By SETH HYNES
Avengers: Age of Ultron (M)
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johannson, Jeremy Renner
AN INTENSELY fulfilling experience, Avengers: Age of Ultron comes just short of being a perfect blockbuster.
When Tony Stark/Iron Man’s peacekeeping artificial intelligence Ultron goes rogue and views humanity as the enemy, the Avengers must fight to avert global extinction.
To be brutally honest, the plot is a little flimsy.
Avengers: Age of Ultron retreads some old ground, both in Ultron’s cliched ‘save humanity by destroying it’ motivation and the film’s premise.
After all, Captain America: The Winter Soldier also features a global peacekeeping initiative of questionable ethics that goes awry due to an unexpected force.
Like the first Avengers, Age of Ultron is a satisfying ensemble piece with some balancing issues.
The newcomers, super-fast Quicksilver, telepath Scarlet Witch and cyborg Vision, all receive engaging development, and returning Avengers Black Widow and especially Hawkeye are now awesomely capable heroes with arcs, rather than third wheels. Conversely, leading Avengers Captain America and Thor have very little to contribute beyond fighting.
But these flaws are easily forgiven when everything else is so spectacular.
The performances are excellent, Ultron is a witty and deeply intimidating villain, the cast’s chemistry still crackles and director Joss Whedon once again deftly juggles humour and pathos. The action is mind-blowingly creative and well-staged, utilising each hero’s unique abilities to thrilling effect.
Even if it can’t keep every plate spinning, Avengers: Age of Ultron is phenomenally fun, compelling and earnest.
