Recliner Reviews | No need to avenge latest ‘Avengers’ movie, it’s worth a watch
“Avengers: Age of Ultron”
The team assembles for another battle royale in the Marvel Universe. All the principle heroes are back. The full cast boasts something for everyone – witty dialogue and dynamic tensions for future films.
The plot promises a fight scene every 10 minutes and moral discussions about the ramifications of a world protected by superhumans in between. They keep adding more members to the point the callsheet burst with stars.
Most notably, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen join as duplicitous twins, and Paul Bettany finally embodies Vision.
The true marvel is James Spader’s voice work as the villain Ultron. Combined with the effects, he’s a scene thief. Writer/director Joss Whedon treats these big budget mega-movies like passion projects. Because of his detail, there’s plenty to be excited about, but this one doesn’t have the fire of its predecessor.
It’s not Marvel’s masterpiece, but no need to avenge – it’s still worth a watch.
“Poltergeist”
Can’t we just go back and watch movies from the ’80s? Why do they have to remake every classic? Is E.T. next? Let’s take a quick look back at the 1982 original, shall we?
It was directed by horror great, Tobe Hooper (“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”), and written by the usually untouchable Steven Spielberg. The franchise became shrouded in rumor of a curse because of deaths on and around the set. Why mess with a Hollywood mystique like this? Why try to recapture the words, “They’re here.” A catchphrase this creepy can only work once.
To their credit, Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt give their best, trying to mix humor with scares, but the scares just aren’t there. Jared Harris and Jane Adams try to harness the eccentricities of ghost hunters. But it’s just a lot of trying without much accomplishing.
The same goes for the filmmakers. Director Gil Kenan (“Monster House”) and writer David Lindsay-Abaire (“Oz the Great and Powerful”) offer a limp rehash of special effects and updated technology. Let this one fade into the ectoplasm – pass.
“Spy”
Something great happened back in 2011. Melissa McCarthy got a gig in “Bridesmaids” with an up-and-coming director named Paul Feig. There must’ve been a connection, because the two went on to make “The Heat” in 2013, and they’ve reunited again for what could be their funniest movie to date.
Feig surrounds McCarthy with a trio of British actors (Rose Byrne, Jude Law and Jason Statham) who just feed McCarthy lines to devour and spit back hilarious retorts.
Quirky British actress Miranda Hart assists McCarthy the same way McCarthy assisted Kristen Wiig four years ago. It boils down to the simplest of James Bond plots, but the action isn’t silly comedy action. It’s hardcore and violent.
The formula works well with Feig navigating and McCarthy at the wheel. Next up, McCarthy and Feig team up again with Wiig in the upcoming “Ghostbusters” reboot. Until then, scout this one out because it’s worth a watch.
This story was originally published October 2, 2015 at 11:17 AM with the headline "Recliner Reviews | No need to avenge latest ‘Avengers’ movie, it’s worth a watch."