It is my understanding that it might be possible to be disappointed in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, I just can’t imagine it.
I mean, if you aren’t interested in Superhuman combat that’s simply unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Truly impossible things being done sequentially in one long shot that’s got a severe case of multiple jaw drops before it is done. The sort of action that speaks not to the practical bill worrier, not the person horrified by the daily cycle of bullshit we’re force fed… but that person inside of you that can still dream and imagine what if. What if instead we had HYDRA and HULK and ULTRON sized problems? What if we could just accept that the Norse God THOR was wielding his awesome power here on Earth?
It is spectacular to behold. You know that Castle/Fort thing we’ve seen in trailers and clips? It’s got an awesome force field around it – and there’s so much science fiction at play with HYDRA – and I have to admit, watching AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. it tends to sparingly give you action that’s very much Television action… then you watch AVENGERS – and the pacing is breakneck. Some people might complain that there’s just too much going on, but those are just folks like Emperor Joseph II (as played by the amazing Jeffery Jones in AMADEUS). For me, I just open my eyes wider and stop blinking. I drink the detail and when my mind is racing to keep up – I realize, quite gleefully, I’m gonna watch the living fuck out of this.
This film is paced like a crazy James Bond film but with action that constantly makes that series feel a bit quaint. I like quaint, but there was always a degree of hyperactivity to the very notion of THE AVENGERS. It came as a response to the JUSTICE LEAGUE of AMERICA, historically speaking. Give the audience all their heroes in a single purchase. Julius Schwartz was brilliant. As was Stan Lee!
Joss Whedon has stuffed this film with treats at a rate that completely made me want more now. Now. After this film, you should be chomping at the bits for what’s next. That can annoy some people. Me, I just know it’s the exact feeling I have when I finish a comic in a new line that I’m reading. I can’t wait to see what’s next – and it is that magical aspect of comics that Marvel has captured so perfectly.
For Fin Fang Foom’s Sake, we got the fucking VISION in this film – and it is AMAZING! Sure, they’re saving him for the third act, but he does things that I’ve always dreamt of. In the huge action sequences at the end, I couldn’t help myself, my eyes followed Vision as though an optometrist had ordered me to.
VISION to me… he’s the dream of artificial intelligence. I like that the film hands us the Nightmare (ULTRON) – but then – for me, ULTRON is inconsequential. Yes yes, he’s the big baddie – and I couldn’t be more delighted by him, but frankly – ULTRON was just always a nightmare baddie that was something to be dealt with. VISION… VISION is the dream of what we could create. A being of phenomenal power and wisdom, a being that treasures life beyond all else – and well. He’s the VISION – and Paul Bettany is that VISION! I just want to watch all those scenes frame by frame on Blu Ray 3D soon. But first, I’m going to see all of the MARVEL movies in a row for our 27 hour Marvel Marathon, then it’s time for the IMAX trip. Then it’ll be time for MAD MAX FURY ROAD!
Now don’t get me wrong, I like ULTRON an awful lot. I like how there’s aspects of Banner & Stark in his witticisms and fatalistic views. James Spader embues ULTRON with a degree of charm, as though you might actually want to have a conversation with him. ULTRON is early in ULTRON’s development. He hasn’t quite got that pure sadistic horror that we’ve seen ULTRON develop in the comics… but perhaps further down the road.
I love how VISION comes to life, how he came about. Sure, I’ve got that traditional side of me that wants Hank Pym involved, but this is perfectly acceptable.
I really don’t feel anybody gets the bad deal in this movie. All the characters get great character beats. I love the use of running gags in the film, which really makes the Avengers feel like a family of friendly combatants. Jeremy Renner’s HAWKEYE gets some great scenes to stand out and give us a feel for what he could bring to the leadership table. In particular, I love his talk to Scarlet Witch when the shit hits the fan.
I love Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch being introduced as villains – I love how VISION decides upon his costume. I love how Black Widow chills The Hulk. I really love THE HULK period. I love every awesome shield slinging moment of Captain America. I love the Science Bromance of Tony Stark and Bruce Banner! I love the Quinjet. I love Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue and everything that happens with him! I love the Scarlet Witch Nightmares she gives the Avengers and those scenes are sooo great!
Things I didn’t quite care for… As is usual, this is a Joss Whedon project, so it means absolutely he’ll find a way to piss you off with a character death. Mission accomplished. But at this point, we know the INFINITY WAR isn’t too far off – and reality bending can pretty much do whatever the fuck you want to… I’m personally pulling for Darkwing Duck and ROM THE SPACE KNIGHT, but if you want the dead brought back – it’s the comics world, only Gwen Stacy is supposed to stay dead forever. And yeah, I know, but I just ignored that current development, because she’s supposed to teach us about loss, not wish fulfillment.
