Of all the 'visions,' this is the one that chewed up the most screen time yet didn't really matter much to this film's plot. He even takes a detour to some sort of Asgardian dream pool that doesn't exactly further the plot of Age of Ultron so much as it serves as a jumbled set-up to Thor: Ragnarok. (The story never gets Civil War-nasty, though, if that's what you're expecting.) Black Widow's (Scarlett Johansson) mind-trip shows us her Salt-like past and Captain America's (Chris Evans) further establishes him as a man out of his time, while Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) episode simply slows the story down. These revelations begin to show the cracks within the ranks of the team, but it's ultimately the actions of Stark - and to a slightly lesser degree Banner - that causes most of the bad blood between team members. Much of this heaviness stems from what Scarlet Witch shows some of the superheroes, 'visions' that simultaneously fill in the backstories of some characters while foreshadowing events in store for Phase 3. While Age of Ultron is often very funny (even Ultron gets his fair share of yuks), the story has an ominous core. But ultimately the film's laden with numerous moving parts, some of which call attention to its story mechanics and forced elements (especially as we approach the end of its roughly two and a half-hour running time). As in the best Star Trek movies, every character gets a moment to shine and show us why they're distinct and engaging.

And Ultron (James Spader) is born bad, immediately deeming humanity in need of evolving or to be exterminated and allow the machines to inherit the Earth.Īvengers: Endgame Brian Gallagher + 1 moreIt's a small miracle (and a testament to writer-director Joss Whedon's talent) that Avengers 2 doesn't collapse under its own weight. Although Ultron was designed as a benevolent means to protect Earth, we all know what the road to hell is paved with. initiative that he and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) started: Ultron. Shaken by this experience, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) decides to use Loki's scepter (recovered at Strucker's lair) to finish and implement the A.I. While Pietro/Quicksilver physically assaults the Avengers, it's really Wanda, aka Scarlet Witch, who causes the most damage to them through her power to warp reality. Still, as far as second installments go - not traditionally Marvel Studios' strongest entries until Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron is a solid and entertaining followup.ĭuring an assault on the castle of HYDRA leader Baron von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann), the Avengers find themselves going up against his experiment, siblings Wanda and Pietro Maximoff (Elisabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson). It was simply impossible for the sequel to recapture the magic of seeing Earth's Mightiest Heroes assembled onscreen for the first time, especially when they've popped up in each others' movies in the ensuing years.

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