So how does one pronounce Ultron?
I saw Avengers: Age of Ultron today with a large crowd of other people. There is so much already about this out there that I don't think I can add anything. Yes, it is all that's written on the can. Big epic scenes and fights and explosions. It's a beautiful roller-coaster of action with some quips in between to lower the tension.
[Avengers: Age of Ultron - SPOILERS]
I had few issues.
One has nothing to do with Avengers movie itself. I watch Blacklist and James Spader's voice is very distinct so it was weird experience watching him as Ultron. It was like Red goading the Avengers. Both Red and Ultron have this condescension for everyone which only made the feeling worse. It's funny to remember young James Spader in his pretty boy roles. And now he went full Nicholson. The design of Ultron isn't bad but I'd prefer an unmoving mas like in comics. This pseudo face muscles made no sense and the metal teeth were just creepy. But they do transfer the mimics well as you could almost picture Jasem Spader spitting during some of the scenes.
After the few years of set up the whole Strucker and Hydra affair was a big let down (and wasted Thomas Kretschmann). I was hoping for him being a more formidable opponent. I hope the Agents of SHIELD part in Hydra take down will be more exciting.
Thor and Stark one-upping each other whose girlfriend is more awesome was fun (mine runs a global company - mine is a most famous physicist and about to get Nobel prize) but it made me realise that both of them do these because of their boyfriends and I was - women do all the work while the guys party.
I didn't like the romance because it felt like Natasha was made into a pacifier for Hulk. I know she's good at handling people but the whole thing with her touching Hulk to calm him down was a little creepy (like she was using Ivchenko's mind control techniques on him) and then she keeps pushing for the relationship and it was just weird. But at least I understand her comparing herself to a monster. Unlike Banner she killed a lot of innocent people on purpose.
I'm also glad Wheadon is of Marvel because this might mean Linda will survive. Between his attitude towards happy relationships and Ultimate universe cannon it'd be very hard.
I'm also confused how the name of Ultron should be pronounced as everyone seemed to be doing their own thing.
Now the things I loved:
Vision. Especially the way he proved his good intentions to Avengers. And the talk about the hammer he had with Thor. Also it's easy to forget how tall Paul Bettany is but in some shots you can see he's even taller than Hemsworth. I'm also glad they let him stay his lanky self - androids don't need muscles.
Natasha knew Hawkeye's family. The kids know her. She is friends with Linda. I know it killed thousands of shippers but I loved it. It gives an extra depth to her desperate need to save him in the last movie. She had to get him back to his family. And the youngest Barton is named after two people who saved his father's life.
The Hulk/Hulkbuster fight was my favourite in the film. I was a little disappointed fragile Ultron drones were so that fight was great. I also liked the initial fight in the woods. I like how well the Avengers worked together as a team - especially Cap and Thor hammer on the shield move.
I like the look of Wanda's powers and her connection with Pietro. I was suspecting something in the way film was concentrating on her but once he died my first thought was that this is how the whole Maximoff's twins thing got resolved by Disney and Fox. Like the divorced parents who cannot stand each other they both get to keep one twin and go their separate ways.
I love the cameos - Peggy, Heimdall (suprise Idris Elba was a surprise) and, of course, Stan Lee (perfect as one of Steve's old War buddies). I also loved the guest stars like Julie Deply there for a second. I hope this means that they are planning for her to come back for actual Black Widow movie.
And I liked all the set-ups.
The Civil War conflict between Stark and Cap. I understand where Stark is coming from. I always had issues with only couple heroes defending world from the great dangers. What about the people who doesn't leave in New York? Would Avengers make it to Beijing in time to stop Chitauri from leveling it? What would Buffy do if one of those demons decided to open a portal in China and she had high school exams? But, of course, on other hand the problem with any large force like this is possibility of abuse. Who controls the soldiers? And what do they do when there is nothing to fight? Turn inward?
We got introduced to Wakanda (there probably will be more in the extended Director's Cut on bluray) and its vibranium. So even though there was no actual Black Panther cameo the ground work has been laid.
