Age of Ultron by JEWELSTAITEFAN

Yep, Joss. Another good reason to see it. Even that wasn't quite enough to overcome the Downey factor for me.

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Monday, April 27, 2015 8:52 PM

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at https://www.mediafire.com/two

Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Yep, Joss. Another good reason to see it. Even that wasn't quite enough to overcome the Downey factor for me.

Joss Whedon's sequel is a fun summer spectacle, but wasn't he aiming for more?

To some extent, the presence of a well-respected and high-integrity auteur like Whedon mitigates the ambivalent atmosphere of calculation, condescension and cynicism that surrounds so many nine-figure Hollywood productions. The “Avengers” franchise is more than a huge cash grab. It’s mythic; it’s “ambitious.” No one involved needs to apologize to their artsy friends, or to feel that their L.A. hillside mansions and terraced swimming pools and BMW 6 Series convertibles were paid for with dirty money, the way they might after working on a Michael Bay movie.

But this is a big movie whose cultural ripple effects are very small. I feel no coming groundswell of media thinkpieces or social-media debates.

Ultron is like every pseudo-demonic villain -- he yearns to perfect the human race by exterminating it. Such is the essential and insuperable problem of the summer movie and such is the challenge Whedon has set himself.

How much distinctive or idiosyncratic flavoring can a writer/director impart to a set of characters as well defined as this assemblage of Marvel superheroes, and to a story that must progress from original sin to existential crisis to redemptive action climax, with very little room for variation? There is honor to this quest, and maybe even a kind of selflessness – if work whose craftsman is paid millions can ever be called selfless. Whedon is trying to meet the expectations of comic-book fans head on, and satisfy them in full, while proving to them and to us that these movies – the fundamental economic basis of the American film industry, at this point — don’t have to be careless and juvenile and entirely bereft of psychological insight and adult emotion.

This may be a perverse response, but I enjoyed “Age of Ultron” more than its predecessor, despite the fact that it’s almost exactly the same thing. This was probably a result of adjusting my expectations: I wasn’t sitting there waiting for Whedon to revolutionize the genre, or to turn an overdetermined comic-book movie into a Noel Coward comedy. He delivers a clean and capable entertainment, with a handful of distinctive flourishes stuck to the margins.

Whedon does well with the darker edges of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, whose degree of repentance for his war-criminal past is always ambiguous. Whedon adds sparkling notes of screwball comedy, and even tragedy, to the incipient romance between Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow and Mark Ruffalo’s Dr. Bruce Banner (who, like so many lovable men, has a big, green, ugly side).

Once we get to the supposedly climactic showdown with Ultron the movie is pretty boring; how many ways are there to threaten the planet with CGI destruction and then CGI-save it? Whedon’s complicated setup, however, offers intriguing hints of subtext. (I could write the same two sentences about almost any superhero movie.)

www.salon.com/2015/04/27/joss_whedons_doomed_struggle_age_of_ultron_an
d_superhero_cinemas_decadent_phase/

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly

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Monday, April 27, 2015 9:20 PM

WISHIMAY

I'll admit I never really liked RD Jr, either, but I think he probably is the perfect person to play Iron Man, just because he HAS a past that's not squeaky clean and it translates well for the development of the character.

I too, do not like to give second chances to people that have it all and blow what the rest of us could only wish for, but at this point fighting it is counterproductive anyway...

PS What is the deal with Elisabeth Olsen? Why do you like her?

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Monday, April 27, 2015 10:07 PM

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at https://www.mediafire.com/two

Quote:
Originally posted by Wishimay:
PS What is the deal with Elisabeth Olsen? Why do you like her?

Joss Whedon & Elizabeth Olsen Interview

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly

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Tuesday, April 28, 2015 8:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wishimay:
I'll admit I never really liked RD Jr, either, but I think he probably is the perfect person to play Iron Man, just because he HAS a past that's not squeaky clean and it translates well for the development of the character.

I too, do not like to give second chances to people that have it all and blow what the rest of us could only wish for, but at this point fighting it is counterproductive anyway...

PS What is the deal with Elisabeth Olsen? Why do you like her?

