Avengers: Age of Ultron- Grading & Discussion (spoilerific)
- Thread starter Ethros
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Saw the film today and love it, a lot of time for the characters between the action sequences, some genuinely beautiful and heartbreaking ones, did feel a little like they glossed over Phase 2 to continue 1 and setup 3, but that's mostly okay.
For once the genocidal villain is just insane, full on schizo balls to the wall fucking mentally broken. No making elaborate excuses, his base program is so mangled he can't even tell what he's doing.
The new Avengers are actually pretty good characters, the twins were awesome and I really didn't see one of them not making it, really wish they had made it, even if I do think the other twin is cooler. Good acting from both.
Vision doesn't feel quite right yet, and even the character is going through an awkward adjustment with the audience to his predicament. The makeup is more surreal than the others and that I don't know how I feel about either.
Or the fact the 4 freaking stone is in his head. Does that mean Thanos will ultimately kill him to posses it? There's far less at stake if Thanos can only have 5 of them.
Thor's nightmare being the only one that was essentially a premonition, could be something to do with him being Asgardian? he managed to resist Scarlet Witches control for several seconds.
Rhodey just seemed to be there to mock War Machine, it wasn't terribly funny in IM3 and was less so here. Being there to be a punching bag of puns is not a good way to cameo someone in.
But it was nice seeing old 64 back, lacking on explanation but maybe that's just where Fury has been hiding all this time.
The humour was spot on, and plenty of it, swapping the Hulk mashing the villain to driving him crazy with lots of little smackdowns.
Oh and Friday, love that addition and hope she's back for the rest of the series.
The new Avengers are actually pretty good characters, the twins were awesome and I really didn't see one of them not making it, really wish they had made it, even if I do think the other twin is cooler. Good acting from both.
Vision doesn't feel quite right yet, and even the character is going through an awkward adjustment with the audience to his predicament. The makeup is more surreal than the others and that I don't know how I feel about either.
Or the fact the 4 freaking stone is in his head. Does that mean Thanos will ultimately kill him to posses it? There's far less at stake if Thanos can only have 5 of them.
Thor's nightmare being the only one that was essentially a premonition, could be something to do with him being Asgardian? he managed to resist Scarlet Witches control for several seconds.
Rhodey just seemed to be there to mock War Machine, it wasn't terribly funny in IM3 and was less so here. Being there to be a punching bag of puns is not a good way to cameo someone in.
But it was nice seeing old 64 back, lacking on explanation but maybe that's just where Fury has been hiding all this time.
The humour was spot on, and plenty of it, swapping the Hulk mashing the villain to driving him crazy with lots of little smackdowns.
Oh and Friday, love that addition and hope she's back for the rest of the series.
With you on all the spoilery stuff 
I did wonder though whether the Thor premonitions might be confusing for a general audience not familiar with Ragnarok?
ETA: Also, were the Jo'burg scenes supposed to be Wakanda? The narrative timeline zipped along, so I probably lost the plot at that point
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I did wonder though whether the Thor premonitions might be confusing for a general audience not familiar with Ragnarok?
ETA: Also, were the Jo'burg scenes supposed to be Wakanda? The narrative timeline zipped along, so I probably lost the plot at that point
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^Yup, they do name Wakanda but Mark Ruffalo's delivery of lines is difficult to hear important details from at times. More so this time than the original Avengers.
Several of the people in the audience I saw it with today were chatting amongst themselves before the film started, and most of them were talking about upcoming Marvel films and storylines so most of them got what was happening.
Got the odd gasp at the middle credits scene, it's short, but it's better than the first tease of that setup.
James Spader was fantastic as Ultron, you could tell he was having fun with the role. I don't think there was a "weak" charactarisation in the film.
Several of the people in the audience I saw it with today were chatting amongst themselves before the film started, and most of them were talking about upcoming Marvel films and storylines so most of them got what was happening.
Got the odd gasp at the middle credits scene, it's short, but it's better than the first tease of that setup.
James Spader was fantastic as Ultron, you could tell he was having fun with the role. I don't think there was a "weak" charactarisation in the film.
