Avengers: Age of Ultron

By now just about everyone has been out and seen the second Avengers flick and put out their sublime take on the film. Of course, I have mine, too. I've been sold on these Marvel films since I first saw The Incredible Hulk (remember that one?) way back in 2008. Seven years later I am still sold on them. Marvel has been killing it with these batch of films. No one is even close. DC is living on a prayer right now that they can catch up. 

The crazy thing is they keep getting better. 

Avengers: Age of Ultron is easily in the top five of superhero movies of all time. It is surpassed only by The Dark Knight, the first Avengers movie, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, in my eyes. 

Wow, wow, wow. We've got all of the familiar faces back for round two. Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Black Widow (Scarlett "Schwing" Johannson) are back to take on their most dangerous foe so far: Tony Stark's big ego. 

Dreaming of a world where the Avengers aren't needed, Tony Stark sets out to create "Ultron" with the help from his virtual sidekick Jarvis (voiced by Paul Bettany) and his trusty mean green pal Dr. Bruce Banner. Ultron (voiced by James Spader) is supposed to be the ideal protector that will allow Stark to take it easy, but something goes terribly wrong with the program and Ultron's first impulse is to destroy the Avengers. 

Yep, it's gonna be another long day at the office for the superheroes.

There's a ton to like about this movie, but I suppose that my favorite thing this time around was the emphasis placed on the supporting characters of Hawkeye and Black Widow. Fans will probably have a lot to say about the spur of the moment relationship between Black Widow and the Hulk, but it definitely shook things up a bit. I read somewhere Joss Whedon's guiding star for his sequel was The Godfather Part II. In fact I read it here. I liked how Whedon described the fact that this wasn't a cut and paste sequel. A lot of these characters have grown between the movies. At least that is the idea presented to us so a sudden relationship between Hulk and Black Widow doesn't seem so sudden if you take into account things that might have and obviously did happen offscreen. While definitely a new and strange element the relationship didn't harm the movie. It actually lifted it somewhat. 

We're also introduced to one helluva brief backstory about the femme fatale. Black Widow needs her own movie ASAP. 

Hawkeye is actually given a family and a home and a personality. Much like Black Widow he's always been relegated to supporting characters stuff, but this time he is actually one of the main characters. It's nice to see him get his own chance to be more than a cardboard cutout superhero. 

Of course, all of the bigwigs in this movie pull their weight, too. Mark Ruffalo is especially in top form. However, James Spader is the star of the show as Ultron. He is simply awesome.

There are plenty of great fights and plenty of good character moments, too. Stark's Hulkbuster is incredibly impressive to see in action against the Hulk. That was a great fight. Of course, I'll let you watch the movie so you can understand the context.

Avengers: Age of Ultron has got everything a film like this needs to be a success. It is a must-see. 

I can't wait for Avengers: Infinity Wars. 

P.S. - Don't forget the mid-credits scene. Stay to watch it. There isn't one at the end of the credits, though.