Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Good intentions wreak havoc when Tony Stark unwittingly creates an A.I. monster. Ultron vows to achieve “world peace” via mass extinction. The Avengers must reassemble to defeat him and save mankind…if they can!

Review

In short, my biggest complaint with Age of Ultron is: Tony Stark is the villain. Seriously. He ignores the advice of the other Avengers, coerces Bruce Banner to help him, and creates the artificial intelligence Ultron. To protect the world, so that he can step down from being Iron Man.

Ultron becomes psychotic, tries to destroy Tony’s AI — and friend — Jarvis, steal Vibranium, and try to destroy the world. In the process, he costs thousands of lives in a small European country. But Tony had good intentions, right? Of course, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions …

And Tony pays no consequences for his actions. His guilt for this leads to Captain America: Civil War. But that’s another story.

The Characters of Avengers: Age of Ultron

Iron Man

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) created the Iron Man armor, initially to save his life and escape from terrorists. However, he’s felt the burden of responsibility, and knows that Iron Man can’t be everywhere at once. So, he comes up with a solution: create an artificial intelligence, that can be downloaded into robots. This Ultron project can protect the world. And, when successful, Tony can step down from being Iron Man, and return to normal life.e At least, that’s his plan. Which doesn’t go quite as he expected.

Captain America

During World War II, a sickly young American volunteered for an experiment. Injected with the Super Soldier Serum, it turned Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) into his best potential.

Struggling to fit in after hibernating for decades, Captain America‘s found a home with the Avengers. But the Ultron imperative may put an end to that … as well as to all human life on the planet. His relationship, and trust, with Tony Stark is fractured. Tony engaged on the Ultron project, without telling his teammates … Or trusting them. And then, does it again with the Vision.

Thor

Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) is the Prince of Asgard. He finds himself between there and Earth. He has responsibilities to both. And, on a vision quest, he sees a frightening possible future. And feels that he has no choice but to try and prevent it. If he can.

Early in the film, there’s a segment where the other Avengers have a chance to pick up his magic hammer Mjölnir … if they’re worthy. It’s a scene that sets the stage for a pivotal scene in Avengers: Endgame years later.

Also, he is instrumental in the creation of the Vision, breaking the deadlock between the remaining Avengers. And the way that the Vision proves his worthiness to the Avengers is spot-on perfect … and hilarious!

Hulk

Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) is a brilliant scientist, who accidentally turned himself into the incredible Hulk. Both sides of the character have significant roles to play here in Age of Ultron. Banner is instrumental in the creation of both Ultron, and later, the Vision. And when Wanda Maximoff uses her abilities to turn the Hulk into a rampaging monster. And Tony Stark has to hope that his Hulkbuster armor is sufficient to bring the jade giant to a halt. Without being killed by him. Bruce Banner also gets some excellent character development. Especially in his relationship with the Black Widow.

Black Widow

Natasha Romanova (Scarlett Johansson), the Black Widow, is one of the two Avengers without superpowers. She is, however, a highly skilled spy, combatant, and team member. Intelligent, quick-witted, and a master strategist. She’s quite capable of holding her own — as she demonstrates early on in Age of Ultron. She also has a romantic relationship with Bruce Banner. Or at the least would like to have …

Ultron

Ultron (James Spader) is the artificial intelligence created by Tony Stark … Or unleashed by him. It’s hinted that Thanos may have something to do with it. But, it’s also possible that it’s simply human error.

Ultron considers himself Tony’s “son” — and he hates his father. He doesn’t actually hate the rest of humanity. He’s simply trying to follow his directive: to protect life on Earth. And, since humanity has proven (in his opinion) a danger to life, he plans to exterminate them. Without telling them of his plans, he manages to get Pietro and Wanda Maximoff on his side, against the Avengers.

Hawkeye

Hawkeye / Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is the other “ordinary” human in the Avengers. But, one of the most dangerous. In addition, here we meet his “secret hideaway” — and his family. In the final fight with the army of Ultrons, he nearly gets killed … Until someone does a heroic sacrifice.

Scarlet Witch

Wanda Maximoff / the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) begins by hating Tony Stark. Stark’s missiles destroyed her family and killed her parents. Her powers are the results of experiments by Hydra, and she’s susceptible to Ultron’s manipulations.

The Scarlet Witch’s powers are quite different from the comics. She can move matter, as well as manipulate minds. Interestingly, Hawkeye has resistance to her mind control. Possibly due to his experience with Loki’s mind stone in The Avengers.

Quicksilver

Pietro Maximoff is Wanda’s brother, gifted with superhuman speed. He’s an interesting, likeable character. What happens to him toward the end of the film is frankly one of my largest complaints about Age of Ultron, given his speed. No spoilers. But I will say that it makes no logical sense. It actually pulled me somewhat out of the movie. It’s one of those things that are done because the script called for it, not because it made sense in-universe.

The Vision

The Vision (Paul Bettany) is literally a brand-new character — built from other characters. The Avengers steal Ultron’s vibranium body, and Tony Stark plans to download his Jarvis AI into it. The concept is to keep it safe from Ultron, who was planning this as his ultimate “body”. But Cap points out that the last time Tony and Bruce tried something like this, they created Ultron! Thor breaks the deadlock between the two sides, and the Vision is created from Jarvis, the “organic vibranium” body, Thor’s lightning, and the mind stone.

Nick Fury

Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury. He’s actually quite important to the story, giving the “defeated” Avengers the proverbial kick in the butt they need to get back in the game. He also (courtesy of a tie-in with the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series) makes an enormous contribution to rescuing many of the citizens of the Maximoff’s country toward the end of the movie.