I have seen her work, or at least some of it. She can steal some scenes, but really she embeds herself in the roles, it never seems like she is acting. Maybe also because she didn't seem to ride the coattails of her famous siblings, who I don't really follow. I saw a clip of Ultron with her, and she looks wierd in that black outfit and hair, but I am willing to watch what she brings to the overall film.

I think she has great potential, promise. By now she must be older than Abigail Breslin who also absorbs the characters, but she really marinates in roles better than ScarJo ever has. I think Elizabeth's star is still on the rise, so it feels to me like watching Natalie Portman, Lisa Jakub, and other good actresses grow.

I think a better Iron Man could be found in Michael Beihn, Matt Damon, Karl Urban, Eric Bana, Tom Hardy, Jensen Eckles, Nathan Fillion, Sean Maher, Gary Sinise, and others. Unless, are you intending to imply that Tony Stark is supposed to be completely unlikeable?

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Friday, May 1, 2015 5:35 AM

As I remember Tony Stark in the comics, he was like Elon Musk, boy genius, and Kevin Kline. Smooth, suave, debonair and a decent fellow (despite being a stoopid rich tycoon), think Batman but without the brooding Dark Knight vibe going on.

He seemed like the type of guy that we would hang out with, if he was a working glass dude. His best friend was his driver and his secretary, er, excuse me, administrative assistant. Downey has almost totally transformed him into a super-rich version of himself (that seems redundant), I did kind of liked him in the original film, but he has turned him into a wisecracking, scotch drinking version of, well, himself. Only thing that is somewhat saving him is the wonderful script that Joss & Co. wrote for the Avengers, and Joss's sense of humor.

I find it kind of boring to have Iron Man wisecracking throughout the film and not really take on the gravitas of Tony Stark's situation. Can you tell I was an Iron Man fan from way back; also Thor. I'm good with Hemsworth as Thor, he gets it. But Downey, well sometimes you could almost catch him looking in the mirror at himself with that smirk on his face saying "Damn, I'm good." The director, I would imagine, has to reign him in at times. Although I really can't hate on him too much because I saw a story about him visiting a sick kid (dying of something) and he didn't seek publicity (it was only through Twitter, posted by the kid's mother). Good for him.

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Quote:
Originally posted by Wishimay:
I'll admit I never really liked RD Jr, either, but I think he probably is the perfect person to play Iron Man, just because he HAS a past that's not squeaky clean and it translates well for the development of the character.

I too, do not like to give second chances to people that have it all and blow what the rest of us could only wish for, but at this point fighting it is counterproductive anyway...

PS What is the deal with Elisabeth Olsen? Why do you like her?

I have seen her work, or at least some of it. She can steal some scenes, but really she embeds herself in the roles, it never seems like she is acting. Maybe also because she didn't seem to ride the coattails of her famous siblings, who I don't really follow. I saw a clip of Ultron with her, and she looks wierd in that black outfit and hair, but I am willing to watch what she brings to the overall film.

I think she has great potential, promise. By now she must be older than Abigail Breslin who also absorbs the characters, but she really marinates in roles better than ScarJo ever has. I think Elizabeth's star is still on the rise, so it feels to me like watching Natalie Portman, Lisa Jakub, and other good actresses grow.

I think a better Iron Man could be found in Michael Beihn, Matt Damon, Karl Urban, Eric Bana, Tom Hardy, Jensen Eckles, Nathan Fillion, Sean Maher, Gary Sinise, and others. Unless, are you intending to imply that Tony Stark is supposed to be completely unlikeable?

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Friday, May 1, 2015 5:36 AM

Gonna catch it with my son and some of his friends, most likely on Monday to avoid the crowds.

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
I've seen some threads about snarky comments, reviews, smackdowns, largely publicity functions.
Not much about the film, any story it might possess.

I had not really planned on seeing it in cinema, but conjured I would likely see it after a few weeks. But then I noticed I have not been able to catch films that way recently. When I go looking for a film that was showing a week before, I find the film has left the theater run.

Now I notice that Elizabeth Olsen is in Ultron, so I will need to remember to see it. I understand this means I will not be able to avoid Downey unless I can find a way for the theater to fast forward through his scenes. But I did manage to not see Godzilla, largely because the promotional material failed to adequately make clear that Elizabeth was in it.