Anyway… The scene with Hayley Atwell, I hated… but I was supposed to. That’s just some twisted evil shit. Same with the Idris Elba/Heimdall scene. I love it and hate it, but that’s exactly how I’m supposed to feel about that.
Don Cheadle at the party just kills it. FRIGGIN SUPER LOVE THE STAN LEE CAMEO HERE! So good.
But if I’m gonna be completely honest – VISION just completely did it for me. It diddled that happy geek inside of me that was birthed reading comics at all hours of the night. But I just always figured I’d never see VISION on the big screen. If once VISION was introduced, through to the end… if that’s all there was… I’d pay full admission 10 times in a single day just for that. I love it that much. I mean, it still isn’t quite registering.
Right now, out in theaters is a great science fiction film called EX MACHINA by Alex Garland. It’s genius stuff. Beautiful effects, fantastic characters and really probing the notion of Artificial Intelligence. Whether we should do it or not. What happens when you create something possibly smarter than you? In many ways, it’s a perfect double feature with AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON.
But AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON is a pure delight. Every single character character in this film could have their own TV series or Film series as far as I’m concerned. I just can’t imagine getting exhausted with this. I mean, we’ve just gotten the VISION for a third of a movie. I want at least 3 more AVENGERS movies with him, before he founds the WEST COAST AVENGERS and we get that series going too. I like that AVENGERS line up at the end – and fuck Joss Whedon sweetly for that end cut! So cruel. So cruel. Is it really too much to just give it to us?
I love THOR understanding the gambit that is going on regarding the INFINITY STONES – and that’s a great tease for what’s coming. I love how Thor and Stark argue about whose woman is better. OH – and is it just me, or was Chris Hemsworth seriously having the most fun and getting fantastic lines! That one exclamation of his that causes Banner to hate himself a little more… well, GENIUS!
I think this feels more like what reading the AVENGERS was like. One terrible thing after another. It was like a one off story that secretly serves as the prequel to two apocalyptically badass issues. Yes, I want Scarlett Witch to get even closer to the Comic character, I like that the romance between her and VISION isn’t set up, but in my own happy happy dance dance kind of way, I totally can see it.
Also, scientifically, I liked the bullshit magic way that VISION comes about through pseudosciencefiction fun! I also love the respect he commands from THOR – I have to say – I completely didn’t see any of that coming – and I just wanted to bounce on a bed I was so happy!
This is one helluva fun flick. Rage Crazy Hulk vs HULKBUSTER – if you think you’ve seen it all with trailers and clips – NOPE, not even close. That’s just a warm up. It is spectacular.
There’s action in this thing that had me so giddy I thought I’d hyperventilate. “Go to sleep” feels like a beautiful mantra to learn from this bit of pop culture. Giggle.
And as for the credit scene. MAN OH MAN OH MAN! We’re in for something truly extraordinary I feel.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is a far more sweetly enjoyable movie, simply because none of the destruction was happening to Earth. This film, you can get the sense that the world would just as well be better without superheroes and supervillains, cuz… man… You know some people died badly throughout the incidents of the film, and I think that collateral damage will go a long way towards what we’ll see coming with CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR… but also, I’m wildly curious to see how ANT-MAN follows this. This movie is just pedal to the metal.
Once you see that MARVEL logo go off screen, just hold onto your armrests and try not to blink for as long as you can, cuz this movie comes out swinging and doesn’t stop until the end.
Oh – and Marvel… Let’s have a VISION & SCARLET WITCH movie set in New York that is primarily a Romance with a tad of mystery thrown in for good measure. Like a love letter before you tear the fabric of reality apart. Let us fall in love with them!
Seriously – you’ll see Vision flying with Scarlett Witch cradled in his arms – and if you’re a fan at all… HOLY SHIT! REALLY! I GET THAT! I know, a breadcrumb, but dammit. SO GOOD! I want them to nail that story perfectly! VISION is going to capture audiences imaginations. They should strike out and capitalize by giving us one film where it isn’t catastrophes & doomsdays, but just a little down time. Show us them living and figuring the world out. Discovering their possibilities. Asking big questions and showing us amazing possibilities.
We’re getting into that stage of MARVEL films – and man… DOCTOR STRANGE should just take us somewhere altogether new. Whedon did a great great job on this. He’s definitely raised the bar on spectacular superhuman action, comedy and suspense! There’s so many great things going on in this flick. Looking forward to that whole Marvel Marathon! This will be a thundering conclusion to it all! So much fun! Truly the Marvel Age!