Saw it tonight. I'm not sure yet if I liked it more than pt.1, but I sure wasn't disappointed.
It certainly has all the massive explosions and robot fights you'd expect, as well as plenty of fun, geeky comic-book stuff, but the best parts are once again the humor and the many intimate character moments. After this many movies, these characters now feel very familiar to us (in a good way) and Joss Whedon manages here to draw them more sympathetically and humanly than anyone.
If there's any complaint, it's that Ultron is perhaps not quite as strong of a villain as Loki was, and that the movie lacks some of those fist-pump moments like Hulk catching Iron Man, or Hulk smashing Loki, or Hulk... you get my point. But what the movie lacks in cool Hulk moments, it makes up in great Bruce/Natasha scenes. Also, Hawkeye rules!
It certainly has all the massive explosions and robot fights you'd expect, as well as plenty of fun, geeky comic-book stuff, but the best parts are once again the humor and the many intimate character moments. After this many movies, these characters now feel very familiar to us (in a good way) and Joss Whedon manages here to draw them more sympathetically and humanly than anyone.
If there's any complaint, it's that Ultron is perhaps not quite as strong of a villain as Loki was, and that the movie lacks some of those fist-pump moments like Hulk catching Iron Man, or Hulk smashing Loki, or Hulk... you get my point. But what the movie lacks in cool Hulk moments, it makes up in great Bruce/Natasha scenes. Also, Hawkeye rules!
It was on par with the first for me - not as good as Winter soldier but fun. Ultron had a lot of style and I liked the way they are layering in new characters so they have a bit of redundancy. What's with Wanda's power though? I don't really follow the comics but I though she used probability hexes not telekinesis and mind control? Would that have required too much imagination?
Overall, it felt a bit more predictable than the first, with the exception of the death, which deliberately and blatantly played with our expectations. Shame that a Hawkeye/Mockingbird team up is looking very unlikely at this point though.
I loved the shots of the team in costume at the end. I hope they release some nice promo shots once the movie has been out for a while so we can get a decent look.
The seeds of Civil War and the Infinity Gauntlet were neatly laid down.
Overall, it felt a bit more predictable than the first, with the exception of the death, which deliberately and blatantly played with our expectations. Shame that a Hawkeye/Mockingbird team up is looking very unlikely at this point though.
I loved the shots of the team in costume at the end. I hope they release some nice promo shots once the movie has been out for a while so we can get a decent look.
The seeds of Civil War and the Infinity Gauntlet were neatly laid down.
Very comic booky sure. But it's a comic book movie. One with a huge green muscly monster fighting a guy in a massive red and yellow metal suit. I don't think anyone thinks it's a meant to be a documentary.
I liked the little explanation that the reason Vision has a cape is because when he looked at Thor's he had this "oh that's cool" look, and then 'grew' his own
Very comic booky sure. But it's a comic book movie. One with a huge green muscly monster fighting a guy in a massive red and yellow metal suit. I don't think anyone thinks it's a meant to be a documentary.
I liked the little explanation that the reason Vision has a cape is because when he looked at Thor's he had this "oh that's cool" look, and then 'grew' his own
That and the clasp and wrist guards are the same red and gold metal motif as Tony's armour, his skin taking on something that looks like Caps' colour schemes somewhere between the blue and covert ones.
He might be borrowing their looks now, but maybe the next time we see him, he'll have settled on his own unique appearance.
I very much got the sense from the direction and Bettany's performance that he had an element of the 'newborn' and therefore a work-in-progress, so lots of potential for change.
Also add I thought his final confrontation/discussion with Ultron in the forest was pretty good.
ETA: And for anyone still interested in the RDJ interview story, Downey's feelings about it on the Howard Stern show
Also add I thought his final confrontation/discussion with Ultron in the forest was pretty good.
ETA: And for anyone still interested in the RDJ interview story, Downey's feelings about it on the Howard Stern show
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I liked it. The opening action scene was excellent with Hydra being torn between "we are Hydra, we fight to the end, no surrender" and "who are we kidding, it's the freaking Avengers!"
My favorite character in this one was oddly Hawkeye. He actually got a complete backstory in this one and really had some of the best lines, completely aware that he was kind of in over his head.
