Film review: The Avengers: Age of Ultron

When the most anticipated film of the year was released, we had pre-booked tickets for the first 3D screening (in Penzance – we’re not that lucky!) and filled our bellies with yummy pizza beforehand. Problem was, half an hour after the lights went down, my baby body decided that no matter how exciting (and loud!) the film was, it was naptime. I woke up ten minutes before the end of the film. Oops!

A week later we tried again – this time with a 2.30pm screening in 2D. Luke was happy to go again anyways as he wasn’t very impressed with the 3D rendering. Plus our local has a BOGOF offer on a Monday – winners! And, shock horror, I was awake for every second! Double win!

Image via

So, Age of Ultron picks up in the middle of the action in a post-Winter Soldier, post-SHIELD world, with Tony Stark (Iron Man) funding the work of the rest of the crew, led by Steve Rogers (Captain America). The whole gang is back from the last Avengers film, including Nick Fury and Maria Hill, with some newbies thrown in for good measure, in the shape of Quicksilver and The Scarlet Witch. Kinda. They’re Russian and there’s no link with Magneto/The X-Men on account of the whole film studio issue… It’s complicated!

Anyhoo, Tony and Bruce (Banner, aka The Hulk) are pretty much best buds now (one of my favourite scenes in the current MCU is a post-credits scene with Bruce acting as Tony’s therapist) and working together to create a peace-keeping program. Things go a bit tits up when it takes on a mind of its own and sets out to destroy the world. Uh-oh!

As the gang set out to take down Ultron and save the world yet again, we get a glimpse into their personal lives. Romance blossoms between Bruce and Natasha (Romanov, aka The Black Widow), as she reveals what happened during her initial training, and we see another side of Clint (Barton, aka Hawkeye). It ain’t all about saving the world – these heroes are human too. Well, for the most part.

Image via

I was a bit disappointed that Falcon (Sam Wilson) didn’t get more screen time. I imagine he did in the initial cut, which ran at three and a half hours, but I have high hopes for Civil War when it’s released next year. But other Marvel fans are up in arms about something different. #wheresblackwidow has been trending since the official merch was released, neglecting our female hero for the most part. But look closer and you’ll realise that it tends to be the guys who have had their own flicks (Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and Hulk, albeit with a different actor) who are getting the bulk of the action. Hawkeye and newbies The Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver have been overlooked for the most part too. Of course, I still think The Black Widow deserves a solo outing.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_5KgpN38hM]

Speaking of Twitter, Joss Whedon has taken a break from social media, allegedly following the backlash against the treatment of The Black Widow in the film itself. First off, a film is only as good as its script and, as the characters are based on source material, surely it’s Stan Lee people should be blaming if they want to complain about The Black Widow being a bad role model for women. Secondly, who says female characters in films have to be good role models? Are the guys all good male role models? Thirdly, and finally, why is it bad for her to have a semi-romantic plot point in the film when the guys have had them in her own films? Tony has Pepper, Steve had Peggy and Thor has Jane… Natasha’s growing relationship with Bruce doesn’t make her weaker and she still kicks a serious amount of bootay in the film.

When Captain America: Winter Soldier was released, my review for aliljoy focused on the sheer volume of strong female characters. You still have that here with Age of Utron – Natasha is kicking ass alongside the men, The Scarlet Witch more than holds her own and Maria Hill keeps on rising through the ranks. What’s not to love?

If you want more Black Widow action, head over to Amazon and get yourselves some comics – she’s a pretty awesome character!

Further reading:
A guide to the growing controversy over Joss Whedon’s Avengers and Marvel’s gender problem – Vox
In defense of Black Widow in Age of Ultron – Raw Story
Black Widow deserved a better romance in Avengers: Age of Ultron – The Guardian
Mark Ruffalo defends Joss Whedon’s feminism: “Black Widow is much stronger than Banner” – Salon
Dissecting the Black Widow/Hulk relationship in Age of Ultron – Entertainment Weekly