By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
Just what can fans of Marvel Entertainment’s Avengers: Age of Ultron learn about this movie, due in theatres May 1st, now that all three trailers are out? One fact is certain: someone is pulling the strings that will see a new dawn (of enslavement) for all of humanity. Mutants will be revealed and a global watch dog system built by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) shows that Ultron will keep an eye at all the problems plaguing society.
However, there’s a secret figure who will emerge and it’s face looks like a red faced vision of hope — perhaps. This android was created by Ultron (voiced by James Spader) in the original 60’s comics to use against his creator, Dr. Hank Pym (Ant-Man). When considering that there is an Ant-Man movie being developed, just how much crossover potential will happen depends on how much retconning writer/director Joss Whedon has done to the Marvel Universe.
In the Age of Ultron film, Tony Stark built his own adversary. This robotic menace chides, “You are all puppets, tangled in strings … strings!” in the first trailer and crushes the mask off of one of Tony’s robots. The montage that follows after shows the heroes looking back to their past perhaps, as they search for answers to who has manipulated them since the start. There’s plenty of mind games afoot:
For Captain America (Chris Evans), he’s probably in search for clues. When Hayley Atwell is listed in the credits, yes a flashback sequence is in store. Steve Rogers may be wondering if the Red Skull is still alive. But strife is happening around the world. From South Africa to Siberia (where Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) seems to end up), the problems are not limited to just one person. Bits of Black Widow’s (Scarlett Johansson) past will be shown in this film.
Just how Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) plays into this movie depends on how much of a mutant threat they will become towards all of humanity. This first trailer suggests they are being manipulated by Ultron. That includes the fact that Tony in the Hulkbuster armour is facing off against Hulk and Thor has issues with Stark. These mind games may well be a result of the stone that’s found in Loki’s sceptor, which makes appears more than once in the trailer. Fan speculation suggests the glowing gem there may well be the Mind Stone, and it is being used by someone (Ultron most likely) to cause the team to fight one another.
In the second trailer, a voice over by Iron Man reveals, “This vulnerable world needs something more powerful than any of us.”
That line sets in motion the possibility that the governments of the world are coming to head over a new threat. The tease of an African female at a mysterious underground lake suggests Wakanda — the home of the Black Panther — is part of the problem. To discover a new country with no allegiance to any of the world powers is motive enough to cause border disputes. The Avengers can not deal with every problem that comes their way. When only Hawkeye is featured in the start of the second trailer while citizens of a South African town (Johannesburg perhaps?) are being evacuated, most people will get the sense that this movie will take place there for a significant chunk of the movie — again reinforcing the idea that Wakanda wants to be autonomous. They will fight back when provoked.
But as Stark continues, “Every one creates the thing they dread … Ultron in the flesh,” that must occur early in the movie to suggest that he wants to solve the world problems. However, something went awry in the programming of this artificial intelligence. The third trailer has Ultron stating he was designed to save the world. The people would look up to see hope as it patrols the planet. However, it’s gone Skynet on him and wants to terminate all of human-kind. Thor’s response is very apt. He said, “You meddle in something you don’t understand.”
As Nick Fury states, “No matter who wins or loses, trouble always comes around.” He’s no doubt addressing Tony’s life back when he was an arms dealer. Perhaps the story is addressing the fact that this world does not need heroes. If Tina Turner’s song appears at any moment in the film, then that idea will cement that theory since not everyone really took to the idea of forming a team in the first film. To create a Marvel Universe version akin to DC Comics’ Justice League with a Watchtower to monitor all the world’s ills really does take effort. In some ways, the Martian Manhunter is like the Vision of this universe. He’s somewhat cold and unsympathetic and that’s how the third and perhaps final trailer ends. Just what kind of role this new character will have depends on whom he’s working for.
Is this other robot a product of Andy Serkis’ still unnamed role? Nothing’s been revealed yet, but Marvel Entertainment and Joss Whedon certainly has a product that many fans will no doubt clamour for.