I can admit that I prefer Bana Hulk to any other.
I have not bothered with the comics, in case these shows are following them.
Is Cobie Smulders still in Ultron?
Natalie Portman seems to be only in the non-Avengers part of Thor's life. Plus I hear she does not even want to be in any other Thor films.

So who is really wanting to see the film?
Who might see it, but only if convenient?
Who will wait for DVD? Or budget/bargain cinema?

I also note that ScarJo may be dwindling down her roles, and Elizabeth Olsen seems more than capable of taking over any roles that ScarJo or Maggie Gyllenhal pass up.

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Friday, May 1, 2015 9:02 AM

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at https://www.mediafire.com/two

Quote:
Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
As I remember Tony Stark in the comics, he was like Elon Musk, boy genius, and Kevin Kline. Smooth, suave, debonair and a decent fellow (despite being a stoopid rich tycoon), think Batman but without the brooding Dark Knight vibe going on.

He seemed like the type of guy that we would hang out with, if he was a working class dude. His best friend was his driver and his secretary, er, excuse me, administrative assistant. Downey has almost totally transformed him into a super-rich version of himself (that seems redundant), I did kind of liked him in the original film, but he has turned him into a wisecracking, scotch drinking version of, well, himself. Only thing that is somewhat saving him is the wonderful script that Joss & Co. wrote for the Avengers, and Joss's sense of humor.

I find it kind of boring to have Iron Man wisecracking throughout the film and not really take on the gravitas of Tony Stark's situation. Can you tell I was an Iron Man fan from way back; also Thor. I'm good with Hemsworth as Thor, he gets it. But Downey, well sometimes you could almost catch him looking in the mirror at himself with that smirk on his face saying "Damn, I'm good." The director, I would imagine, has to reign him in at times. Although I really can't hate on him too much because I saw a story about him visiting a sick kid (dying of something) and he didn't seek publicity (it was only through Twitter, posted by the kid's mother). Good for him.

SGG

Tony Stark in the most recent comics is Tony Stark from the movie.

From Avengers #44, this month's comic. Tony Stark shows that he can be a nice guy to little children, but he can also infuriate the rest of the Universe because of his arrogence.

Scene: Texas, lunchtime at the Burger Shack. In their civilian clothes, Ironman and Captain America are sitting at a booth next to the windows. They are discussing the fate of the Universe. Ironman is in very deep trouble with the President, other world leaders, the U.N. etc. It is just another day for Tony Stark, who quips, "The entire U.N. . . . It's a wonder that I can sleep at night."

TONY STARK: So that's it, Steve, isn't it? The very heart of it. You really do think I'm a bad guy. That your friend is gone, lost, and has been replaced by whatever I am now. You should take a closer look at the kind lady who has brought you your food.

STEVE ROGERS: Why would? I didn't recognize . . . Is that you, Tamara?

TAMARA aka CAPTAIN UNIVERSE: Yes, I'm Tamara. Have we met? Of course we have. Why else would you know my name? You'll have to forgive me. I had an accident in my memory . . . Well, it ain't all there. My sweet daughter is having to remind me of all kinds of things all the time. No miracle under the sun quite as special as someone looking out for you.

ROGERS: You found her daughter.

STARK: I did. Wasn't that monstrous?

ROGERS: No, it wasn't. It's the kind of thing that used to blow me away. Billionaire sweat the small stuff. The important things. Are we really going to find some way out of this?

STARK: I know we can.

TAMARA: Don't lie. Don't do that.

Tamara begins the transformation into Capt Universe, the voice of the Universe.

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE: Don't seed hope where there is none. You promised us a great machine of salvation, yet built no such thing. Do you know what lasting thing you built, Anthony Stark? Nothing. A house built on lies. I am dying Stark. The universe is dying. We all are. And you have known it all along.

Even the Universe hates Tony Stark. Robert Downey Jr. is simply playing Tony Stark as he is written in the comics.

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Friday, May 1, 2015 10:18 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

I saw it last night and will work on my review sometime later today. Got too many errands to run first. All I'll say now is that I'm glad Joss is done with Marvel and can move on to another project I expect I'll like more. It's not a bad movie, in fact it's exactly what you'd expect from a Marvel film, but I'm just about burnt out on those.

