The second movie outing for the Avengers catches the superheroes smack in the middle of battle, working hard to dispel any doubts about franchise fatigue.
The rivetting opening sequence of Avengers: Age of Ultron chucks about several packets of information in quick succession. The malevolent twins Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) are lurking about, waiting to shatter the fragile unity that binds the Avengers. The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Agent Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) are getting touchy-feely. Captain America (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) are going through the motions, while the Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) wears the mantle of Resident Wit as naturally as Jeremy Renner dons his ubermensch robes. And this time, it has become darker for the fanboys and a little more interesting for the rest of us.
The only edge in such franchises is usually found in the inevitable cliff-hanger sequences (this time, a city is lifted off the ground!), but writer-director Joss Whedon does try to complicate the good-versus-evil formula by introducing the idea that the watchmen need watching. Iron Man, also known as Tony Stark, tips the future of his elite vigilante squad towards peril when the artificial intelligence system Ultron that he hopes will defend the world ends up threatening it. Meanwhile, Wanda’s ability to manipulate minds sends each of the avengers back to their worst childhood memories, whose exposition momentarily widens the gap between jaw-dropping spectacle and audience interest.
In between the fluidly directed action scenes, masterfully executed computer-generated effects and convincing sets and droids (Ultron, voiced by James Spader, is particularly well realised), there are enough opportunities to concentrate on one’s popcorn as the Avengers discuss matters far too enormous for the movie’s universe. When they get back into crouching tiger mode, it’s time to bid the popcorn bye-bye and let the eyeballs bulge at all the goings-on.
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The rivetting opening sequence of Avengers: Age of Ultron chucks about several packets of information in quick succession. The malevolent twins Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) are lurking about, waiting to shatter the fragile unity that binds the Avengers. The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Agent Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) are getting touchy-feely. Captain America (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) are going through the motions, while the Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) wears the mantle of Resident Wit as naturally as Jeremy Renner dons his ubermensch robes. And this time, it has become darker for the fanboys and a little more interesting for the rest of us.
The only edge in such franchises is usually found in the inevitable cliff-hanger sequences (this time, a city is lifted off the ground!), but writer-director Joss Whedon does try to complicate the good-versus-evil formula by introducing the idea that the watchmen need watching. Iron Man, also known as Tony Stark, tips the future of his elite vigilante squad towards peril when the artificial intelligence system Ultron that he hopes will defend the world ends up threatening it. Meanwhile, Wanda’s ability to manipulate minds sends each of the avengers back to their worst childhood memories, whose exposition momentarily widens the gap between jaw-dropping spectacle and audience interest.
In between the fluidly directed action scenes, masterfully executed computer-generated effects and convincing sets and droids (Ultron, voiced by James Spader, is particularly well realised), there are enough opportunities to concentrate on one’s popcorn as the Avengers discuss matters far too enormous for the movie’s universe. When they get back into crouching tiger mode, it’s time to bid the popcorn bye-bye and let the eyeballs bulge at all the goings-on.