Your face has faded but lingers on because light strikes a deal with each coming night...
I'm the first to admit I haven't been nearly as excited about the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron as I was about its predecessor.
The first was such a novelty. Our fearless geeky leader, Joss Whedon, was taking on a colossal Hollywood blockbuster on the back of an incredible franchise and it was a combination of pride and excitement at seeing what a big budget would mean for such a gifted storyteller.
Of course, he delivered. And I had no doubt he would do so again. But I find sequels can be treading into difficult territory if you don't have a clear idea of the final outcome. On learning that Whedon won't be doing the third film - in what I'm hoping will be a trilogy but will likely become a series - I got nervous that this wouldn't pack the same punch as the first film.
They are incredibly different, but I'm happy to say the second installment was was hugely effective and highly impressive. I appreciated the way they built back stories for several characters (who haven't yet had the luxury of a title film) while still delivering the camaraderie, wit, and friendly rivalry we've come to expect from the others.
There was a truly excellent arc built throughout the entire film and, if it had been any other production, I'm sure it would have ended exactly the way you'd expect. But this is Whedon and of course he prepares you for one thing, so you can be blind-sighted, shocked, and heartbroken by the actual outcome.
There are so many characters to keep up with, but I liked the fact they concentrated more on Bruce Banner, Hawkeye, and Black Widow after being so centred around Tony Stark, Thor, and Steve Rogers in the first. And I thought they handled the inclusion of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch very well, especially in addition to the others.
While the first film featured aliens as the arch villain, this one hit a little closer to home with artificial intelligence being the culprit. Yet my favourite thing about this (and pretty much all Whedon projects) is their bias towards the human condition. The sci-fi elements are secondary to all the feels!
I always enjoy new spins on the rise of AI, but I especially liked how Age of Ultron illustrated so succinctly that humans are their own worst enemy when it comes to technology. We're arrogant enough to believe we can control it (however good our intentions), even when faced with overwhelming evidence to the contrary, showcasing both the best and worst of human nature.
Some of my favourite parts would have been:
- That opening sequence. Classic Whedon. Single shot to introduce us to all the characters in all their action-packed bad-assery.
- "Language."
- The nod to Firefly in the 'JARVIS Is My Co-Pilot' sign.
- "Don't steal from my pile", quips Stark of his tiny chopped wood collection, compared to the Captain's huge stack.
- "Hide the zucchini."
- James Spader's voice was the absolute embodiment of Ultron.
- While I understand that RDJ has had three stand-alone films to get into the groove of Iron-Man, he is still so impressive as Tony Stark.
- While I spent the majority of his screentime trying to place his voice, Paul Bettany was an excellent Jarvis.
- I would actually go back and watch the Hulk stand-alone films if Mark Ruffalo had been cast. He is wonderful.
- The friendship between Black Widow and Hawkeye is quite possibly my favourite thing about The Avengers.
The first was such a novelty. Our fearless geeky leader, Joss Whedon, was taking on a colossal Hollywood blockbuster on the back of an incredible franchise and it was a combination of pride and excitement at seeing what a big budget would mean for such a gifted storyteller.
Of course, he delivered. And I had no doubt he would do so again. But I find sequels can be treading into difficult territory if you don't have a clear idea of the final outcome. On learning that Whedon won't be doing the third film - in what I'm hoping will be a trilogy but will likely become a series - I got nervous that this wouldn't pack the same punch as the first film.
They are incredibly different, but I'm happy to say the second installment was was hugely effective and highly impressive. I appreciated the way they built back stories for several characters (who haven't yet had the luxury of a title film) while still delivering the camaraderie, wit, and friendly rivalry we've come to expect from the others.
There was a truly excellent arc built throughout the entire film and, if it had been any other production, I'm sure it would have ended exactly the way you'd expect. But this is Whedon and of course he prepares you for one thing, so you can be blind-sighted, shocked, and heartbroken by the actual outcome.
There are so many characters to keep up with, but I liked the fact they concentrated more on Bruce Banner, Hawkeye, and Black Widow after being so centred around Tony Stark, Thor, and Steve Rogers in the first. And I thought they handled the inclusion of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch very well, especially in addition to the others.
While the first film featured aliens as the arch villain, this one hit a little closer to home with artificial intelligence being the culprit. Yet my favourite thing about this (and pretty much all Whedon projects) is their bias towards the human condition. The sci-fi elements are secondary to all the feels!
I always enjoy new spins on the rise of AI, but I especially liked how Age of Ultron illustrated so succinctly that humans are their own worst enemy when it comes to technology. We're arrogant enough to believe we can control it (however good our intentions), even when faced with overwhelming evidence to the contrary, showcasing both the best and worst of human nature.
Some of my favourite parts would have been:
- That opening sequence. Classic Whedon. Single shot to introduce us to all the characters in all their action-packed bad-assery.
- "Language."
- The nod to Firefly in the 'JARVIS Is My Co-Pilot' sign.
- "Don't steal from my pile", quips Stark of his tiny chopped wood collection, compared to the Captain's huge stack.
- "Hide the zucchini."
- James Spader's voice was the absolute embodiment of Ultron.
- While I understand that RDJ has had three stand-alone films to get into the groove of Iron-Man, he is still so impressive as Tony Stark.
- While I spent the majority of his screentime trying to place his voice, Paul Bettany was an excellent Jarvis.
- I would actually go back and watch the Hulk stand-alone films if Mark Ruffalo had been cast. He is wonderful.
- The friendship between Black Widow and Hawkeye is quite possibly my favourite thing about The Avengers.
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