With technology catching up with fantasy, comic book movies have been increasingly prolific. Each month a new one surfaces to rake in more box office dollars. Since its predecessor was one of the biggest money-spinners ever, it was a given The Avengers: Age of Ultron would be made. Thankfully, the producers haven’t gone for the half-baked cheap sequel route, but instead provide a mega-budgeted spectacle. Dazzling in action and story, it is a fun ride sure to fuel the thirst for more super-heroic escapism.
Re-starting a dormant peacekeeping program, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr) creates Ultron. An android of immeasurable power, it quickly over-whelms Stark’s efforts in making it a harbinger for peace. Becoming an indestructible prophet of doom, only Earth’s mightiest heroes can stop it. Among them are Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans) and the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Joining forces to combat this new evil, the world’s fate hangs perilously in the balance.
As a high-octane popcorn blockbuster, Avengers: Age of Ultron is a success. Utilising its enormous budget to grand effect, the characters leap from their comic book pages in glorious colour. Director Joss Whedon knows how to craft an engaging narrative which he does well. Making things interesting is the conflict between the heroes. Whilst Ultron is the central villain, Iron Man and friends have their own personal demons threatening team unity. This adds another intriguing story layer with the sort of character development rarely seen in similar films.
The script’s twists are successfully interwoven into the amazing action scenes. This is what fans want to see and none should be disappointed. Whilst perhaps the energy is less spirited than before, the thought gone into crafting interesting action sequences is evident. The cast know their roles well by now and dive into the fun adventure with gusto. Occasionally Avengers: Age of Ultron suffers from CGI overload although you can’t fault the enthusiasm which the production team display in creating this gargantuan spectacle.
Escapist nonsense doesn’t get much higher than Avengers: Age of Ultron. Careful not to be too silly or morose, it strikes the right balance in capturing what has made the 50 year old comic book series enduring.
Reviewed by Patrick Moore
Twitter: @patrickmoore14
Rating out of 10: 7
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