Review of Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) by Kris R — 21 Jul 2016

Age Of Ultron is in many ways more superior, inferior, louder, somber, jovial, candid, epic, pedestrian, and crazy than it's predecessor. At least it's not dull.

The sequel reunites it's superhero and superstar cast for Marvel All-Star Round Two. This time, the threat is a sooth-voiced Ultron, an artificial intelligence menace unleashed by Tony Stark as a means of a deterrent against another New York invasion. Ultron, however, has a different, twisted perspective of how to save Earth; rationalizing that the only way to save humanity is to utterly destroy it, and goes rogue. Recruiting gifted Maximoff twins Wanda and Peitro with superspeed and reality warping abilities, Ultron proves to be a formidable and entertaining foe, albeit his motivations always appear in flux. As much as it pains me to say this in the light of James Spader's charismatic take on the antagonist, Ultron isn't as intriguing or realized as Loki. He's resourceful, he's angry, and he's not above being a smart-ass, yet inside the polished Vibranium exoskeleton lies a gutted character that may have fell victim of being underdeveloped for sake of running time in an already top-heavy cinematic continuity and cast. What makes keeps Age of Ultron from being being too cumbersome, however, is Joss Whedon's passion and respect for the characters, giving each Avenger their own time in the spotlight, and his sharp wit peppered in for good measure.