Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) review

                Joss Whedon’s  Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) is Mr. Whedon’s second go around with Earth’s mightiest heroes however this time he has full writing credits (Zak Pen had a story by credit on The Avengers 2012). This film showcases some of the writer/directors best known strengths such as writing strong ensemble pieces that meld action with witty banter. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) has a lot of spinning plates and giving each character ample character development while introducing four new characters that are central to the plot is no easy feat. This film definitely feels more like a Joss Whedon project then the previous Avenger’s film. Strong female characters are a Whedon hallmark that he brings to his latest project despite the fact the movie rights to some of Marvel’s strongest female characters were sold off when the publisher was facing bankruptcy. Black Widow wielding Cap’s shield or SHIELD agent Maria Hill saving a terrified male agent from Ultron may seem innocuous but in the all boys club of action movies and comic books these choices are a welcome breath of fresh air.

                As a comic book fan what makes this film particularly stand out from other films in the genre is the director’s ability in several scenes to convey the cinematic equivalent of a Jack Kirby splash page. Now eleven films deep into the Marvel Cinematic Universe you sometimes have to remind yourself not to take for granted the visual effects of Iron Man flying or the Hulk smashing. Two decades ago the most recent Hulk movie was the 80’s TV movie starring Lou Ferrigno who was painted green by a teamster with a paint roller. During the eighties and nineties a movie with the production values, cast, and crew like Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) would have been inconceivable. Using a motion capture suit for James Spader performance really pays off in his portrayal of Ultron. Animators would have been hard pressed to replicate the nuance of Mr. Spader’s physicality that compliments his vocal performance so well.

                The theme of monsters and what it means to be an outsider is used heavily in this film. The film features all types of monsters some that are obviously monstrous on the outside and other characters that maybe more monstrous on the inside or considered monsters because of their actions/choices. We see some characters that are born monsters and others that are turned into monsters. Despite being outsiders we see these characters inner strength as they come together to save a world that does not accept them. If I was Fox I would take notice and back up a dump truck of cash to the Whedon compound and beg Joss to take the helm of their mighty mutants franchise. A group of outsiders fighting for a world that hates and fears them is an important theme in X-men. Not to mention Mr. Whedon is already very familiar with the source material as he was the scribe on an EXCELLENT run on Astonishing X-Men. This is just one example of several ways Joss Whedon pumps heart into this CGI summer blockbuster behemoth. He takes the gods from atop Mount Olympus (Avengers tower) and brings them down to earth in an abandoned SHEILD compound located in the middle of nowhere upstate NY.

                This film wasn’t just an elaboration on Mr. Whedon’s previous Avengers film but a comment on war and collateral damage. I couldn’t help think of Man of Steel (2013) while watching this film. In that film Superman engages in a battle that lays waste to metropolis but The Man of Tomorrow seemingly saves no one because he’s too busy punching General Zod in the face. Several scenes in this film depict the protagonists saving innocent civilians or expressing concern for them. Bruce Banner feels angst about using his powers and hurting people even if they are evil Hydra foot soldiers. The Avengers (2012) was meant to be a super hero war movie and this film goes out of its way to show you even though our heroes will inevitably win and save the earth war always has its price.

                Marvel helped bring continuity to the silver age of comic books and now they have brought continuity to the silver screen. Even after ten previous films featuring various characters but all taking place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) is still a treat. High production values, strong acting, and a straight forward morality tale are all the makings for a great summer popcorn flick.

By Jake Cohen

4 out of 5 Jack “The King” Kirbys. RECOMMEND 

Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller, AUS, 2015) review

        Physical effects make a triumphant return to the GGI saturated season of summer blockbusters. Max Rockatansky has emerged from the waste land in Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller, AUS, 2015) to show us the light of epic cinema. George Miller gets another bite at the Mad Max apple and produces a Lawrence of Arabia (1962, David Lean, UK) type epic while making a strong feminist statement in a post apocalyptic acid trip fever dream.

                 

        I’m not sure if it has anything to do with the uncanny valley but the epic scope of Lawrence of Arabia (1962, David Lean, UK) versus Revenge of the Sith (2005, George Lucas, USA) is apparent to anyone whose viewed both.  CGI is helpful and can be a great asset to a filmmaker. Fury Road has over 2,000 visual effects shots[i]. That being said it’s not how much CGI you use but how you use it. It’s the motion in the ocean not the size of the boat. Often Miller’s use of CGI is used to color correct shots, add clouds to the clear Namibian sky, and dessert rocks turned a much richer hue.

              

        After screening Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller, AUS, 2015) themes George Miller was hinting at in Mad Max Beyond Thunder Dome (George Miller, AUS, 1985) became much clearer.  The Triple Goddess helps redeem Max when he is at his most feral, his humanity holding on by a shred and our titular hero can only manage guttural sounds in lieu of language. Tom Hardy plays the titular character in this latest Mad Max incarnation. Max fights to protect the maiden or in this case maidens. He is aided and rescued by the mother and in this case the mother is the warrior Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron crushes this role), and lastly he is aided by the crone. In Miller’s post apocalyptic wasteland the crone is a bunch of motorcycle driving, seed toting, rifle shooting bad ass grandmas.

        At one point Max washes blood off his hands using the contents of a tanker full of mother’s milk.The themes in Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller, AUS, 2015) are often not subtle but don’t seem heavy handed in a movie that has little to no exposition. In an era when movies find it necessary to have a pseudoscience explanation for our super heroes and science fiction it’s refreshing to have a movie not crow bar in needless exposition. Much like Sergio Leone Miller uses action and his actor’s body language and facial expressions to convey story instead of relying on dialogue.  In Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller, AUS, 2015) there’s no time to waste with monologues as the drums of war beat in the distance and a war party race towards you and among them is flame throwing guitar player strapped to a flat bed full of speakers racing down the dessert with dozens of other maniacs painted white. Oh did I forget to mention the maniacs in white body paint drive hot rods that have gentlemen with explosive spears ridding atop them.

                 

        I’ve heard the notion bandied around that George Lucas is treated unfairly by adult fans who didn’t like the prequels. That the movies were not bad they were just now adults and not the target audience as they were in 1977. Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller, AUS, 2015) takes that thesis and crumples it up and tosses it in the rubbish bin. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (George Miller, AUS, 1981) & the Star Wars trilogy live in the same sweet spot in my pre-adolescent heart. In fact they are probably neighbors and enjoying going over each other’s homes for summer BBQs or drinks around the holidays. Coincidently they live down the street from Raiders of Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg, USA, 1981). If my review hasn’t been clear up till now stop reading this and go see this movie NOW!
By Jake Cohen

5 out of 5 Martin Riggs(s). RECOMMEND

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[i] http://www.avclub.com/article/read-crafting-mad-max-fury-roads-more-2000-visual--220462