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Friday, May 1, 2015 11:55 AM

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at https://www.mediafire.com/two

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
I saw it last night and will work on my review sometime later today. Got too many errands to run first. All I'll say now is that I'm glad Joss is done with Marvel and can move on to another project I expect I'll like more. It's not a bad movie, in fact it's exactly what you'd expect from a Marvel film, but I'm just about burnt out on those.

Are you tired of robots?

Joss's next project should be a crossover movie with Ultron versus Optimus. Tag team wrestling between Joss's Ultron and his fighting robots against Michael Bay's Optimus Prime Transformer and his fighting robots. It would be the biggest movie of all times, making the kind of money that is only possible by combining two gigantic genre franchises. Both Bay and Whedon are 50 years old. They will love to play together. If Michael Bay won't play nice, then maybe a match between Joss's Ultrons and James Cameron's Terminators.

And Joss's robots will speak dialogue like Shakespeare wrote. Perfect movie for the masses and artistic elite.

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly

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Friday, May 1, 2015 12:26 PM

ZEEK

Saw it last night. It's fine. I enjoyed it for what it was. It's basically just an action movie. Pretty light on plot. Frankly some of the plot that was in the movie should have hit the cutting room floor. I'm sure I'll watch it a few more times in the future, but ultimately it will be a forgettable movie.

I wonder what about this movie drained Joss of so much energy. It seemed fairly straight forward and formulaic to me. Sadly even the humor could have used a script doctor for a lot of it IMO.

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Friday, May 1, 2015 3:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
As I remember Tony Stark in the comics, he was like Elon Musk, boy genius, and Kevin Kline. Smooth, suave, debonair and a decent fellow (despite being a stoopid rich tycoon), think Batman but without the brooding Dark Knight vibe going on.

He seemed like the type of guy that we would hang out with, if he was a working glass dude. His best friend was his driver and his secretary, er, excuse me, administrative assistant. Downey has almost totally transformed him into a super-rich version of himself (that seems redundant), I did kind of liked him in the original film, but he has turned him into a wisecracking, scotch drinking version of, well, himself. Only thing that is somewhat saving him is the wonderful script that Joss & Co. wrote for the Avengers, and Joss's sense of humor.

I find it kind of boring to have Iron Man wisecracking throughout the film and not really take on the gravitas of Tony Stark's situation. Can you tell I was an Iron Man fan from way back; also Thor. I'm good with Hemsworth as Thor, he gets it. But Downey, well sometimes you could almost catch him looking in the mirror at himself with that smirk on his face saying "Damn, I'm good." The director, I would imagine, has to reign him in at times.

SGG

Now you are getting it. Stark could be likeable as played by other actors, but downey can't act and it is starting to show to even you - I tired of it long ago. Rerun channel is showing much of his "work" lately - everything looks the same, Air America was like Stark without money. He acting ability seems as lowly as Fresh Prince.

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Friday, May 1, 2015 3:57 PM

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at https://www.mediafire.com/two

Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Stark could be likeable as played by other actors, but downey can't act and it is starting to show to even you - I tired of it long ago.

Stark is NOT likable in the comics being published. And have you seen Downey in 2008's Tropical Thunder? A storm of acting:

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly

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Friday, May 1, 2015 4:15 PM

WISHIMAY

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/age-of-ultron-ending-credits-spoilers-tha
nos-117741003127.html

Don't read if you don't wanna know. I mean don't click...I WARNED YOU!!!

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Saturday, May 2, 2015 6:27 AM

In Tropical Thunder Downey was HI-larious, he was almost unrecognizable, but I'm a big fan of the "Less is More" style of acting. Sometimes though, exaggeration, especially in comedy, More is definitely better.

I remember Spiderman as being a wise-ass and cracking with rather droll quips while fighting a supervillian. Tony Stark and Ironman was more stoic and deliberate, his appeal was that his condition made him human, but his intellect (and money) made him Ironman. This whole changeover to the New Marvel Universe is a ploy to fill the seats in theaters. Again, I think of how Hemsworth has totally captured the essence of Thor (and, for that matter Hopkins as Odin and Levy as Fandral, Jaime Alexander as Lady Sif). Mostly I fault Disney and Marvel for trying to sensationalize the comic book genre, a seemingly natural for action movies, when, in fact, it isn't needed. When I first heard that Thor was being made, I immediately thought of Hopkins as Odin - that was a no-brainer. And he delivered as I had pictured it in my head while reading Thor comics. Perfect casting, smart move on Disney's part.

