I’ve got enough of superheroes. But this one has got J.A.R.V.I.S. evolved into flesh. The prospect of seeing Paul Bettany, not just the voice, on screen was too tempting.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (IMDB)

While trying to recover Loki’s sceptre and shut down Hydra, a rouge organization led by Baron von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann), the Avengers is made aware of its ambitious experiments. In the raid, they find an advanced artifical intelligent system developed to be infused into a massive robotic structure. They also encounter the orphan twins Pietro and Wanda Maximoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen). Surviving Strucker’s human experiments, each with superhuman qualities — “he is fast and she is weird, ” says Agent Hill (Cobie Smulders) — the twins set their own agenda in motion.

Ever so intrigued Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), who has been working on advancing his band of intelligent robots, tries to adopt Strucker’s experiment into Ultron, a system developed to be intelligent peacekeeper. With the help of the ever so reluctant Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), they tinker without the other Avengers knowing or approving. This accidentally lets loose and gives Ultron the organic intelligent that then overtakes and destroys J.A.R.V.I.S., a vindication to various variants of Murphy’s Law that anything that can go wrong, will.

The Ultron (James Spader), permeates Stark’s robotic armies and infiltrates the internet. Ultron assesses that to achieve his mission’s objective, the way to save the world is to have mankind evolved from man’s current frail condition into stronger built exterior, and remove Avengers, the forces that commit violence in their effort to stop evil. With Wanda Maximoff’s mind manipulation and Ultron gaining victories in subsequent encounters, each Avenger has to deal with their worst nightmare, keep the team together, save the world from themselves, and beat Ultron.

 


In December last year, when receiving new communication system to enable him to speak, Stephen Hawking warned of the danger of having artficial intelligence that matched or surpassed human: the end of human race. “Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete and would be superseded,” (BBC). That is some of the ideas mentioned, yet sadly not explored enough, in this second Marvel’s Avengers film. Likely the last one directed by Josh Whedon, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” deals with the very thin line that mark one a hero or a monster, or both. The idea doesn’t develop beyond setting up the motive for character’s struggle, which is understandable considering the large ensemble and limited time frame.

Ultron, “You’re unbelievably naïve.”
The Vision, “Well, I was born yesterday.”

It’s hard not to compare “Age of Ultron” with “Avengers Assemble” because I went to cinema expecting the things that had made “Avengers Assemble” entertaining and not just another superhero film. There is a very noticeable lack of humour and witty dialouges, which had been abundant in previous film. Granted, there is no Loki here, but J.A.R.V.I.S.‘s and Vision’s humour, sarcasm, and eloquence should be a match for Loki’s, in my opinion — the most entertaining part of Iron Man films had been Stark’s and J.A.R.V.I.S.‘s banter.

The amount of fights and destruction, and the noises that come with them, is unnecessary. I haven’t read the comics, but I understand this is supposed to be about a threat of “intelligent” system. Then why is this the usual brawn over brain showdown? Considering David the android‘s (of Prometheus) subtle manipulation to experiment on his fellow human crews, Ultron must be a hormonal teenage drama queen throwing tantrum just because the other girl gets the attention.

Commenting on Hawking’s remark, in The News Quiz comedienne Holly Walsh asserted that instead of AI ending the human race, “human stupidity will get there first.” If this is the display of the AI implementation, then I agree.

Avengers: Age of Ultron — So Why Are We Here?
  • Idea
  • Visual
  • Dialogue
  • Music
  • Entertainment
2.7

Verdict

An ambitious idea, aiming for more ambitious spectacles, yet sadly translate to bigger, louder, and sometimes unnecessary, brawl.

And why should Vision be pinkish red?

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