Movie with Abe: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron
Directed by Joss Whedon
Released May 1, 2015

Is there a more prominent and successful film franchise than the Marvel superhero universe? I don’t think so. It’s hard for expectations not to be high for a film that is a sequel to a film that was already a culmination and continuation of four separate film series and has since spawned two television series. “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is a loud blow-out blockbuster, one that takes full advantage of the diverse array of characters at its disposal. It may not be as good as the first film, but it’s still an enthralling, action-packed cinematic experience.

Topping an alien army invading New York is no easy feat, but that’s no problem for this film, which begins in the middle of the action with a Hydra takedown by the Avengers that goes awry thanks to the involvement of two enhanced siblings, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who has the power of super speed, and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who can manipulate people’s minds and cause distressing, paralyzing dreams. Superpowered humans are far from their biggest worry, however, when Tony Stark’s latest technological invention becomes self-aware and turns into Ultron, a villain hell bent on destroying the Avengers in some distorted vision of achieving peace.

The idea of this kind of film is that everything builds to the Avengers taking on massive armies of enemies and teaming up to use their skills together to achieve impossible victory. Much of the time in between is spent making jokes about the team dynamics and its members’ different sensibilities, and some of that is even injected into the midst of more objectively serious moments. Its humor is an asset, and it’s what makes the many chapters of this adventure fun. Combining it with the overarching impending destruction of the world generally works well.

In all their attempts to save the world, it’s always unintentionally amusing to see the Avengers stress not letting one single person go unrescued, a perplexing thought in the grand scheme of things when the fate of the entire universe is at stake. The casting of James Spader as Ultron is spot on and a perfect usage of the oily actor, who commits to the role completely. The addition of new characters, particularly Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and Vision (Paul Bettany), is strong, and, as usual with installments of franchises like this that aren’t entirely spectacular, this is an affirming signal of the longevity and livelihood of the Avengers as an enduring staple, returning to the big screen much sooner and more often than you might expect.

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Tuesday’s Top Trailer: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Welcome back to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

Avengers: Age of Ultron – Opening May 1, 2015

Simply put, I would be excited for this movie no matter what. I liked a handful of the individual series films that led up to the first big blockbuster, which I thought was a fantastic combination of elements that together worked enormously well for an unforgettable action piece. I am glad to see that this film’s plotline dwells purely on Earth, and tackles a villain who is inherently man-made. I was a big comic book fan as a kid, but I was most into X-Men and don’t know about the Avengers and their stories. Casting James Spader as the voice of an artificial intelligence being who becomes far too self-aware seems like a slam dunk, and I’m sure he’ll be a fantastic villain for the Avengers. This trailer was apparently viewed by over 34 million people within 24 hours of it being posted online last week, and there’s certainly much to talk about. Bringing all these characters together presents immense opportunities for character development and the addition of supporting players like Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, who I believe will also appear in the next “X-Men” movie but can’t officially be considered the same characters because of which studios own the rights to the franchises. Potential tie-ins with the TV show “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” also seem likely, and I think it’s exciting to live in a time when a mega-franchise like this is getting off the ground, with plenty of chances to tell exciting stories about cool superheroes that may not actually need rebooting for another decade or so.