SPIDER-MAN : HOMECOMING : Tuesday 11th July 2017.

'SPIDER-MAN : HOMECOMING' which I saw last week has been much hyped, was eagerly anticipated and is the second reboot of the 'Spider-Man' franchise, the sixteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the first Spider-Man film to cross-over into the world of 'The Avengers'. This reboot comes after three successful films that started the live action series of the current era with 'Spider-Man' in 2002, 'Spider-Man 2' in 2004 and 'Spider-Man 3' in 2007 all Directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire. Those first three films cost a combined US$598M to Produce and raked in a collective US$2,50B at the worldwide Box Office. The first reboot came in 2012 with 'The Amazing Spider-Man' and was followed up in 2014 by 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' both Directed by Marc Webb and starring this time Andrew Garfield as the young web slinger. These films costs US$480M to bring to the big screen, and collected a total US$1,47B between the two instalments. And so now in 2017 we have this offering, but of course we caught a glimpse of Spidey things to come in last years hugely successful 'Captain America : Civil War', but here that same Actor, Tom Holland, gets his own standalone feature as the young college going crime fighter under the tutelage of one Tony Stark. This film cost US$175M to bring to the big screen, this time around is Directed by Jon Watts and the film has already grossed US$471M. The film has received positive critical acclaim, with a sequel already announced for release in July 2019 with Jon Watts slated to return as Director. In the meantime Tom Holland will reprise his role as Spider-Man in the upcoming 'Avengers : Infinity Wars' due for release in May 2018 and its follow-up in May 2019.

The film kicks off shortly after the Battle of New York back eight years ago and as seen at the end of the first 'Avengers' instalment. Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton) is a salvage contractor engaged by the city to clean up all the debris and wreckage in the aftermath of that attack. Then one day out of the blue appears Anne Marie Hoag (Tyne Daly) who heads up Tony Stark's US Department Of Damage Control (D.O.D.C.), and takes over the clean up operation and dismisses Toomes and his workforce off the job. Angered and enraged by his ousting off such a lucrative contract for which he has hired men, purchased equipment and bet his livelihood on the work, he secretly tells his men to hold onto whatever Chitauri technology they have scavenged in order that he can create new advanced weaponry from it, and sell it to the highest bidder.

Fast forward eight years to the present day, and several months following the events of 'Captain America : Civil War' a young Peter Parker, aka 'Spider-Man' (Tom Holland) is thrilled and motivated by his experiences with The Avengers. He carries on with his studies at Midtown School of Science and Technology, but Tony Stark, aka 'Iron Man' (Robert Downey Jnr.) advises him that he is not yet ready to become a fully fledged Avenger and he should concentrate on getting a good education first. Parker is so enthused by his recent Avengers experiences that he quits the school's Academic Decathlon Team which is about to enter the national finals to be held in Washington. One night while out fighting local crime in his neighbourhood, he comes across a bunch of rag tag criminal types robbing an ATM using the advanced gadgetry and weapons supplied by Toomes. He successfully thwarts them single handedly but not without doing some serious damage to his local corner deli and the bank being robbed.

He returns home to the apartment that he shares with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), secretly entering through the window climbing along the ceiling and dropping down by his bedside, only to come face to face with his best buddy Ned (Jacob Batalon), and so revealing his true identity. Peter makes Ned swear never to reveal his true identity to anyone under any circumstances, to which Ned reluctantly agrees.

Continuing to fight local crime, with his new Spider-Man suit fashioned by Stark Industries with all the inbuilt Superhero gadgetry you could ever wish for, one night he comes across two of Toomes heavies selling weapons to a local criminal. Spider-Man intervenes and the heavies manage to evade him through the streets of the suburbs under cover of darkness and using their advanced weapons against the young web slinging crime fighter. Tony Stark is watching Spider-Man's activities from afar by way of the suit and its inbuilt tracking and monitoring devices, and ultimately warns Peter about getting in over his head and getting involved with dangerous criminal types.

