Muhammad Muzammal

Staff Writer

Joss Whedon's follow-up to the third biggest film of all time is a frenetic, manic action film that has the feel of a real science fiction movie, but is muddled by senseless, loud destruction, an uneven pace and an overabundance of characters. How can, "Age of Ultron," a comic book based movie full of gods and superhero mythology, be science fiction? The movie’s scary titular villain, who is voiced with an intimidating tingle by James Spader, gives it the science fiction feel.

Ultron is the latest creation of Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), which stems from his decision to make an artificially intelligent being with enough power to protect the earth so that the earth's mightiest heroes can take a well needed rest. Stark's intentions are sound, but in creating Ultron – a deadly science fiction cliche – Stark causes more worldwide destruction, prompting his superhero comrades to battle. His comrades, the Avengers, which includes the strategic leader Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), the warrior demigod Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the brilliant scientist-turned-green monster Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), the assassin Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow and the family man Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). The Avengers also gain two new members; the Sokovian twins Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver (Aaron-Taylor Johnson) and Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). Quicksilver runs at lightning speeds, while the Scarlet Witch harnesses a force that fights off enemies and her touch induces moments of fear in her victims. The film is way too frantic. It doesn't give time for Ultron's motives to properly develop, making everything feel unnatural – which is saying something since we're dealing with the Avengers. The movie is also hectic in its action sequences, which have shades of Zack Snyder's noisy "Man of Steel." During the mid-film fight, the Hulk and Iron Man, due to Scarlet Witch's manipulative ways, end up battling each other in a populated city, but by this point in the film I was desensitized to the action. Glass windows break, blacktops are cracked, buildings crumple and I sit, bored, waiting for less noise and more peace. I guess I have the same motives as the Avengers, I may add.

Along with the abundance of violence, the film has way too many characters. Despite the movie's respectable running time at two hours and 21 minutes, it doesn't feel like there was enough time devoted to a cast of 20-plus characters, all of whom have different reactions to the same end-of-the-world scenarios.

Romanoff and Banner have a romantic subplot, Barton is given a family man presence with his wife and kids, and Thor, Rogers and Stark all have loves they can't be with due to their extraordinary circumstances. All of this takes place during the main plot of Ultron attempting to destroy the Avengers and the world. It's too much for a film that isn't three hours long.

Thankfully, the film is comedic and its funniest moments include a strongest-man sequence where the Avengers try to pick up Thor's hammer. Captain America almost succeeds!

"The Avengers: Age of Ultron" is too full of rage for a film that has funny, witty characters and whose interactions are much more interesting than their fight scenes. "Age of Ultron," unlike other blockbusters, has a soul, but it doesn't act on its essence and therefore, it painfully becomes unwatchable and disappointing.