A word that I often avoid to describe a movie is ‘disappointed’. This word does not mean that something is either good or bad, but that it did not live up to your expectations. Can you really fault something for that? Unfortunately, Avengers: Age of Ultron did not live up to my expectations, but it still remains an engaging and action packed film.
Nothing Lasts Forever
Avengers: Age of Ultron takes place after the events of the first Avengers film, where The Avengers are dismantling the remaining Hydra Bases. However when Ultron is created he threatens the very existence of The Avengers and the world. Before I tackle the film’s problems, let me assure you it has many bright spots. First of all, the action is breathtaking. There are plenty of great action set pieces, and they never fail to impress. Every single character had some amazing moments in these action sequences, along with some great smaller moments. I particularly love the interactions between the characters. For me, this is where the film truly shines. Beneath the action, and the spectacle, there is a team of people who share both similar and different ideals. Occasionally they collide, but they are often able to work together. Of all the pairs in the film, I loved the dynamic between Thor and Captain America. Especially when they’re fighting alongside each other. A big problem I had with the first film is that the characters felt a bit off. They did not feel like the same characters from their stand-alone films, but in this one they felt exactly as they should be. I won’t get into the older characters because they were all great, but I will talk about the newer characters. First of all, we have the title character himself: Ultron. He was very underwhelming. I won’t go into spoilers, but his character was fairly ‘gimmicky’. I did not buy into his motivations, and his character felt very rushed. As far as Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, they were okay. I liked Scarlet Witch, and thought she had some interesting powers. However, I was not too fond of Quicksilver. His powers were cool, and he had some decent moments, but he was a very one-dimensional character. I hate having to compare this Quicksilver, with the Quicksilver from X-Men Days of Future Past, but that version of Quicksilver was much better than this one. He did not resonate with me as much as other characters. Finally we have The Vision. I won’t get too much into who he is, but he was a cool character. I am intrigued to see where he goes in future installments. Finally, I would like to mention how the effects are fantastic, the music is great, and it is impeccably shot. On a technical perspective, this movie truly impresses
There Are No Strings on Me
However, it does not offer an impressive plot. The first Avengers film was fairly basic in term of narrative and structure. The plot for this one is far more complex, and as a result disjointed. Just as Ultron himself was a rushed character, so was the plot. They tried too hard to tie into previous films, and establish films to come. As a result, important plot lines are skimmed over, and many plot holes become apparent. There were also a handful of moments that had no relevance to the plot at all. I found myself questioning why they were even added into the film. I have already seen the film twice, and I am happy to report the plot does improve after a second viewing, but the logical flaws are still present. I think this film concerned itself too much with setting up the third Avengers film that it really lost an opportunity to make a great successor to the first film. However, I do believe with the direction they’re going, this film will improve after the release of the remaining Avengers films. This film also refrains from taking any risks. There are not too many twist and turns throughout, and when there are, they are not substantial. I had hoped for a film that was more cohesive, and struck a nice balance between narrative and spectacle. Unfortunately there is more of an emphasis on the spectacle, which really brings the film down. With that said, I thought the ending was great. I enjoyed the end credits scene, and am still looking forward to future installations.
Closing Remarks
Overall, I did enjoy the film. Do not mistake my disappointment with disgust. It had plenty of great moments, but I wanted more out of it. I was let down by the plot, and some of the characters, but it had enough action and spectacle to make up for it. I still recommend seeing it, especially in IMAX. It is an experience worth watching on the big screen.