At this particular moment, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) consists of 11 movies and three TV shows.
What Marvel has been able to accomplish over the past seven years is unbelievable.
All of Marvel’s efforts paid off in 2012 when “The Avengers” was released to critical acclaim and box office success.
Ever since, we have patiently been waiting for their next mission together in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”
Was it worth the wait this time around?
Iron Man [Robert Downey Jr.], Captain America [Chris Evans], Thor [Chris Hemsworth], Hulk [Mark Ruffalo], Hawkeye [Jeremy Renner] and Black Widow [Scarlett Johansson] all return once again, this time to take down the sinister organization HYDRA.
At the same time, Tony Stark is working on a project that could possibly create the ultimate artificial intelligence.
His experiment works, but not in his favor, creating the menacing and sarcastic villain Ultron [Voiced by James Spader] who believes in his mechanical heart that the human race should go extinct.
Faced with an adversary that they weren’t prepared for, the team bands together to look evil in the face, even if it may kill them.
From a condensed point of view, the synopsis above is the basic story. “Age of Ultron” contains multiple sub-plots that, at times, either feel rushed or set-up for upcoming Marvel movies.
But all in all, Ultron is the main focus and for good reason.
Not since Loki has the team faced such a formidable foe who can make a joke one second and take a life in the next.
Spader, of course, plays an interesting villain even if his origin does feel a bit rushed.
If a few extra minutes would have been given to his personality beforehand, I feel like it would have added to the development of his character.
By his side are the Maximoff twins themselves, Quicksilver [Aaron Taylor-Johnson] and
George Amaru / Graphic Design Editor
Scarlet Witch [Elizabeth Olsen].
They could have felt like filler characters in an already packed film, but they both give great excuses to be part of the action.
They have to hold their own with heroes we all know and love and I thought that they both knocked it out of the park as well as the rest of the team.
These are still your favorite characters interacting with one another, exchanging witty banter and playing a game of who can lift Thor’s hammer.
But just because they work together doesn’t mean they agree on everything.
The birth of Ultron puts Stark in a bit of a corner that he has to fight his way out of, planting seeds for “Captain America: Civil War” next year.
As I mentioned before, at times it feels like there is too much movie crammed into a near two-and-a-half hour running time.
Director Joss Whedon claims that he has an extended director’s cut and that explains so much, especially in certain scenes that feel pressed for time.
Also – it’s a minor complaint –but the lack of color in some scenes adds an even bleaker element to the fun summer blockbuster.
While everything may not fit well together, Joss Whedon manages to pull off a successful follow -up, even if it doesn’t live up to “The Avengers” in many aspects.
From start to finish, this group of heroes are tested through character drama and intense action sequences.
Overall, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” has its flaws, but still has that charm that made Marvel a household name.
Rating: B
Matt Bilodeau can be contacted at mbilodeau@kscequinox.com
