Avengers: Age of Ultron [DVD]

**This review does not spoil the movie or tell you anything you wouldn't know by watching the trailer.**In the first Avengers film, the gang must learn to work together in order to overcome a familiar foe and stop an alien invasion from destroying New York City and the world. The second film begins with our heroes tying up the last loose end from the so-called Battle of New York, which is to secure Loki's scepter so it's mystical energies can be harassed for mass destruction.In Age of Ultron, we finally meet Wanda and Pietro, which are the "captives" seen in the post-credit sequence after Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Winter Soldier showed us that Hydra had been running SHIELD almost since it was the Selective Scientific Reserve and Baron von Strucker is one of Hydra's "top thugs." Having volunteered for Strucker's experiments on human subjects using Loki's scepter as a catalyst, Pietro has superhuman metabolism that allows him to run at speeds that render him a mere blur to the human eye while Wanda is granted the powers of telekinesis as well as mind control and presumably others that are pseudo-mystical in nature. In Age of Ultron, we see that Wanda and Pietro Maximoff (referred to by most others as "the twins") are being groomed to be big-hitters for Hydra. The Avengers have their first encounter with the twins and, though most come out relatively unharmed, consider the Maximoffs to be a major potential that.Having retrieved Loki's scepter and returned to Stark/Avengers Tower in NYC, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner decide to experiment in the jewel in the scepter before Thor returns to Asgard with the jewel in tow. On analysis, they realize that the jewel isn't a mere energy source like was previously thought, but that the jewel houses some sort of mystical artificial intelligence. This prompts them to discuss the Ultron initiative, which is their theoretical project that would put artificial intelligence into an army of Tony's suits so that the Avengers could essentially retire. However, with Jarvis being the most advanced AI available the concept had insofar been only theoretical or hypothetical.Tony convinces Bruce that this "vulnerable blue planet" is in dire need of Ultron, so the two begin trying to adapt the AI in the jewel into something that could run the "Iron Legion." Unsuccessful, they retire to a party the Avengers are hosting to celebrate the end of the search for Loki's scepter and the end of the threat of another alien invasion, at least in the way it had occurred previously. Meanwhile, as Jarvis runs simulations trying to figure out how to adapt the AI in the jewel into the Ultron program, suddenly the AI in the jewel invades Starks computer systems, destroys Jarvis, and attacks the Avengers before making off work the scepter. Arriving on the other side of the world, Ultron begins creating an army of his own with the goal being to rod the world of the Avengers and force humanity to "evolve."One of the things that I really liked about Marvel's The Avengers: Age of Ultron was that the major threat Ultron owed it's existence to the recklessness of an actual Avenger rather than being some third party with a grudge who decides to destroy the world. Instead, Tony Stark's brainchild, which was intended to be the final solution for world peace and safety, became the near-cause of humanity's destruction.Another thing I really liked about Age of Ultron was that it really highlighted the differences in the perspectives of Tony Stark and the other members of the team, especially Captain America, which most will know is central to the plot of the third Captain America film, subtitled Civil War. Tony Stark has always been a self-serving, egotistical and reckless genius who, over the course of the MCU to date, has taken baby-steps toward being somewhat more heroic. However, despite his growing concern for the safety of others he remains unable to assess certain situations objectively. In Age of Ultron, he foresaw that the other Avengers would be against trying to put the jewel's AI into suits of armor, but his pride resulting in his belittling that perspective and in not lending it any credence. As a result, he impulsively played with forces that he knowingly couldn't completely control and almost caused the destruction of the Avengers and the world.I also really loved some of the characters introduced in this film. More specifically, Wanda and Pietro Maximoff (Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver) as well as the Vision. In the case of the latter, Stark took the android body Ultron had intended for himself and instead put an "improved" version of Ultron's base AI into the suit after hybridizing it with Jarvis. The result was a new character that recognized that the situation isn't black and white, one side against the other; instead, the Vision is on the side of life and peace with his stance landing on the side that fights to protect those two things. Vision regrets having to kill Ultron because of Ultron's uniqueness, but resigns to Ultron's destruction since Ultron wants to destroy humanity.Unfortunately, Age of Ultron was slightly less well-received than the first Avengers film, which many still hail as one of the best superhero films ever made. In some ways, I can agree that the first film was better. However, I slightly prefer Age of Ultron to the first film since this one is a very organic and logical continuation of these characters' stories. Ultron was a very rich character who, despite being genocidal, still came off as having reached his destructive conclusions through logic, which is more effective than simply making a villain bloodthirsty for the sake of being bloodthirsty. Moreover, the characters introduced in this film--Scarlet Witch, the Vision, and Quicksilver particularly--could very well have major implications and play a huge part in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's almost a shame that Joss Whedon won't being making the two-part finale to the Avengers trilogy because he has really demonstrated a rich understanding of these characters, making them both heroic while also flawed, which is essential for realistic, dynamic characters.

Product arrived as stated.

The DVD arrived within the delivery time promised and is in great condition.

It was entertaining. Typical action movie.

They loved it

As most know everything in the Marvel Universe (aside from the X Men and Fantastic 4 franchises, and the previous Spider Man movies) are telling one long, continuous intricate story leading up to the Avengers Infinity Wars movies. The movies are telling the main story and the TV Shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, and Daredevil are either filling in some of the gaps or or are just on the fringe of the larger story.This movie is continuing the story lines that played out in the first Avengers Movie and Captain America Winter Soldier. It starts out with them mopping up the Hydra forces and trying to find Loki's scepter. In the process Tony Stark and Bruce Banner start messing around with Artificial Intelligence, in the hope of creating a force that can replace the team of Avengers, and end up creating Ultron who is played brilliantly by James Spader.The other main additions to the cast are Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch played by Aaron Taylor Johnson and Elizabeth Olson. They of course were in the teaser scene at the end of Winter Soldier's credits and while most probably already know the role they play in the movie, I will not spoil it for those who have not yet seen the film. But they both do a very good job playing what are ultimately conflicted characters.One thing I really liked about this movie is it gave Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye a story line and more to do. Instead of being the "other one" like he was for much of the first movie, he plays a large part in this one, and has some great sarcastic one liners. It also sets up a transition in the Avengers line up with some characters taking a back seat by the end of the movie (seemingly anyway) and is definitely setting up the movies that are yet to come.For those who get the blu ray, the movie looks and sounds great as expected. For bonus material there are deleted scenes, a few behind the scenes features, a blooper reel and commentary on the movie by director Joss Whedon. There is also a code included for more web based extras should you want to look at those. Not a ton, but good for what is there for those who like to go through the bonus material.All in all you pretty much know what you are getting with these movies. If you are into the story and do not have superhero fatigue, then you will likely enjoy this. If you are not all that into action/superhero movies then this one is not really going to do anything to change your mind.