‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015): Redemption, and a Future Foreshadowed

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It’s been three years since we saw the entire Marvel universe coagulate as only it can accomplish in a star-studded Avenger’s world. Nowadays, there is a lot of crossover even in the individual films, but still… there is something magnetic about the films that include “avengers” in their title. Beyond this, I feel like writing some form of the usual introduction to this film is pointless. Yes, we know I’m the last fangirl to finally see this popular blockbuster and anyone who is a fan knows this film simply by its title. Because of that, we’ll jump right into a brief overview and then… let the fangirling begin. avengers age of ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) Film Review

The earth’s mightiest heroes are on a mission; a mission to recover Lokai’s scepter. It’s currently in the wrong hands, and the Avengers need to recover it. Once at their destination – where they are of course met with heavy fire and detriments meant to dissuade them (all things they brush off because after all, they are the Avengers), Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) gets to the scepter but not before his mind is unknowingly altered by Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). Wanda is an orphan and mutant who, along with her twin brother Pietro Maximoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) are currently scientific projects at the facility the Avengers are breaching. In Tony’s vision, he sees all of his friends dead…   

This scars him. What if they could have peace in their time, in the world? The prospect of this is too good for Tony to let be, so taking the opportunity he has never had before, he uses the scepter. What he does with it is enlist the help of fellow scientist Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) to cultivate his would-be peacekeeping program, Ultron. Tony believes that by giving it life he could ensure a world with a shield acting as protector.  

FILM REVIEW | Avengers (2012)

When Ultron (voiced by James Spader) outstrips its creator and takes on a life of its own, the artificial intelligence program becomes the all-knowing god Tony never intended – it even outsmarts Jarvis (voiced by Paul Bettany). Because of this secret project, discord becomes the norm as Steve Rodgers (Chris Evans) blames Tony for his reckless invention. It takes Thor (Chris Hemsworth) revisiting his own unsettling vision to shed light on their present…  In some ways I feel like this is the best film to come from the MCU while also being the one that is sure to be a heartbreaker. Given the teasers I’ve read of the next film Captain America: Civil War, my fangirl loving heart was breaking as I watched this film progress. Each scene with the Avengers was as delightful as it was saddening. But I digress. Focusing on the good seems the better way to start. Let’s begin at the beginning.

Iron Man, Captain American, Thor and Co. return for another #Avengers world adventure. ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015): Redemption, and a Future Foreshadowed. #Marvel #MovieArchives #Movies Share on X

The film immediately throws us into the action. One might not expect this given the significance of most intense scenes, but this sequence is hilarious. Seriously, I giggled through the whole thing. (An example of this being Captain America chastising Tony for his use of profanity; it’s a joke that carries through the script, too.) Speaking of the script, this one is amazing! I love the sense of playfulness. Everything is “fun” despite the battle, which I appreciate given how dark the underpinnings of this story is (hint to DC Comics’ Arrow, this is how to strike a balance). There is some lovely romanticism (although the woman involved pretty much flirts with everyone); a backstory for someone we desperately need to know more about; and of course, that signature humor. Steve has some inspiring, applicable quotes, as usual. He’s kind of like the ideal old-fashioned gentleman, which is the reason why I admire him.

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You get hurt, hurt ’em back. You get killed… walk it off.

– Captain America, Avengers: Age of Ultron

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 Lest my fangirling get out of hand (I’m trying to keep it in check, guys), I’ll start to wind this review down. Part of the set up in this film (for the next MCU title) is disheartening but also intriguing beginnings for the next Avenger flick. Returning favorites like Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, Cobie Smulder’s Maria Hill or Scarlett Johannsson’s Black Widow appear (in addition to several other surprise appearances); and I’m really curious to see to what heights Wanda and Paul Bettany’s Vision will take (also, about Friday!). I do have to add, I’d love to see the girlfriends have a more prominent role in these worlds (Avengers). The scene of Thor and Tony arguing over whose girlfriend is the more successful was hilarious.

In the end, this film is as near perfection as any superhero film is. The action sequences were many, but I never felt they outlasted their welcome. There were epic speeches about what it means to be a hero and hilarious quips about the same fact – even if that might involve dying. Despite their somewhat silly premise, this film has more to teach us than we might imagine at first glance. That alone earns ‘Age
of Ultron’ a second look. 

Did you like or dislike this film? Have any gushes or rants to share? Comment down below with your thoughts. I’d love to read them.

Content: there’s the usual Marvel standard of sci-fi violence, some minor profanity, and “tense” moments or sequences. The film is PG13.