We can easily forget how ambitious The Avengers felt when it finally arrived in 2012. Would it feel big enough to exceed our expectations? Joss Whedon had never directed anything near this scale (even Serenity!), and this film needed to pay off past world building and leave room for more. The strong result felt like a miracle that might never be topped. There were strong films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier in Phase 2, but none had the expectations of a full Avengers film. Could this second blockbuster team-up equal or even surpass the 2012 film?
Let’s be honest, though. Even The Avengers has some inconsistent moments that drag for too long. A perfect example is the fight between the heroes after Thor returns. It’s shot in a dark, murky setting and exists mostly to please fans that want to know who would win this type of fight. This segment really brings down the momentum on a rewatch. The challenge is not to fall into this trap again, and Age of Ultron dives headfirst into it. The extended sequence of an out-of-control Hulk battling Iron Man falls into this same bucket. It’s an interesting concept to have powerful heroes decimated by a few visions from Wanda Maximoff, but there is a limit to the mayhem.
I’m getting ahead of myself, so I’ll pull back to the basics. The opening scene with the Avengers raiding Strucker’s base to acquire the scepter reveals the team at the height of its powers. The slow-motion and freeze frame shots paint them as gods with no equal. It’s all a set-up for their quick downfall, however. Wanda gives Tony Stark a vision that sets the whole plot in motion. Stark’s obsession with saving Earth really connects here, especially after his experience at the end of the Battle of New York. While Ultron doesn’t click as the villain, the motive for his creation works largely due to Robert Downey, Jr. It’s also cool to see a different type of powerful enemy with Wanda. Pietro’s introduction feels a bit strange today because Quicksilver is also an X-Men film character, but Wanda brings a lot to the table.
There’s A Lot to Cover
It’s not all bad news, however. Ultron’s introduction at the party is a creepy and effective scene largely due to James Spader. He makes the powerful AI being sound like an unhinged lunatic who has just enough logic to be dangerous. The Avengers are not prepared for the early battles, and Wanda makes sure they fall short in subsequent fights. There’s a forward momentum to this middle act, which sees Ultron moving swiftly towards destroying the world. We’re not having much fun, though. It’s a grim march towards a final battle with hordes of robots. In a similar vein as Man 2, I just don’t enjoy watching the heroes face off against armies of mechanical villains.
Age of Ultron‘s most divisive scenes happen at Clint Barton’s farmhouse, which surprises us with his family. It’s cool to return to this original appearance today after watching Hawkeye. I like the human stakes in this sequence, which gives the characters a chance to slow down and actually talk. It also expands Clint’s character and sets up his evolution in future movies. There’s also a revelation from Natasha that’s not handled so well. We’ve learned more about her past in Black Widow, and this begins that story with the revelation she was sterilized. Scarlett Johansson does her best, but having Natasha call herself a monster feels out of character. It’s also not a good message for the movie on the whole.
This conversation happens between Natasha and Bruce Banner as part of a love story that doesn’t really click. Because we don’t spend much time on it, this arc seems out of left field and lacks an emotional punch when Hulk leaves. There’s too much to cover; the love story is just one of many character beats that feel rushed. I’ve yet to mention the arrival of Vision, who Stark creates using the Soul Stone. It’s good to see Paul Bettany go beyond playing J.A.R.V.I.S., and his character grows well in WandaVision. He’s important to the plot here but joins an already packed team with Wanda plus Sam, Rhodes, and even a quick Nick Fury appearance to make a speech. It’s a lot.
An Important Step Towards the End Game
There’s only one bonus credits scene in Age of Ultron, but it’s a doozy. Thanos grabs the Infinity Gauntlet and utters the simple line of “fine, I’ll do it myself“. We’re still a long way from Infinity War, but this moment sets the stage perfectly for that massive conflict. No matter what happens in the other films, we know Thanos is prepping his forces. In a strange way, it makes us look at this film as just the appetizer. Ultron was dangerous, but that was nothing! It sets the stage for the endgame of Phase 3, but I’m getting ahead of myself. There’s a lot more to unpack before that point.
This moment shows how Age of Ultron feels more like a franchise piece than its own film. Beyond the main conflict with Ultron, it’s also introducing Wanda, Pietro, and Vision. Thor takes a detour with Erik Selvig that sets the stage for Thor: Ragnorak. The conflict between Stark and Steve Rogers plants the seeds for Captain America: Civil War, and the Vibranium set up Wakanda. It’s great to see how the MCU is expanding, and Phase 3 includes some excellent films. The challenge happens when the set-up feels more interesting than the movie occurring now. The best MCU movies work both on their own and as part of the larger story. This film veers too much to the latter and seems to get distracted too easily. There are still good scenes and solid action, but that’s not enough to bring it all together in the end.
Favorites: Age of Ultron
- Scene: Ultron’s first appearance is his best thanks to amazing work from James Spader.
- Character: The scenes on the farm with his family give Clint Barton’s character more depth.
- Shot: The team encircles Ultron and tries to stop him from destroying the world.
- Action Scene: The car chase to acquire Vision’s body stands out from the larger fights.
- Surprise: The action scenes, especially the final act, lack the same intensity as The Avengers.
Next Time on the MCU Rewatch
While I may return with Ant-Man in the future, I’m going to shelve this project and focus more on theme parks. It’s been fun to catch up with the early MCU films, and I’ll probably keep this project going without the reviews. If you’d like to keep up with all my movie watching and thoughts about the films, you should connect with me on Letterboxd. I’ve also put together a list to track my rankings from this MCU rewatch.
Related Articles: Age of Ultron
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