Having retrieved some of the weapons left behind during the earlier chase with Toomes heavies, Ned and Peter remove the power core, but little do they know that this is being monitored by Toomes who is seeking to get it back. Later Ned and the Academic Decathlon Team leave on a school bus bound for the national finals in Washington. Ned has the power core in his possession. Peter takes it upon himself to rejoin the Team, and at an overnight hotel stop over he and Ned disable the tracking devise built into his Spider-Man suit that is being closely monitored by Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), and also unlock all of the advanced special features built into the suit. Armed with his new all singing all dancing hi-tech suit Spider-Man intercepts a D.O.D.C truck loaded with advanced weapons, but is over powered by Toomes who has his own special hi-tech mechanical suit known as 'The Vulture' forged from Chitauri technology. As a result Spider-Man becomes trapped inside the truck and misses the finals.

With the Academic Decathlon over and the Team having won the national tournament, they go on a sightseeing tour of Washington, taking in the near 170meter tall obelisk that is the Washington Monument. Peter comes to realise that the power core located in Ned's back pack is an unstable Chitauri explosive device. Having escaped the confines of the truck, Spider-Man races to locate his group of school mates, who by now are rapidly ascending the lift inside the Washington Monument. Spider-Man scales the outside of the obelisk, by now chased down by armed Police in a helicopter, and gains entry through a window just as the power core explodes trapping his class mates in a disabled lift carriage, leaving it hanging precariously from a great height. Spider-Man manages to evade the Police and rescue his school mates too, including Liz (Laura Harrier) - Peter's would-be girlfriend.

After all that fracas and the safe delivery of his school mates, Parker returns to New York City and is intent on stopping Toomes. He learns of Toomes whereabouts by questioning a local small time criminal who had previously sought to buy weapons from Toomes. On the Staten Island Ferry Spider-Man confronts a new buyer of Toomes weaponry and dispenses with him and his henchmen just as The Vulture arrives on the scene to dispense with the pesky Spider-Man. It doesn't go so well for either party, as a malfunctioning weapon rips the Ferry in half lengthways, causing Spider-Man to come rapidly to the rescue using all his web slinging might to hold the stricken ship together. Just in time Iron Man arrives to help save the day and repair the damage so saving all souls on board. After this latest mis-adventure Iron Man rips Spider-Man a new one for being so potentially reckless with human lives, and promptly takes back his suit.

Parker eventually and reluctantly settles back into life at school, and for the up coming Homecoming Dance, asks Liz is she will be his date. She accepts, and on the night of the dance, Parker duly rocks up to Liz's house to collect his date. The door is answered by none other than Adrian Toomes . . . Liz's father! Their initial meeting is stilted to say the least, with Parker recognising Toomes/The Vulture immediately, but not the other way around. Toomes offers to drive the couple to the dance venue as he is going away on business for a few days and it's not much of a detour. During the car journey Toomes deduces who Peter Parker's alter ego is, and threatens dire consequences if he interferes with his plans. During the dance, Parker realises that Toomes is planning to hijack a D.O.D.C. plane load of secret weapons being transported from the wrecked Avengers Tower to their new headquarters.

Having to wear his home made ill fitting nondescript Spider-Man outfit, Parker excuses himself from the party and makes off for Toomes hideaway. There Toomes overpowers Spider-Man leaving him for dead buried neck deep in concrete rubble. Spider-Man musters all his strength to break free from the mountain of cement, concrete and twisted metal that lies on top of him, and makes off for the now airborne transport plane. The Vulture and Spider-Man go head to head and toe to toe high above New York City, with Spider-Man eventually bringing the plane down in a crash landing over the Coney Island Amusement Park. The two continue to fight it out on a beach close by amongst the burning plane wreckage. Spider-Man saves the life of Toomes from his own unstable equipment, leaving Toomes wrapped up in webbing awaiting for the Police to arrive, together with the planes valuable cargo.

After her father's arrest and the family's reputation tarnished forever, Liz moves away with her Mum. Parker is offered to join The Avengers as a fully fledged paid up card carrying member of the elite team of bona fide Superheroes, but after all due consideration he politely declines. Tony Stark is understanding and they part company on good terms. When Parker gets back to his apartment, there waiting on his bed in a brown paper bag is his Avengers created Spider-Man suit - with a return note from Tony Stark.

Also starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and archival cameo's of Chris Evans and Paul Rudd as Captain America and Ant Man respectively. Watch out for Stan Lee's obligatory cameo appearance too, and then remain seated for the mid-credits and end-credits sequences also.

