Avengers: Age of Ultron - The Perfect Summer Vacation Movie

Perhaps the expectations on the Avengers' sequel was so high that whatever they had done would have not satisfied us. Perhaps the Marvel movies of late have consistently set the bar so high with super movies such as 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 'Captain America: Winter Soldier' over the last couple of years that the biggest ensemble of them all would have great expectations. The thing with Marvel movies is that, they have a habit of bettering expectations. Do they achieve the same with 'Avengers - Age of Ultron'? Read on to find out.

First things first, if you have to assemble the Avengers, you need a threat so big. And this is a sequel, so aliens coming in from other galaxy as in the first part need to be bettered. Do they? No, actually, the threat comes from within. It is of their own making. Tony Stark fiddles with an Artificial Intelligence (Ultron) - found in the gem inside Loki's scepter - which with some twisted logic wakes up and decides that the best thing for this world is for mankind to be decimated.

The first set of people standing between word destruction are the Avengers and so, Ultron decides to build an army that would decimate the world and so it goes around for the one element that would be indestructible: Vibranium (yes, the one that Captain America's shield is made of). He also uses the synthetic tissue generation technology of a doctor Helen Cho and tries to upload himself to a body created with the sceptre's gem. However, he is stopped in the process and the body is made to occupy JARVIS by Tony Stark, giving rise to Vision (Paul Bettany). So, whether the avengers coupled with the Vision manage to defeat the nefarious plans of Ultron is what the story is all about. 

There are a few new additions to the cast such as Quicksilver (Aaron-Taylor Jhonson) - a Flash inspired character who can well, run fast and Maximoff (Elizabeth Olson) who can control minds. They are initially seeking revenge against the Avengers and especially Tony Stark, whom they blame for destroying their family. Their presence adds a different dimension to the Avengers ensemble and they surprisingly find their own in a rather star studded movie.

While there is ample fun and frolic among the Avengers - the butt of their jokes often being Thor ("..if I place this hammer in an elevator and it goes up, then the elevator is worthy enough") and the Hulk ("...just roll over and show your belly when somebody snarls?"), there is a serious element of lightness even to Ultron. He is made from Stark's vision alright, but there is an element of Stark's sarcasm and nonchalance to Ultron that you often feel that the AI isn't all so serious. Simply put, the antagonist here isn't menacing enough. Sure, Loki wasn't the terminator reincarnate, but when needed, he was dead serious. Ultron just doesn't command so much fear.

Another thing that fails to work big time is the romance between Bruce Banner and Natasha Romaoff. True, the beauty and the beast is a wonderful concept and it brings a lot of emotions to the screen, but the blossoming and the acceptance of the romance in this already stars-everywhere-gasping-for-screen-presence movie is so huge that it doesn't fit in properly. 

While that would sum up the "What doesn't work" part, what works is absolutely everything else. The length is 142 minutes but it doesn't show, at all. The CGI is unbelievable and 3D technology has been put to excellent use in most scenes. The screenplay and dialogues are exhilarating: there are so many witty and sarcastic quotable quotes that you are bound to crack up every other scene.

It's heartening to see the characters such as Black Widow and Hawkeye get more screen presence and character development since they have no movies of their own. There are also surprising cameos here and there that would delight the ardent fans. To sum it up, kids will love it, fanboys will drool over it and the rest will definitely enjoy, for a few minor plot holes. Joss Whedon, take a bow!

Overall, Avengers is the movie to watch out for this Summer and I would be surprised if any other Hollywood movie can come close to it till Batman Vs Superman comes up next year.

Read More

Kingsman The Secret Service - Leaves You Gasping For More

Movie: Kingsman - The Secret Service
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L Jackson
Cinematography: George Richmond
Music: Henry Jackman and Matthew Morgeson

Expectations:

Matthew Vaughn comes riding after the twin successes of 'Kick Ass' and 'X-Men: First Class' and obviously expectations are high in this movie featuring a relatively fresh cast. The fact that Colin Firth plays a super spy is, quite a surprise considering that he is usually seen in affable or genial roles (remember his Oscar winning performance in 'The King's Speech'?). Added to the fact that Samuel.L.Jackson gets to play a cool baddie here ensured the audience can be expecting some cool one-liners. The trailer promised much and so, we had quite a bit of expectations walking into the theatre.


Plot:

A super secret spy organization, who operate independently without obligations to national or private interests, to eliminate threats to humanity, searches for a replacement for one of their recently martyred agents, Lancelot. Each of their members are recommended to nominate a promising kid and Galahad (Colin Firth), who feels a strong sense of attachment to a promising street kid, Garry 'Eggsy' Unwin (Taron Egerton), due to a past obligation, recommends him. Just as a the recruitment is in progress, a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius, Valentine (Samuel L Jackson) who aims to cull the world population to bring order to this chaotic world.

Performances:

Kudos to Colin Firth to have gone out of  his comfort zone to essay the role of a smart, jacket-wearing super spy. This is bad-ass with class and Firth makes the role his own. The action sequences involving him are terrific and especially the church scene would remain etched in the audience's mind for quite some time for it's action choreography and the near flawless way that Firth has performed in it.

Taron Egerton as Eggsy is a revelation and at no time does he look flustered at the presence of bigger stars. He could be one new face to watch out for. Sophie Cookson as Roxie, his co-competitor in the recruitment and the eventual friend who helps in the fight against Valentine's plan and Michael Caine as Arthur (watch out for his performance in a particular scene towards the end of the movie) all do justice to their roles.

Samuel Jackson has great fun playing the antagonist here and the complicated role seems to be a cake-walk for the veteran. Sofia Boutella as his loyal sidekick Gazelle with blades for legs just adds to the weirdness quotient.


Technical Departments:

Vince Vaughan is one of those new-age directors who do not give a 'sodding' damn about the needs of a structured screenplay or the need to have stereotypes such as a good hero or a bad villain. In his movies, most people are foul mouthed, the heroes don't mouth the punch lines as much as they show through their actions and the villains are super weird.

The screenplay is deliberately slow at times, but always entertaining. There is a good amount of tension build up in scenes involving the confrontation between Valentine and Galahad and there is great fun in the way the recruitment process is conducted to select the next Kingsman. You can see why they would like for the next Kingsman to be not just a team player, but also ruthless and why, Eggsy with a heart of gold was never going to be the perfect fit.

There are plot-holes as to why the secret super spy organization cannot detect the tracking nano chip planted by Valentine on Galahad and pressing questions as to how Valentine dictates terms to all the world leaders without ever leaving a trace of his activity, but those are for another deep thinking reviewer interested in nitpicking.

Cinematography by George Richmond is functional, with the church massacre scene deserving a special mention and music by Henry Jackman and Matthew Margeson is pacy whenever the movie demands it.

What Works:

The great casting, performances and some memorable dialogues.

What Doesn't:

Minor plot-holes and tad-lengthy run time.

Verdict:

Excuse the plot holes and give this terrific action movie a watch. It would leave you gasping for more.

Rating: 8/10.

Read More