Thor going back home to face Ragnarok. It looks like Loki reign isn't going to end well for Asgard. And it also seems he gave Thanos the Gauntlet and will get the Infinity War coming to Earth when he comes to get the Mind Gem from Vision.
[Avengers: Age of Ultron - SPOILERS]
I had few issues.
One has nothing to do with Avengers movie itself. I watch Blacklist and James Spader's voice is very distinct so it was weird experience watching him as Ultron. It was like Red goading the Avengers. Both Red and Ultron have this condescension for everyone which only made the feeling worse. It's funny to remember young James Spader in his pretty boy roles. And now he went full Nicholson. The design of Ultron isn't bad but I'd prefer an unmoving mas like in comics. This pseudo face muscles made no sense and the metal teeth were just creepy. But they do transfer the mimics well as you could almost picture Jasem Spader spitting during some of the scenes.
After the few years of set up the whole Strucker and Hydra affair was a big let down (and wasted Thomas Kretschmann). I was hoping for him being a more formidable opponent. I hope the Agents of SHIELD part in Hydra take down will be more exciting.
Thor and Stark one-upping each other whose girlfriend is more awesome was fun (mine runs a global company - mine is a most famous physicist and about to get Nobel prize) but it made me realise that both of them do these because of their boyfriends and I was - women do all the work while the guys party.
I didn't like the romance because it felt like Natasha was made into a pacifier for Hulk. I know she's good at handling people but the whole thing with her touching Hulk to calm him down was a little creepy (like she was using Ivchenko's mind control techniques on him) and then she keeps pushing for the relationship and it was just weird. But at least I understand her comparing herself to a monster. Unlike Banner she killed a lot of innocent people on purpose.
I'm also glad Wheadon is of Marvel because this might mean Linda will survive. Between his attitude towards happy relationships and Ultimate universe cannon it'd be very hard.
I'm also confused how the name of Ultron should be pronounced as everyone seemed to be doing their own thing.
Now the things I loved:
Vision. Especially the way he proved his good intentions to Avengers. And the talk about the hammer he had with Thor. Also it's easy to forget how tall Paul Bettany is but in some shots you can see he's even taller than Hemsworth. I'm also glad they let him stay his lanky self - androids don't need muscles.
Natasha knew Hawkeye's family. The kids know her. She is friends with Linda. I know it killed thousands of shippers but I loved it. It gives an extra depth to her desperate need to save him in the last movie. She had to get him back to his family. And the youngest Barton is named after two people who saved his father's life.
The Hulk/Hulkbuster fight was my favourite in the film. I was a little disappointed fragile Ultron drones were so that fight was great. I also liked the initial fight in the woods. I like how well the Avengers worked together as a team - especially Cap and Thor hammer on the shield move.
I like the look of Wanda's powers and her connection with Pietro. I was suspecting something in the way film was concentrating on her but once he died my first thought was that this is how the whole Maximoff's twins thing got resolved by Disney and Fox. Like the divorced parents who cannot stand each other they both get to keep one twin and go their separate ways.
I love the cameos - Peggy, Heimdall (suprise Idris Elba was a surprise) and, of course, Stan Lee (perfect as one of Steve's old War buddies). I also loved the guest stars like Julie Deply there for a second. I hope this means that they are planning for her to come back for actual Black Widow movie.
And I liked all the set-ups.
The Civil War conflict between Stark and Cap. I understand where Stark is coming from. I always had issues with only couple heroes defending world from the great dangers. What about the people who doesn't leave in New York? Would Avengers make it to Beijing in time to stop Chitauri from leveling it? What would Buffy do if one of those demons decided to open a portal in China and she had high school exams? But, of course, on other hand the problem with any large force like this is possibility of abuse. Who controls the soldiers? And what do they do when there is nothing to fight? Turn inward?
We got introduced to Wakanda (there probably will be more in the extended Director's Cut on bluray) and its vibranium. So even though there was no actual Black Panther cameo the ground work has been laid.
Thor going back home to face Ragnarok. It looks like Loki reign isn't going to end well for Asgard. And it also seems he gave Thanos the Gauntlet and will get the Infinity War coming to Earth when he comes to get the Mind Gem from Vision.