PG-13 for intense Sequences of Sci-Fi Sction,
Violence and Destruction, and Some Suggestive
Comments
Runtime: 2 hr. 21 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Avengers: Age of Ultron is successful enough to keep the
status quo established by the first team up film. It doesn’t do anything spectacularly more
impressive that its predecessor and some of the beats and moments feel similar
for good reason. The old saying “if it
ain’t broke don’t fix it” is incredibly fitting. The new characters add a smattering of
freshness to it but all of them feel as underdeveloped as Elizabeth Olsen’s
variable accent. Ultron is an
interesting villain but I couldn’t help feeling his characterization was rather
rushed throughout. James Spader does a
fine job of keeping the character interesting even if he’s not as devilishly charismatic
as Loki. The main cast of characters all
slip into their roles easily and honestly by this point it’s old hat. Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo share
some of the film’s quieter moments which also deliver the biggest emotional
impact. Jeremy Renner gets a deeper back
story and some of the film’s best lines; one can’t help but wonder if Joss
Whedon was making up for his limited role in the first film. As for Whedon, you can’t help but admire the
guy’s dexterity at keeping most of the ball in the air all throughout. It’s not perfect and you can’t help but feel
like some subplots got left on the cutting room floor, even then the film’s a
tad overlong. Still, it’s an enjoyable
Marvel superhero film which does everything you want from a solid blockbuster.
B
I suspect that there might be an extended cut as so many threads weren't nowhere. Thor got especially short changed.
ReplyDeleteThe characters and cast are so familiar now it's almost comforting to check in with them every year or so to see how their adventure is progressing!
It's flawed but I can't help but love it. I am not sure how many repeat viewings it will have on dvd. I suspect that it might be a cinema watch and that is it.
Good start to Summer Season though!
K :-)
Yeah I wouldn't be surrprised if there's a 3 hour cut out there. Thor's whole story line was cut to a couple of minutes.
DeleteI'll give it another at the movies, hopefully it holds up better than The Avengers which wasn't as much fun as it was the first time, for me at least.
I think it holds up well on a 2nd viewing (saw it again on Sunday) and it isn't bad in 3D either (or at least it didn't annoy me).
DeleteSome of the one liners we still giggled at but none of the rest of the audience did so it was a dud crowd which made it less fun than last weeks viewing.
Also, to our humiliation we left before the credit scene as we already seen it and someone call us back to our seats like we were amateurs. Mortifying! ;-)
I have to say I enjoyed it more the the 2nd time around.
Deletein your defense the bumper wasn't that special....