Avengers: Age of Ultron Movie Review

Avengers: Age of Ultron had a lot of things to consider and surpass given that the first film became the third highest grossing film of all time as well as got great reviews from both viewers and movie critics. After seeing the film, I believe Whedon did that and went even farther.

Avengers: Age of Ultron, I’ll call it AOU, brings a harmony of characters and emotions and delivers it into one great film. What makes this film work is that it brings new things to the table giving it a completely different tone than the first film. Whedon was able to once again blend several factors together and give the audience, either they saw the first or not, an enjoyable and engaging film.

The main factor that makes this film work is the cast. In the first film, it felt like it was a getting to know phase for the characters. But the actors have that unique on-screen chemistry that quickly catches the eyes of the viewers. For AOU, the chemistry intensifies. You can see it when they are a group and een see it when they are on-screen two at a time. Whether it’s Captain America and Iron Man, Thor and Iron Man or Hulk and Black Widow, the chemistry is there and it is one of the reasons the film works.

Robert Downey Jr. sort of carried the first Avengers. This time, he gets a little weight off his shoulders. Whedon manages to make each of the characters shine in the film. Be it a hero or a villain, he or she gets his chance at the spotlight. And everyone gets a chance at stealing a part of the show. In the first film we got the Hulk. Now, each of the team gets that.

We get to see more of Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye. Not only does he get more screen time, he gets to show another side to him. Renner manages to show the hero Hawkeye and the father and husband Clint Barton. He makes it believable that a hero can be a family man even if that hero is only human.

Putting some light romantic side to the film are Hulk and Black Widow. Ruffalo and Johansson have good chemistry together. They make us believe in a romance that can’t be. They will make us root for them and even if things don’t go their way, they make us understand.

Thor somehow shows his human side in this film. We get to see him laugh more and be surprised. Hemsworth isn't just looking more and more like Thor in the comic books, but he is delivering performances that are reflected in the various Thor and Avengers books.

In the film, we get four new comers. We got Scarlet Witch played by Elizabeth Olsen and Quicksilver played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The two play enhanced twins who are basically the reason why Ultron was built. They have good chemistry with the rest of the cast as well as with each other given that most of the time they share the scene. They have a connection in this film compared to their last film Godzilla.

Paul Bettany comes to life in this film as The Vision. In the Iron Man films and The Avengers, he only provided the voice of JARVIS. Now, Bettany brings the character of Vision to life and he does justice to it. He even steals the show in multiple occasions which brings smiles and laughter to the audience.

James Spader is in AOU as the voice of Ultron himself. And he does a great job. The first time we hear his voice, we get the feeling of dread and calmness. Spader manages to portray Ultron as both a kid and a man who is out to complete a mission even he himself has not fully understand. The best part of Spader being Ultron is during his first appearance as a damaged Iron Legionnaire. It’s creepy, engaging and memorable.

What make this an even good film are the scenes between Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. Each time this two talk, we just can’t get our eyes and ears off the screen. Their conversations are heavy but fun, direct and mysterious. It is said that this will be the basis for the coming Captain America: Civil War. And if it is, it works.

What is a Marvel film without effects? AOU brings out a lot of great visuals. From fight scenes to unbelievable action sequences, your senses will be treated to a lot of CGI and practical effects which develops the story further. Whedon doesn’t start slow. In the first film, we got to see the Avengers fighting together nearing the film’s end. Now, from the very start until the end, they fight together. Whedon always has a way with camera movement and he does it again in this film. Cinematography is also one of the highlights in this film. Whedon manage to fit it perfectly with the action and the story.

AOU delivers because of this factor as well, storytelling. Whedon, who also wrote the film, tells a great story filled with a lot of characters and he made it work. The basic plot is simple but Whedon managed to make it grand and engaging. He made another great mix of action and humor as he did in the first one.

AOU is not a perfect film. There are times where the action may be a bit too much or it took too long to complete. But you won’t that because you’ll be enjoying yourself in this Marvel Cinematic Universe.

AOU may not be as entertaining in terms of humor of the first Avengers movie, but it wasn't meant to be. AOU is darker as we get to know the darker sides and fears of our favorite heroes and villains. It is more emotional than humor as we deal with fear and death.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is a fitting sequel to Marvel’s The Avengers. Whedon has managed to step things up. For me it surpasses the first film in terms of tone and action as well as the number of characters present. It is an overindulgence of Marvel characters but we don’t care because they are perfectly molded in one great ensemble.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is a fun ride and deserves multiple viewings. It delivers and it is a worthy addition, if given the chance, to the live up to be one of the great films of all time. I give it 9 out of 10.