Mandy Griffiths
2012’s surprisingly great “The Avengers” (well I certainly loved it) set a high standard for all-you-can-feature super hero films. Since then we’ve been girt by Masks, on TV as well as in cinemas, so “Avengers: Age of Ultron” had to be pretty good to maintain its pre-eminent status as it veers off into sequel land. While it’s no “Terminator 2”, with Joss Whedon at the helm, it’s still great. Just too long.
The core cast is back in full swing. Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is particularly well serviced, no doubt to make up for sidelining in the first film, joined by returning favourites from the Marvel universe, new threats in the form of uniquely talented twins Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and the first of the artificial intelligence creations designed by Tony Stark to overcome what the Avengers cannot, Ultron (voiced by James Spader).
Spoiler, it doesn’t go well.
If the theme of the first film was ‘power as a tool of self-actualisation’ (busted out my English Lit dictionary for that one), then this film is more introspective – focusing on the internal struggles of the main characters; be it fear of not enough power (Iron Man); fear of too much power (Hulk); fear of not living up to expectations (Thor); or mourning for personal sacrifices that mean they no longer fear anything (Captain America and Black Widow). What about Hawkeye? He feared another dose of mind control and that fear serves him well.
Forcing hidden emotions to the surface as a device to separate the Scooby gang is an area Joss Whedon has visited before in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, both in season one’s Nightmares and season four’s Fear, Itself. Proving to be an effective method of humanising the heroes, it also fills the void left by Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to stir up trouble among the team (and kick start the creation of Ulton in the first place). But, where Loki was part dramatic, part hilarious (for the audience), this is only dramatic, leading to a much darker tone throughout.
Like any script that flows from Whedon’s mind, a highlight is the trademark banter – witty, subversive, and furthering the plot all at the same time (“Please help him,” Black Widow pleads to the medic as Hawkeye is badly injured, “Pretending we need him really helps bond the team.”)
Whedon makes time for personal moments between the Avengers (key questions answered in the film – who can pick up Thor’s hammer, who has ensnared Black Widow’s heart), and while these add greatly to the overall experience, the action scenes go on way too long, and by ‘Act Three: City Gets Destroyed: there are no losers in super hero films except the city in which they reside and the poor people that live there’ section, attentions may wane. Less budget on special effects plus more scenes of super heroes making fun of each other = win for everyone!
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” is a worthy follow up to a great franchise, and I, for one, will miss Whedon at the helm as Joe and Anthony Russo of “Captain America: Winter Solider” take over for “Avengers: Infinity”. You’re a superstar Joss, if nothing else, these films certainly helped cement that.