'Spider-Man : Homecoming' is a worthy reboot of the reboot of the franchise that still manages to feel fresh, new and approachable, and perhaps it is because Spidey is here earning his stripes with The Avengers that adds another dimension that the previous five films did not. Here Peter Parker has to prove himself to his mentor Tony Stark and demonstrate his worthiness to stand alongside Iron Man et al, as well as prove to himself that he can stand up and be counted with the best of them, as well as see out his all important education, and stand up for his family and friends, all the while aiming to bring down an opportunistic bad guy that has a heart after all. This is definitely a return to form for the Spider-Man franchise, and a solid entry into the MCU dovetailing nicely into future 'Avengers' instalments and a future standalone sequel. Tom Holland has reportedly signed up for six Spider-Man appearances including the cross-over instalments and if he keeps his character as grounded, relatable and easy-going as he has now set out, then a good time will be had by all.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

Birthday's to share this week : 16th-22nd October 2016.

Do you celebrate your Birthday this week?

Jon Favreau does on 19th October - check out my tribute to this Birthday Lad turning 50, at the end of this feature.

Do you also share your birthday with a well known, highly regarded & famous Actor or Actress; share your special day with a Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Singer/Songwriter or Composer of repute; or share an interest in whoever might notch up another year in the coming seven days? Then, look no further! Whilst there will be too many to mention in this small but not insignificant and beautifully written and presented Blog, here are the more notable and noteworthy icons of the big screen, and the small screen, that you will recognise, and that you might just share your birthday with in the week ahead. If so, Happy Birthday to you from Odeon Online!

Sunday 16th October

• Angela Lansbury - Born 1925, turns 91 - Actress | Producer | Singer
• Tim Robbins - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director | Singer | Songwriter
• Gary Kemp - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Singer | Songwriter  

Monday 17th October

• Lawrence Bender - Born 1957, turns 59 - Producer | Actor
• Rob Marshall - Born 1960, turns 56 - Director | Producer | Choreographer
• Eminem (aka Marshall Bruce Mathers III) - Singer | Songwriter | Producer | Actor
• Matthew Macfadyen - Born 1974, turns 42 - Actor
• Margot Kidder - Born 1948, turns 68 - Actress
• Felicity Jones - Born 1983, turns 33 - Actress  

Tuesday 18th October

• Jean-Claude Van Damme - Born 1960, turns 56 - Actor | Writer | Producer | Director
• Zac Efron - Born 1987, turns 29 - Actor | Producer | Singer  

Wednesday 19th October

• Michael Gambon - Born 1940, turns 76 - Actor
• John Lithgow - Born 1945, turns 71 -  Actor | Producer | Singer
• Jon Favreau - Born 1966, turns 50 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor
• Trey Parker - Born 1969, turns 47 - Writer | Producer | Director | Actor | Animator | Singer | Songwriter | Composer 

Thursday 20th October

• Timothy West - Born 1934, turns 82 - Actor
• Thomas Newman - Born 1955, turns 61 - Composer | Songwriter | Musician
• Danny Boyle - Born 1956, turns 60 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Viggo Mortensen - Born 1958, turns 58 - Actor | Producer
• Snoop Dogg (aka Calvin Cordozar Broadus) - Born 1971, turns 45 - Singer | Songwriter | Composer | Writer | Actor | Producer  

Friday 21st October

• Ken Watanabe - Born 1959, turns 57 - Actor | Producer
• Catherine Hardwick - Born 1955, turns 61 - Director | Producer | Writer | Production Designer
• Carrie Fisher - Born 1956, turns 60 - Actress | Writer | Singer

Saturday 22nd October

• Catherine Deneuve - Born 1943, turns 73 - Actress | Singer
• Saffron Burrows - Born 1972, turns 44 - Actress
• Christopher Lloyd - Born 1938, turns 78 - Actor
• Derek Jacobi - Born 1938, turns 78 - Actor
• Jan de Bont - Born 1943, turns 73 - Director | Producer | Cinematographer
• Jeff Goldblum - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actor | Producer
• John Howard - Born 1952, turns 64 - Actor
• Bill Condon - Born 1955, turns 61 - Director | Producer | Writer
• Spike Jonze - Born 1969, turns 47 - Director | Producer | Writer | Actor | Cameraman
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson - Born 1975, turns 41 - Actor | Television Personality  

Jonathan Kolia Favreau was born in Flushing, Queens, New York to mother Madeleine - an elementary school teacher who died in 1979 from leukaemia, and father Charles Favreau - a special needs education teacher. Favreau graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1984, and attended Queens College at the City University of New York from 1984 through to 1987 before dropping out. For a short time he worked for the New York based global investment bank, securities trading and brokerage company Bear Sterns on Wall Street, before returning to Queens College in early 1988. By that Summer he dropped out for good before completing his degree, and headed to Chicago to chase down a career in comedy. There he honed his craft at the ImprovOlympic Theatre and Training Centre, and the Improv Institute which subsequently closed its doors in 1994.