Not so much with Ironman 2 & 3. Weak scripts and that Marvel over-the-top syndrome spoiled it for me. I no longer trust Disney or marvel with that series. Captain America, Thor, X-Men....thumbs up. Ironman, Daredevil, and Spiderman.....not so much.

As for the Avengers, I'm pretty sure that both Disney and Marvel had binders-full of exec notes for Joss to "consider." And that, for me, is a mix-mosh of too many cooks.

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by second:
Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Stark could be likeable as played by other actors, but downey can't act and it is starting to show to even you - I tired of it long ago.
Stark is NOT likable in the comics being published. And have you seen Downey in 2008's Tropical Thunder? A storm of acting:

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly

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Saturday, May 2, 2015 6:50 AM

Elizabeth Olsen got my talent in her little pinky than both her sisters combined.

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by second:
Quote:
Originally posted by Wishimay:
PS What is the deal with Elisabeth Olsen? Why do you like her?

Joss Whedon & Elizabeth Olsen Interview

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly

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Saturday, May 2, 2015 3:00 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Short, but not so sweet. The majority will love Ultron. When have I ever been in the majority?

http://templetongate.net/ageofultron.htm

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Saturday, May 2, 2015 3:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
In Tropical Thunder Downey was HI-larious, he was almost unrecognizable, but I'm a big fan of the "Less is More" style of acting. Sometimes though, exaggeration, especially in comedy, More is definitely better.

I remember Spiderman as being a wise-ass and cracking with rather droll quips while fighting a supervillian. Tony Stark and Ironman was more stoic and deliberate, his appeal was that his condition made him human, but his intellect (and money) made him Ironman. This whole changeover to the New Marvel Universe is a ploy to fill the seats in theaters. Again, I think of how Hemsworth has totally captured the essence of Thor (and, for that matter Hopkins as Odin and Levy as Fandral, Jaime Alexander as Lady Sif). Mostly I fault Disney and Marvel for trying to sensationalize the comic book genre, a seemingly natural for action movies, when, in fact, it isn't needed. When I first heard that Thor was being made, I immediately thought of Hopkins as Odin - that was a no-brainer. And he delivered as I had pictured it in my head while reading Thor comics. Perfect casting, smart move on Disney's part.

Not so much with Ironman 2 & 3. Weak scripts and that Marvel over-the-top syndrome spoiled it for me. I no longer trust Disney or marvel with that series. Captain America, Thor, X-Men....thumbs up. Ironman, Daredevil, and Spiderman.....not so much.

As for the Avengers, I'm pretty sure that both Disney and Marvel had binders-full of exec notes for Joss to "consider." And that, for me, is a mix-mosh of too many cooks.

SGG
Quote:
Originally posted by second:
Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Stark could be likeable as played by other actors, but downey can't act and it is starting to show to even you - I tired of it long ago.
Stark is NOT likable in the comics being published. And have you seen Downey in 2008's Tropical Thunder? A storm of acting:

Copied for legibility.

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Saturday, May 2, 2015 4:21 PM

WISHIMAY

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
Short, but not so sweet. The majority will love Ultron. When have I ever been in the majority?

http://templetongate.net/ageofultron.htm

I just saw it, and I agree with several of the points. They picked Joss to get the job done. It had too much subject matter in it to make it flow. I felt like things were happening and THEN people were thinking about what to do. Blink- here's the bad guy. Blink- here's these new people. Blink-what side are the new people on and why did she lose her accent halfway through the movie? Blink blink blink blink.... Beam Thor in, Beam Thor out (His hair was icky looking, btw)

I too only caught about half of what was said because there was so much going on and so much to absorb and there seemed to not be clear recording during the first ten minutes or so. There WERE plenty of zingers, Joss style, but rushed
(Jarvis is my co-pilot- nod to us or nod that he's moved on, btw???).

