In some ways better than the original, and in some not:
To say that this sequel is bigger and badder than the original in virtually every way is not an understatement. "Age of Ultron" boasts more villains, more heroes, more action, and a far weightier tone than "The Avengers". While "The Avengers" was hampered by its origin story format and an incredibly slow first 20" "Ultron" is able to burst out of the gates with the heroes gathering and quickly storming the (literal) castle. We're also introduced to our first villains, Baron von Strucker and "the twins". The movie is dense with plot in its first act, especially in how Ultron is created, and it may make some people's heads spin. Also, with so many floating pieces/ characters to balance out and give each their due time (though it does give each of the characters their own moments and balances their screen time quite well), it ends up feeling like there are a bit too many moving pieces.
Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron 2-Disc BD Combo Pack (3D BD+BD+Digital HD) [Blu-ray]
Aside from the first movie having going for it the first ever big screen superhero team movie of its kind, it also had deliciously and well-balanced bright visuals and nice punctuations of humor throughout. Anyone remember how much everyone loved the Hulk again after that movie, in large part because of how they utilized him to humorous effect? Not so here. While there a few moments of levity (the best being the scene that many are already familiar with from the trailer where the heroes are chillaxing and trying to pick up Thor's hammer) the entire shebang is grimmer, darker, and dirtier. This is also enhanced by a drained color palette and the heroes' struggles with each other. But this will only be a negative for those who are looking for heartier chuckles and not so much from people who are looking for some "serious superhero action". Still, it wouldn't have hurt to make this movie a little more fun.
Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron 2-Disc BD Combo Pack (3D BD+BD+Digital HD) [Blu-ray]
Ultron himself certainly lives up to his title card billing. He is an extremely worthy opponent for a killer group of heroes such as the Avengers. Threatening in a variety of ways this is no mere cold, calloused Terminator out to dispose of the human race. This machine's mission is personal and he is imbued with disarming personality (voiced by James Spader). As far as the other characters go here's a roll call:
Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron 2-Disc BD Combo Pack (3D BD+BD+Digital HD) [Blu-ray]
Captain America: the acknowledged leader and moral compass of the team.
Tony Stark/ Iron Man: mad scientist genius who is responsible for birth's...and deaths.....
Bruce Banner/ the Hulk: the man and the monster...the scientist and the bomb.
The Black Widow: the team's mother and, surprisingly, caregiver.
Hawkeye: the hero who gets hurt easily amidst all of the big guns, but he's clever too.
Thor: thunderer. He's here but the movie doesn't do a whole lot with him. Sorry Thor fans.
Nick Fury: spy; speechifier.
Falcon: Cap A sidekick. He's here but the movie doesn't do a whole lot with him. Sorry Falcon fans.
War Machine: Iron Man wannabe with a lot of conventional firepower.
Maria Hill: SHIELD head, good in a pinch.
Quicksilver: speedster brother of the Scarlet Witch. Would be barred from Olympic events.
Scarlet Witch: witchy hexing sister of Quicksilver who can "read" people's emotions. Wouldn't be barred from Olympic events.
The Vision: enigmatic android/ "new human". Red face, alters density, shows surprising insight.
Post a Comment