His first big screen role came as a Chicago cab driver in 'Folks' in 1992 for Director Ted Kotcheff with Tom Seleck and Don Ameche. This was followed up with an uncredited extra role in the Danny DeVito Directed and starring 'Hoffa' with Jack Nicholson in the title role. In 1993 he gained his first significant role in 'Rudy' alongside Sean Astin in the lead role as Daniel E. Roettiger and Favreau playing D-Bob in this sports-bio set in the college football world of the University of Notre Dame in the mid-'70's. On set he met Vince Vaughn who had a small role to play in the film. In 1994 he starred in 'PCU' (Port Chester University) alongside Jeremy Piven and David Spade, and then Joel Schumacher's 'Batman Forever' with Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carey and Chris O'Donnell. 'Notes from Underground' followed that same year in 1995. In the meantime there had been appearances on the likes of 'Seinfeld', 'Chicago Hope', ' The Larry Sanders Show' and 'Fallen Angels'.

1996 saw his debut as a Screenwriter with his penned 'Swingers' with Favreau playing alongside Vince Vaughn, and Directed by Doug Liman. 'Swingers' was made for just US$200K and grossed close to US$5M. Before the end of the decade came 'Persons Unknown', 'Dogtown', end of the world Sci-Fi action drama 'Deep Impact', Peter Berg's 'Very Bad Things' and television series appearances on 'Tracey Takes On . . .', 'Friends' and made for television movies 'Desert Breeze' and 'Rocky Marciano' with Favreau playing the lead role as the undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion.

The new decade launched with 'Love & Sex', 'The Replacements' and this his Directorial debut with 'Made' in 2001 in which he also starred, wrote and Produced, and hired his mate Vince Vaughn to star alongside. The film received positive Reviews and just about recovered its US$5M budget outlay from the worldwide Box Office. Marvel's 'Daredevil' with Ben Affleck came next in 2003, then 'The Big Empty' and then his second outing as Director with the Christmas themed 'Elf'. 'Something's Gotta Give' with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, and then 'Wimbledon', 'The Break Up' with Vince Vaughn and former 'Friends' Co-Star Jennifer Aniston. In the meantime Favreau Directed 'Zathura' - the follow-up to 'Jumanji' which whilst faring reasonably well critically, did less so commercially.

2008 saw Favreau Direct, Co-Produce and star in the first outing for Marvel's 'Iron Man' with Robert Downey Jnr. in the lead role. This first film in the hugely successful and popular franchise returned US$586M from its US$140M budget. He followed this success up again in 2010 with 'Iron Man 2' making US$624M from its US$200M budget, and in 2013 acted as Executive Producer on Shane Black's 'Iron Man 3' and reprised his role as Happy Hogan, now Head of Security for Stark Industries. This third instalment made US$1.22B from its US$200M budget costs.

Three RomCom's followed in quick succession with 'Four Christmases', 'I Love You, Man' and 'Couples Retreat' - the first and last of these both with regular stablemate Vince Vaughn, before the Sci-Fi Western 'Cowboys and Aliens' Directed and Co-Produced by Favreau with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford starring.

There were then support acting gigs in 'John Carter', 'People Like Us', 'Identity Thief', 'The Wolf of Wall Street' and 'Entourage' with his turn as Writer, Producer. Director and Star in 'Chef' in 2014. In the meantime he took an Executive Producer credit on the hugely successful 'The Avengers' in 2012, on last years 'Avengers : The Age of Ultron' and the upcoming 'Avengers : Infinity War Parts 1 & 2' due on 4th May 2018 and 3rd May 2019 respectively.

