Movie Review: 'Age of Ultron' is an Avengers overdose

Genre: Superhero

Language: English

Running time: 141 minutes

Rating: ***1/2

Director: Joss Whedon

Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson

All non-comic book fans of the Marvel cinematic universe have at some point wondered: Just why is Hawkeye, toting his simple bow and arrow, a part of this formidable collective of superheros and gods? Well, director Joss Whedon has decided to take those queries head-on and answer them, but more importantly, managed to create an eye-popping sequel to the mega-hit The Avengers. The team was originally brought together by Marvel to compete against DC's hugely popular Justice League, but it has now become the fulcrum of the giant machine that is Marvel.

We start off right in the middle of a raid in Sokovia where they recover Loki's sceptre from a Hydra outpost and discover that it has been used to experiment on twins Pietro and Wanda Maximoff (Enter Quicksilver and Scarlett Witch). Captain America (Evans with his 'frisbee'), however, declares they are done with Hydra and chitauris, and for once, the team decides to let loose — even get out of their costumes! Meanwhile, mad scientists Iron Man and Hulk (Downey Jr and Ruffalo) come to a secret agreement to activate A.I. Ultron (voiced by the smooth James Spader) as the world's peacekeeper; just one glitch — Ultron thinks humanity's extinction is Earth's saviour. The plot can get heavy to follow, but the action continues to keep the ball rolling.

The spectacles are beautifully choreographed, bigger and more devastating, but also obligatory. Spader does the best he can as the nontangible villain with a personality, and the cast is more than competent in their respective roles (Thor especially seems more at home on Earth than Asgard), but when the good guys turn on each other with no value for civilian lives, you question motivation. The fight sequence between Hulk and Iron Man seems inexplicably drawn out and slows down the film. The action-packed climax, however, redeems all, and sets it up for the inevitable return of the heroes.
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