Marvel Cinematic Universe - Road to "Endgame"
Part #11 - "Avengers: Age of Ultron"
This is a movie that I appreciate more everytime I watch it. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is a good movie; one that really deepens the overall MCU world and story arc, fleshes out our characters, and introduces some new faces. It may feel slightly disjointed, and "Ultron" as a villain perhaps could have been developed further (although I liked him overall), there is a lot of great stuff in "Age of Ultron". The film is genuinely a pivot point for the series as a whole, with events set in motion that will determine everything that follows in the MCU.
"Age of Ultron" has some really engaging action scenes. The opening sequence is a delightful way to begin the film; thrusting us into the middle of a battle between the Avengers and a Hydra army. Not to mention the amazing Iron Man Hulkbuster v Hulk fight and the hugely joyous climactic battle for Sokovia.
Yet, despite all this, this movie is ultimately about people and character. It's an exploration of who these individuals are and what their flaws are. What do people do when faced with the possibility of the end of the world? How far would they go to save it? What keeps them up at night? Do their demons lead them to make poor choices? Tony Stark is haunted by the threat of death to the rest of the team (and his supposed lack of action to prevent this). Steve Rogers (continuing a theme from "Captain America: The Winter Soldier") faces the question of whether or not he can exist in a world without war - whilst suffering from nightmares of his own past and the life he was supposed to have. Black Widow's secret history is hinted at, and we see how alone she really is. The sequence with Hawkeye's family on their farm is really special - not only humanising Hawkeye himself, but the rest of the team too.
The film also has a great ending - the final "confrontation" between Vision and Ultron is a quiet and poignant moment when both of these "superior" beings agree that humanity is indeed doomed, yet Vision insists that "there is grace in their failings... a thing isn't beautiful because it lasts".
Yes, it may not be as fresh or concisely written as "The Avengers", but "Age of Ultron" is still a decent film and an enjoyable entry into the MCU. Even the web series "Honest Trailers" - a series designed to poke fun at movies - admit in their honest trailer for "Age of Ultron" that "I mean, it's definitely good... we're going to catch hell for this aren't we?"
7/10
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Marvel Cinematic Universe - Road to "Endgame"
Part #12 - "Ant-Man"
Well, wasn't this a lovely surprise? Outside of the comic book reading community, the thought of a movie about a character named "Ant-Man" would have likely evoked a lot of s******ing. However, the MCU has shown that it can bring lesser known characters to the wider population, make them fun and, most importantly, make them relevant.
"Ant-Man" is essentially a heist movie, and a very fun one at that. Evoking moments from classic films such as "The Incredible Shrinking Man" and "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids", it's incredibly entertaining to see a man ride a flying ant, jump through keyholes, flee the "tidal wave" of a running tap, and more.
I really enjoy how the film adds to the MCU as well, giving us an insight to the history of S.H.I.E.L.D. through scenes set in the 1980s featuring Howard Stark, Peggy Carter, and a younger Hank Pym.
Light-hearted and funny, "Ant-Man" does drag slightly in the middle, but is a nonetheless solid and enjoyable movie.
7/10