Bringing us up to date this year there has been crime drama 'Term Life' with Vince Vaughn again, his highly acclaimed live action/CGI retelling of Disney's classic 'The Jungle Book' which Favreau Directed, Co-Produced and lent his voice talents to and which grossed US$967M from its US$175M budget. Next up is his reprisal of his 'Iron Man' role as Happy Hogan in 'Spider-Man : Homecoming', and the recently announced Disney live action/CGI remakes of 'The Lion King' and 'The Jungle Book 2' with Favreau set to Direct both. Television Sci-Fi drama comedy series 'Orville' is due in 2017 with Favreau as Executive Producer. Meanwhile, he has lent his voice talents to 'Rocket Power', 'Dilbert', 'Buzz Lightyear of Star Command', 'Family Guy', 'Rugrats', 'Open Season', 'Robot Chicken', 'G-Force', 'Zookeeper', 'Star Wars : The Clone Wars' and 'The Jungle Book', and he has appeared on episodes of 'My Name is Earl', 'Monk' and 'The King of Queens'.

All up Favreau has 65 Acting credits to his name, 22 Producer credits, twenty as Director and six as Writer. He has three awards wins and eight other nominations. He married physician Joya Tillem in late 2000 with whom he has three children - Max (born in July 2001), Madeleine (born in April 2003) and Brighton Rose (born in August 2006). Looking purely at his Marvel adaptations which he has either Directed or Co-Produced, the combined worldwide gross Box Office receipts amount to close to US$5.35B and add to that 'The Jungle Book' then this sum rises to close to US$6.32B . . . that's a pretty good track record methinks!

Jon Favreau - he Stars, he Produces, he Directs and he Writes; is as equally comfortable making big action epics or small independent features; and now seemingly at ease too with the latest cutting edge moviemaking technology to further enhance our cinematic experience. A proven track record of keeping us entertained on the big screen and the small screen, in front of the camera and behind it, and we just keep coming back for more - Happy 50th Birthday to you Jon, from Odeon Online.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

CAPTAIN AMERICA : CIVIL WAR - Monday 2nd May 2016.

'CAPTAIN AMERICA : CIVIL WAR' which I saw earlier this week, is the next instalment from the crew at Marvel, the thirteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the third in the Captain America series following on from 'The First Avenger' in 2011 and 'Winter Soldier' in 2014. This is so far slated to be the final standalone Captain America film, although Chris Evans who plays Steve Rogers/Captain America reappears in the upcoming two-part 'Avengers: Infinity War' due in May 2018 and May 2019, and has stated his willingness to reprise his role further should Marvel be open to this, now that his initial contract has ended. Australia is among the first to get the theatrical release of this film, with the UK going live last week too, and North America on May 6th. So far ahead of its US release having opened already in 37 territories, the film has grossed US$225M. Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo, we have an all star cast of acting talent and superhero muscle who come together and battle it out head to head and toe to toe one year after the events of 'Age of Ultron'.

Following the last Avengers outing there has been another international event that brings The Avengers under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Opening up we see Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olson) on a tour of duty in Lagos, Nigeria chasing down Crossbones (Frank Grillo) who is in possession of a biological weapon. After the initial opening set piece Scarlet Witch mistakenly causes a bomb to be thrown into a near high rise building killing Crossbones and many innocents including relief aid workers.

As a result of this back at Avengers HQ, the Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) convenes a meeting with The Avengers. He advises those gathered that as a result of recent events in New York, Washington, Sokovia and now Nigeria where there has been too much excessive death, destruction and collateral damage that governments around the world are now calling for a level of control and accountability for when The Avengers should be called upon, and for them to be overseen by a greater authority so regulating superhuman activity, and the potential fallout from it. The United Nations have drawn up 'The Sokovia Accords' setting up an international governing body who will have complete jurisdiction over the group of ever expanding superhumans.

Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr.) agrees that regulation is needed and supports such an Act feeling the guilt from creating Ultron and the wonton damage and death of innocents this caused. Steve Rogers/Captain America is opposed to it believing that despite the fall out they have made the world a safer place, and need to be free to intervene when the time and circumstances dictate.

As the Accords are due to be ratified in Vienna with many of the world's leaders and Black Widow looking on and representing those of the Avengers in agreement, an explosion kills the King of Wakanda amongst others - and very quickly The Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) is identified as the bomber. The Kings son, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who is by his side at the time of the explosion swears revenge on Bucky Barnes, and so begins his one man crusade against his quarry, but first he'll need to get through the divided Avengers who have now split into two with their divided loyalties on either side falling into two differing factions headed up in the one corner by Tony Stark and in the other by Steve Rogers, each with Bucky in their sights too and for different reasons.