"We are in a flying city, fighting an evil robot army and I got... A bow an arrow!'
My favorite character in this one was oddly Hawkeye. He actually got a complete backstory in this one and really had some of the best lines, completely aware that he was kind of in over his head.
"We are in a flying city, fighting an evil robot army and I got... A bow an arrow!'
"Nothing about this makes sense!" 
I love how fleshed out he was in this film, they gave him an entire life. I loved his character before but he got to shine this time, between the action, backstory and a ton of good lines.
It also shows how far his trust with Natasha goes, do you think maybe...
I love how fleshed out he was in this film, they gave him an entire life. I loved his character before but he got to shine this time, between the action, backstory and a ton of good lines.
It also shows how far his trust with Natasha goes, do you think maybe...
When Natasha defected, she lived with them for a while, until SHIELD cleared her fully to work for them? It would be nice to think she wasn't just 'the best friend' but part of the family, in her own way.
On the other hand, I could hear the screams of the 'shippers hopes and dreams going up in flames.
On the other hand, I could hear the screams of the 'shippers hopes and dreams going up in flames.
Its nice that Coulson's team was the one who told the Avengers about Sekovia.
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See me complain about this? No, since I have long ago accepted that by going into various MCU threads I risk being spoiled about what happens elsewhere in MCU at the moment it comes out somewhere in the world.
(AoS doesnt air in Finland until Sunday, so what happens in this weeks episode is spoilers for me)
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And thank you so much for quoting his spoiler but making it totally visible to those of us who don't click on spoilers.See me complain about this? No, since I have long ago accepted that by going into various MCU threads I risk being spoiled about what happens elsewhere in MCU at the moment it comes out somewhere in the world.
(AoS doesnt air in Finland until Sunday, so what happens in this weeks episode is spoilers for me)
Well obviously that spoiler wasnt spoiler-coded when I quoted it. Should have edited it away but wasnt thinking.And thank you so much for quoting his spoiler but making it totally visible to those of us who don't click on spoilers.See me complain about this? No, since I have long ago accepted that by going into various MCU threads I risk being spoiled about what happens elsewhere in MCU at the moment it comes out somewhere in the world.
(AoS doesnt air in Finland until Sunday, so what happens in this weeks episode is spoilers for me)
Having avoided the A:AoU lead up thread here and other places for about two months, including not watching the final trailer a few weeks back, I saw it last night at a free screener.
My grade: A-
Since this is the review thread we aren't doing spoiler code as per usual in lead up threads....yes?
I felt that we got to Ultron rather fast. I would've thought the build up to him might have drawn out jut a bit more. That said, going with what we were given I was largely satisfied with his portrayal. Did anyone else pick up a "disappointed parent vibe" between him and The Twins during the second act in the room with the birthing chamber and a mind controlled Dr. Cho? He thought they were willing to go along with hid desire to destroy humanity when really their hatred was just for Stark and by extension The Avengers. Once they fully understood his twisted desire they parted ways, disappointing Ultron.
It really felt like Hawkeye was being set up to be the one to die but since you know he's in CA:CW, that clearly wasn't the case. The comic purist in me isn't wholly stoked that they made Clint a married family man. It's just not been Clint so it was an adjustment seeing that they went with that angle.
The Natasha/Banner simmering attraction was also interesting in that Banner, like Tony or Thor, has his one true love in Betty. While Pepper & Jane get name dropped we've yet to have Betty mentioned. Natasha has always seemingly had trouble with attachment which is why in the comics she's gotten involved with a few different folks over the years so Banner in this case could be something she sees as different and therefore maybe "the one"?
I'm not fully convinced that Quicksilver/Pietro is dead either. I'm allowing for the fact that he's a 'Super', that his sister has powers that(in the comics anyway) can be any needed McGuffin + Dr.Cho and her amazing medical tools and know how.
I was really pleased with the creation of Vision. His "birth" and arrival went at a pace about what I was expecting for Ultron. Prior to seeing the film I thought we'd get a build up to Ultron like this, from a Tony perspective then see a "Mark 2" creation that would be Vision. Not that Ultron creates Vision then is hijacked by Tony. Still, I'm pleased with how Vision played out on screen in the end.