Not that he didn't do his damnedest and I doubt anyone could have done better..

I wouldn't mind seeing the second half of the movie again, not so much the first half. The first half of the movie gave off this feeling of out-of-control-failure that was hard to sit through, like you had one of those no-pants dreams, or you got drunk and cheated on someone...I get it was supposed to bring them down emotionally so there could BE a flip side, but... it didn't seem to have a resolution before they just went on to the next battle. And there was a LOT of battle....

I will say Paul Bettany did a FABULOUS job with Vision.

They could have easily broke this movie up into two, but I think they knew that would've just been overkill. In trying to keep it interesting they mainly succeeding in making THIS movie a little bloated. But like everyone else has been saying, the A.D.D. riddled public will be ok with it anyway. Just a weigh-station to bigger plots anyhow...

Oh and DON'T STAY ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE CREDITS. Nuthin' there.

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Tuesday, May 5, 2015 5:37 AM

For the most part, I agree. Way too intricate and involved with little or no payoff. They glossed over the dream sequences of the Avengers after the Scarlet Witch went poking around in their minds, the better to get in another half hour of destruction.

Joss worked his usual snappy dialogue magic and had us eating out of his hand, but those gems were sprinkled about as easily as manhole covers. There were moments that delivered, while still others that bludgeoned our senses. I got a little bored with all the destruction after 2 hours, but nothing could come close to Superman v. Zod in Man of Steel (That still holds the record). I'm not saying that it wasn't entertaining, it was, nor am I saying that the story (what there was of it) didn't move along, it certainly did, at times at breakneck speed. But it was mostly based on what Superheroes do, they battle the forces of evil and destroy a lot of stuff along the way.

They did try to soften it up by introducing a love interest between 2 of the Avengers (you'll have to see the movie to find out who, no spoilers here), which I thought was handled quite well by Joss. But that darn pesky Ultron kept interrupting. Suffice it to say that elements of the Avengers II were very entertaining, but Marvel has a tendency of overwhelming their audience, despite there being no need for such overkill.

Aside from Paul Bettany, who was very good as Vision, I got a kick out of James Spader as the title baddie, who made the trip interesting and fun. The kid had personality. I said to myself, hey this guy is devouring his role and enjoying every morsel. I could see why people flocked to this movie over the weekend, but I could also see why critics have mixed reviews. It was like trying to untangle Christmas tree lights that have been in the attic for about 3 years. You would like to see if it the bulbs still work, but oh those pesky wires.

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by Wishimay:
Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
Short, but not so sweet. The majority will love Ultron. When have I ever been in the majority?

http://templetongate.net/ageofultron.htm

I just saw it, and I agree with several of the points. They picked Joss to get the job done. It had too much subject matter in it to make it flow. I felt like things were happening and THEN people were thinking about what to do. Blink- here's the bad guy. Blink- here's these new people. Blink-what side are the new people on and why did she lose her accent halfway through the movie? Blink blink blink blink.... Beam Thor in, Beam Thor out (His hair was icky looking, btw)

I too only caught about half of what was said because there was so much going on and so much to absorb and there seemed to not be clear recording during the first ten minutes or so. There WERE plenty of zingers, Joss style, but rushed
(Jarvis is my co-pilot- nod to us or nod that he's moved on, btw???).

Not that he didn't do his damnedest and I doubt anyone could have done better..

I wouldn't mind seeing the second half of the movie again, not so much the first half. The first half of the movie gave off this feeling of out-of-control-failure that was hard to sit through, like you had one of those no-pants dreams, or you got drunk and cheated on someone...I get it was supposed to bring them down emotionally so there could BE a flip side, but... it didn't seem to have a resolution before they just went on to the next battle. And there was a LOT of battle....

I will say Paul Bettany did a FABULOUS job with Vision.

They could have easily broke this movie up into two, but I think they knew that would've just been overkill. In trying to keep it interesting they mainly succeeding in making THIS movie a little bloated. But like everyone else has been saying, the A.D.D. riddled public will be ok with it anyway. Just a weigh-station to bigger plots anyhow...

Oh and DON'T STAY ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE CREDITS. Nuthin' there.

