CONNOR BURTON
Special to The Leader
The latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is exactly what you’d expect, and it delivers the same explosive blockbuster fun the first Marvel team-up achieved. The latest is stuffed with exciting and awesome action sequences that amp up the level of destruction.
“Age of Ultron” sees the heroes join forces to face a sentient robot that Tony Stark and Bruce Banner created with the intentions of protecting Earth. Ultron sees the only method to create peace is the extinction of the human race. The team must work together to stop Ultron before he can cause a global extinction.
The standout sequence in the movie is the “Hulkbuster” fight between the Hulk and Iron Man in a suit specially made in case the Hulk got out of control. The fight is one of the most exciting parts of the movie, which stuffs its two-and-a-half hour runtime with an insane amount of action.
Ultron is the most interesting villain we’ve seen yet in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His philosophy is interesting, and he makes for a terrifying and formidable villain. The conflict causes some ripples amongst the group and serves as a preview for the conflict ahead for Stark and Captain America in the upcoming “Captain America: Civil War” movie.
Elizabeth Olsen, as Scarlet Witch, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, as Quicksilver, are among the new actors to the cast. The two are great additions to the cast in a movie that is stuffed with so many characters. The new take on Quicksilver in “The Avengers” is cool, but he doesn’t quite live up to Evan Peters in the recent “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
Joss Whedon, who wrote the script for the movie, stated that the original cut of the movie was around three hours, and they will be releasing the complete cut on DVD. Although it’s two-and-a-half-hours already and stuffed with characters and action, there are plot developments that, at times, feel rushed. One of these instances is how quickly Ultron is ready to exterminate humanity.
This time, “The Avengers” gives secondary characters, like Black Widow and Hawkeye, more substance and opportunities to shine. Part of Black Widow’s past is revealed to give more insight into her character. There is also a strange romance that comes about between her and Bruce Banner that seems arbitrary.
Hawkeye is a standout character in this movie as Whedon gives him more depth and more screen time. He’s given some great lines and action scenes that beef up his role and make him an equal player.
“The Avengers: Age of Ultron” is everything you would want and expect. It is epic, action-packed and features stellar special effects. It has many funny moments and foreshadows much to come in “Captain America: Civil War,” as well as “The Avengers: Infinity Wars” parts 1 and 2.