Very good to see Carter, Heimdell, Selvig, Rhodey and Sam Wilson in the film. That type of continuity that was seamlessly worked in always appeals to me. On the other side of the coin seeing Dr.List as well from Agents of Shield was a nice nod.
Back to death: they killed Von Strucker?! Seems to be a short sighted move. Unlike Quicksilver I don't see an out for Von Strucker. Killing him this soon is reminding me of the untimely decision with
I was hoping that at the New Avengers Training facility we might get a Coulson cameo. In that scene it was nice to see Sam get some red highlight piping put into his Falcon tech and seeing Wanda in a much more full red Scarlet Witch looking ensemble.
Still a bit stunned they abandoned the post credits fan service clip.
My grade: A-
Since this is the review thread we aren't doing spoiler code as per usual in lead up threads....yes?
I felt that we got to Ultron rather fast. I would've thought the build up to him might have drawn out jut a bit more. That said, going with what we were given I was largely satisfied with his portrayal. Did anyone else pick up a "disappointed parent vibe" between him and The Twins during the second act in the room with the birthing chamber and a mind controlled Dr. Cho? He thought they were willing to go along with hid desire to destroy humanity when really their hatred was just for Stark and by extension The Avengers. Once they fully understood his twisted desire they parted ways, disappointing Ultron.
It really felt like Hawkeye was being set up to be the one to die but since you know he's in CA:CW, that clearly wasn't the case. The comic purist in me isn't wholly stoked that they made Clint a married family man. It's just not been Clint so it was an adjustment seeing that they went with that angle.
The Natasha/Banner simmering attraction was also interesting in that Banner, like Tony or Thor, has his one true love in Betty. While Pepper & Jane get name dropped we've yet to have Betty mentioned. Natasha has always seemingly had trouble with attachment which is why in the comics she's gotten involved with a few different folks over the years so Banner in this case could be something she sees as different and therefore maybe "the one"?
I'm not fully convinced that Quicksilver/Pietro is dead either. I'm allowing for the fact that he's a 'Super', that his sister has powers that(in the comics anyway) can be any needed McGuffin + Dr.Cho and her amazing medical tools and know how.
I was really pleased with the creation of Vision. His "birth" and arrival went at a pace about what I was expecting for Ultron. Prior to seeing the film I thought we'd get a build up to Ultron like this, from a Tony perspective then see a "Mark 2" creation that would be Vision. Not that Ultron creates Vision then is hijacked by Tony. Still, I'm pleased with how Vision played out on screen in the end.
Very good to see Carter, Heimdell, Selvig, Rhodey and Sam Wilson in the film. That type of continuity that was seamlessly worked in always appeals to me. On the other side of the coin seeing Dr.List as well from Agents of Shield was a nice nod.
Back to death: they killed Von Strucker?! Seems to be a short sighted move. Unlike Quicksilver I don't see an out for Von Strucker. Killing him this soon is reminding me of the untimely decision with
killing Ben Urich in the DD Netflix show.
Still a bit stunned they abandoned the post credits fan service clip.
I gave it an A-. The set pieces wre fantastic, even better than its predecessor. The Hulk-Iron Man fight in particular was brilliant. And the dialogue was up to par, frequently laugh out loud. Spader's voice work and mo-cap were fantastic, even if Ultron couldn't quite top Loki as a villain.
But the plot was...well, it basically stands up to zero scrutiny.
But then again, with a film this entertaining, who cares?
But the plot was...well, it basically stands up to zero scrutiny.
But then again, with a film this entertaining, who cares?
It was good, gave it an A-. Marvel movies are often exactly what I expect, so I usually leave them entertained.
I think I preferred the first Avengers movie, albeit by a small margin.
Lots of city destruction in the Hulk/Iron Man fight, wonder if anyone will get butthurt about that?
I think I preferred the first Avengers movie, albeit by a small margin.
Lots of city destruction in the Hulk/Iron Man fight, wonder if anyone will get butthurt about that?
