6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett JohanssonAdventure | 100% |
Action | 98% |
Sci-Fi | 83% |
Comic book | 79% |
Fantasy | 71% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy (as download)
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A supposed “thinking man’s” science fiction spectacular, Ex Machina posited the first artificially intelligent android as an attractive young woman named Ava. AI takes a distinctly different form in Avengers: Age of Ultron, namely the titular robot which looks a bit like something out of Attack on Titan (also recently redone as a live action film) crossed with the giant Sentinels from Marvel’s own X- Men: Days of Future Past. There’s another tie-in to the Sentinels, for Ultron, like those gargantuans created by Trask to take care of that pesky mutant problem, was created as a defender, but also like the Sentinels, is soon going on the offensive. There are a number of other X- Men analogs to Age of Ultron, perhaps indicating that the Marvel Universe is maybe more of a Multiverse where the same concepts and even character types get filtered through a slightly refracted sensibility. Despite an unavoidably overstuffed cast of characters, Avengers: Age of Ultron manages to delve into virtually all of its superheroes’ stories, at times surprisingly artfully, while also providing the requisite amounts of spectacle and special effects wizardry. While that inherently overstuffed ambience leads to a slight feeling of bloat in this sequel, considering the number of simultaneously unfolding story threads that writer-director Joss Whedon weaves together, Avengers: Age of Ultron is a uniquely satisfying sequel that manages to overcome many of the obstacles that many franchises face in their sophomore slumps.
Avengers: Age of Ultron is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Marvel Studios and Disney-Buena Vista with MVC (3D) and AVC (2D)
encoded 1080p transfers in 2.39:1 (on separate discs). Digitally shot with a rather wide array of cameras per the IMDb, Avengers: Age of
Ultron offers a near seamless blend of live action and impressive CGI, and as is Whedon's wont, there are any number of bells and
whistles applied to various shots, as in the iconic slow motion moment that is a highlight of the opening battle sequence or, later, when Ultron
starts becoming conscious and is sorting through a slew of information his mind is reviewing. The palette is perhaps surprisingly restrained
throughout the feature, offering elements more like rich burgundies or even kind of dowdy browns rather than candy coated bright primaries.
Fine detail is exceptional in both live action and CGI elements. In fact, some of the coolest textures are things like The Hulk's rough hewn skin,
seen really clearly in some awesome close-ups where he interacts with Black Widow. Shadow detail is generally excellent, though
some scenes, notably a bunch in the Hydra base early in the film, suffer from recurrent if not very problematic crush. When Tony walks into the
inner workroom, he virtually disappears into the shadows, and another scene finds the twins, who are already consigned to the shadowy
background, becoming little more than bobbing heads, with their dark clothes merging with the surrounding gloom. Occasionally CGI looks
relatively soft when compared to the overall sharpness and clarity of the bulk of the presentation. The film is rather dark and gloomy quite a
bit of the time, and black levels are deep and convincing.
The 3D presentation of Avengers: Age of Ultron is (perhaps surprisingly) a kind of hit or miss affair. In his commentary track (ironically
on the 2D version), Whedon discusses his "slavish" adherence to 3D tropes in the first Avengers film, averring that he wanted to make
a different kind of film this time out, and so perhaps some of the relative flatness of this film is intentional. At least a little unexpectedly, some
of the
best examples of dimensionality are in relatively shrouded environments, as in an opening shot of the blue glowing scepter surrounded by
darkness, where the totem clearly pokes out from its environment. Other scenes, though, including some relatively lengthy dialogue
sequences, play with only a minimum of dimensionality. The film's epic climax returns things to clear planar levels and an increased sense of
depth, and some of the effects, including wide vistas of a huge swath of earth being manipulated by Ultron, offer an excellent sense of visual
immersion.
Avengers: Age of Ultron features a somewhat tepid sounding DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix that provides impeccable surround activity, but is surprisingly (to me, anyway) light from the midrange down to subwoofer territory. Amplitude across the board seems weirdly mitigated as well, with some effects failing to land with the requisite force. Whether this is an intentional approach or the result of someone not paying attention somewhere in the production chain is unclear, but some may find themselves turning their home theater systems "up to 11" to gain a full appreciation of the film's often dense sound mix. Those anomalies aside, the overall mix is quite enveloping from virtually the first moment, when the sounds of battle resound through the side and rear channels very effectively. Later effects, including some neat ping ponging and panning effects during Ultron's "awakening", and the rumbling climax, offer more opportunities for nice aural immersion, albeit with the same somewhat restrained feeling. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly and is always well prioritized.
All of the supplements are found on the 2D disc included in this combo pack. The 3D Blu-ray disc has no supplementary content.
- From the Inside Out - Making of Avengers: Age of Ultron (1080p; 20:54) is a decent EPK with some good candid footage and some okay interviews.
- The Infinite Six (1080p; 7:28) focuses on some legendary icons from the story.
- Global Adventure (1080p; 3:01) discusses some of the far flung locations utilized in the film.
Avengers: Age of Ultron probably would have benefitted from some judicious editing in its somewhat unfocused middle section, but Joss Whedon proves yet again what a master he is at offering an embarrassment of riches in the character department, while never losing sight of an overall narrative arc (one predesigned to afford yet more opportunities for Whedon—should he choose to—to make another sequel). The principal cast, by now well ensconced in their various roles and fitting them to a tee, does great work and it's a testament to Whedon's screenplay that they each get their moments in the sun. Spader's also a lot of fun as the voice of Ultron, a kind of snarky robot who doesn't suffer fools (meaning humans and/or Avengers) gladly. While audio is a bit lackluster on this release, and 3D quality is middling at times, video quality is excellent, and taken as a whole, Avengers: Age of Ultron comes Highly recommended.
2015
Vision Edition
2015
Ultron Edition
2015
Collector's Edition | Digital Bonus Content
2015
Digital Bonus Content
2015
2015
2015
2015
Cinematic Universe Edition
2015
2015
2015
Cinematic Universe Edition
2012
Cinematic Universe Edition
2019
Cinematic Universe Edition
2018
Cinematic Universe Edition
2017
Cinematic Universe Edition
2016
2017
2019
2013
2011
2017
2013
2013
2014
2016
plus Theatrical Cut on standard Blu-ray
2016
2009
2015
Extended and Theatrical versions
2011
2011
The Rogue Cut
2014