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Tuesday, May 5, 2015 11:30 AM

ZEEK

Semi-spoilery stuff:

Select to view spoiler:

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/s/joss-whedon-fighting-marvel-over-avenge
rs-age-ultron-040034343.html

Et Tu Joss? It's sad that he fought for the very scenes I thought were clunky and should have gone. I mean I know that they were doing trick foreshadowing with the farm but the payoff didn't justify it. I was just like "oh I thought the other thing was going to happen but this is fine too whatever." It just wasn't emotional and didn't justify the build up. The dream sequences were very jumbled IMO and didn't add much of anything to the movie. I'd be fine with them just saying Scarlett Witch can make people see their worst fears or something and never actually show what the characters saw. Either that or they should have devoted more time to the dream sequences and made them more significant. The best one IMO what Tony's but it still was unclear exactly what he saw or what he took away from it.

Sorry Joss. I think the studio was right on this one. Except for the cave scene thing. That could have gone too.

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015 4:19 AM

SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!! SPOILERS!!!

I wasn't too happy with the dream sequences either, but knowing how Joss works, there may be a payoff somewhere down the line. By the way, I would trust Elizabeth Olsen with River's story, that's just me. I agree they should have only shown bits and pieces with only key characters - I did not understand the whole Captain America sequence, not one bit, except that he was thinking of his one true love and his past. Duh! normal for anyone, but what does that have to do with Ultron and his path to destruction? Iron Man's sequence was somewhat significant, but still confusing as to how that fits in to the task at hand.

I know that Joss can handle multiple characters and their motivations, but in this case I was unable to follow his lead. Perhaps not showing as much as he did would have been better, then slowly revealing the truth behind the key elements of those dreams. Again, the payoff may come much later, perhaps the next Avengers or in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Thor's dream, was significant, but we were not privy to what and how that fit into the overall plot. Did you see any of that coming? That whole infinity stone vibe. I didn't! I did like, however, how Joss set things in motion for us (the audience) to question Ironman's motives. He got me on that one. For a split second I thought that he perhaps was still under the Scarlet Witch's spell. Like No. 2: Thor's hammer sequence from the party and how it paid off later when Vision was introduced. Brilliant! Like No. 3: The Big Green Guy and Natasha, it reminded me of Simon and Kaylee, The Dork and The Hottie, classy with out it getting to syrupy.
Like No. 4: Hulk's Exile. Again, as a kid growing up and reading comics, I remember the Hulk brooding and flying off somewhere to consider his lot in life. Joss apparently was also thinking of that part of the Hulk's existence in the comic world.

Overall, I liked the film, but there was so much to take in. Joss trusted, perhaps too much, that the audience would unquestionably follow his lead and return that trust. I'm still trying to figure out what Joss was looking to say in this installment, perhaps just another superhero movie, I'm not quite certain. This will get a second viewing when it comes out on DVD. Maybe then I'll get it.

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
Semi-spoilery stuff:
Select to view spoiler:
https://www.yahoo.com/movies/s/joss-whedon-fighting-marvel-over-avenge
rs-age-ultron-040034343.html

Et Tu Joss? It's sad that he fought for the very scenes I thought were clunky and should have gone. I mean I know that they were doing trick foreshadowing with the farm but the payoff didn't justify it. I was just like "oh I thought the other thing was going to happen but this is fine too whatever." It just wasn't emotional and didn't justify the build up. The dream sequences were very jumbled IMO and didn't add much of anything to the movie. I'd be fine with them just saying Scarlett Witch can make people see their worst fears or something and never actually show what the characters saw. Either that or they should have devoted more time to the dream sequences and made them more significant. The best one IMO what Tony's but it still was unclear exactly what he saw or what he took away from it.

Sorry Joss. I think the studio was right on this one. Except for the cave scene thing. That could have gone too.

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015 10:55 AM

ZEEK

Yeah I think I need a second viewing as well to follow all of it. I think it may have just thrown too much at the audience too quickly to catch it all.

I agree that on the hammer being excellent. It was funny at the time and then had a huge payoff. However, that's my complaint with the romance. I didn't feel much of a payoff. All we got was some brooding by the end. Understandable brooding, but just not the payoff I'd expect. Again that could be just setting up for more in future installments.

For now just a good movie. Maybe it will improve with time. I feel like both the first Captain America and the first Thor have improved with time. I can appreciate more of what they did in those movies now that I've seen other installments.

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Thursday, May 7, 2015 7:52 PM

bump over troll.

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Friday, May 8, 2015 2:24 AM

VERASAMUELS

Excellent! Lots of Joss-isms and one scene at least that had me saying, "River Tam; Serenity!!"

Devout Keeper of Jayne's Lunchbox

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Friday, May 8, 2015 5:12 AM

Okay Zeke, I guess we agree on most things with this movie (it's why we're here - Joss). One of the things I love about Joss' writing is that he takes time to set things up and then give us a good payoff. Here's the thing about that, Joss has several going at the same time - again, one of the things I loved about Firefly.

Joss takes this one step further, mainly because of the medium - movies. Now we gotta wait for that payoff (between Hulk/Banner and Natasha). Again, painstakingly set up by Joss in the first Avengers, continued in this one, Ultron; but it's not clear if he will get to finish the trilogy. So, who knows.

Joss' script writing has become that much more complete, I'm dying to know if they will ever give him a chance to film Serenity 2. As far as this movie is concerned, the jury is still out. It's incomplete. There's still another chapter, a final chapter? And will Joss get a chance to do it? Good questions SGG, I love the way your mind works? Why, thank you! No, thank YOU!

Ahhh, I kill me! ;-)

By the way, I like the way your mind works: I agree wholeheartedly about Captain America and Thor franchises, well done. Both Evans and Hemsworth have done excellent jobs in their roles. Well-written, acted and directed (well, Thor 2 was a bit heavy-handed, otherwise great job overall).

SGG

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
Yeah I think I need a second viewing as well to follow all of it. I think it may have just thrown too much at the audience too quickly to catch it all.

I agree that on the hammer being excellent. It was funny at the time and then had a huge payoff. However, that's my complaint with the romance. I didn't feel much of a payoff. All we got was some brooding by the end. Understandable brooding, but just not the payoff I'd expect. Again that could be just setting up for more in future installments.

For now just a good movie. Maybe it will improve with time. I feel like both the first Captain America and the first Thor have improved with time. I can appreciate more of what they did in those movies now that I've seen other installments.

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Friday, May 8, 2015 10:32 AM

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at https://www.mediafire.com/two

What's been fascinating about watching these heroes grow is how disposable their villains have become. Villains like the Red Skull (Captain America: The First Avenger), Ronan the Accuser (Guardians of the Galaxy), the Mandarin (Iron Man 3), and now Ultron of Avengers: Age of Ultron are enduring foes, returning again and again in the comic books, but they all have incredibly short cinematic lives. Such villains have become strawmen, vehicles to get us from one point in the Marvel universe to another, rather than fully fleshed-out characters.

Conversely, developed villains like Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) have helped make Captain America: Winter Soldier and The Avengers so very good. www.vox.com/2015/5/5/8551231/avengers-age-of-ultron-villain

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly

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Friday, May 8, 2015 4:43 PM

I do look forward to seeing more Winter Soldier.

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Monday, July 4, 2016 1:38 AM

OONJERAH

Ultron: 2 stars out of 5.
It's all action & special effects. When I was 11, I would've liked it.
I found nothing to draw me in, believe or care about. (yawn)

I wanted my time & my money back.

... oooOO}{OOooo ...

I've given up looking for the meaning of life. Now all I want is a cookie.

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Monday, July 4, 2016 12:40 PM

REAVERFAN

Quote:
Originally posted by Oonjerah:

Ultron: 2 stars out of 5.
It's all action & special effects. When I was 11, I would've liked it.
I found nothing to draw me in, believe or care about. (yawn)

I wanted my time & my money back.

... oooOO}{OOooo ...

I've given up looking for the meaning of life. Now all I want is a cookie.

I feel that way about all the superhero crap now. Guess I just outgrew comic books and movies that are like them. Haven't seen a blockbuster since Superman a couple years back, and I only saw that because I was with some friends.

I'll wait until they're reruns on some cable channel, and I won't pay much attention.

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Friday, April 27, 2018 2:44 PM