When the authorities close in, Bucky is captured and so too are the now rogue Avengers, but its not long before they all thwart their captors and Rogers makes off with Barnes to learn what he knows about the bombing. It is revealed that Colonel Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) was behind the bombing and is intending to release five other Winter Soldiers each deadlier than Barnes, from a HYDRA mountain hideaway in Siberia, each frozen ready to be reanimated when the time is right - and that time is now for Zemo.

While this is going on in the background Stark convinces the Secretary of State to allow him to bring Rogers and his rogue Avengers in, believing that he can convince them to see reason. He is given 36 hours to do so. Stark recruits T'Challa and a young web slinging kid who has grabbed his attention - Peter Parker (Tom Holland) to support him, Black Widow, War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Vision (Paul Bettany).

Rogers meanwhile has recruited Ant Man (Paul Rudd), has brought Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) out of early retirement to join him, Falcon, Barnes and Scarlet Witch, and this team also has Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp) now working for the CIA on side too. Things come to a head when worlds collide and the differing factions battle it out head to head at Leipzig/Halle Airport in the greatest superhero stand-off ever seen that is a jaw dropping sequence with a few surprises in store, and just the right amount of tongue in cheek humour to add the necessary levity.

Needless to say whilst they are all Superheroes in their own right no one gets permanently damaged, but some do get locked up in maximum security as a result of their antics. This leaves Rogers and Barnes to chase down Zemo before he reactivates the other Winter Soldiers who could bring a whole new world of pain. This leaves Iron Man left to retrieve the situation and make amends with Captain America if he can. What is revealed in the secret mountain hideaway however, no one was prepared for and only causes a further rift between Stark and Rogers that results in a fight to the 'near' death for the two of them and Barnes. Subsequently the two divided Avengers factions split far and wide with Rogers aided and abetted by a new ally in the form of The Black Panther.

You can expect big things from this film, with the first two grossing US$1.09B and such a formidable collection of assembled Superheroes. This would rank right up there as one of the best if not THE best Marvel big screen adaptation to date. It is everything you want from a blockbusting Superhero movie and more - maturity; great action set pieces; a solid story line; characters you have come to know, love and respect; just the right amount of humour; a few surprises; and a line up of Superhero talent never before amassed on the big screen, and going head to head. Who knows what might have happened if Thor and Hulk were in the mix too - but they do at least get an honourable mention as being AWOL somewhere, but who knows where? It's a great package, and paves the wave as the introductory film to the MCU Phase 3. See it on the big screen - this has set the standard by which others will be judged.

Watch out for the obligatory Stan Lee cameo as he delivers a FedEx parcel for Tony Stank, and the early credits sequence and another right at the very end - both setting up future stand-alone and combined features. All in all - very entertaining, and well worth the price of your ticket and all the optional extras you buy with it too.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

AVENGERS : AGE OF ULTRON - Tuesday 28th April 2015.

The first outing for the assembled 'Avengers' way back in 2012 was Directed by Joss Whedon and made by Marvel Studios for a lean mean lazy US$220M and grossed a record beating US$1.52B making it the third highest grossing film of all time. With that, a sequel was a foregone conclusion, and so over the ensuing years Joss Whedon set to work again on the next instalment which was made for US$280M this time, and has just been released, grossing US$287M within the first two weeks after it's so far limited global release only. And so I saw 'THE AVENGERS : AGE OF ULTRON' earlier this week, and can recommend this to you as a worthy sequel that further expands the Marvel Universe, reunites the Team and introduces a few new characters along the way.

Our film opens up with a Bondesque pre-credit tongue in-cheek but nonetheless well executed opening action sequence as The Avengers mount a raid on the Hydra mountain hide away in the eastern European country of Sokovia. Here Baron Wolfgang von Strucker is conducting human experiments using the sceptre retrieved from Loki, Thor's estranged intergalactic brother. Needless to say the mere Hydralings are no match for the mighty force of The Avengers who now are a lean mean focused fighting machine determined to rid the world of otherworldly foes, world domineering megalomaniacs, and various crims intent on stirring up a shit storm. Von Strucker though has a few ideas of his own including the Maximoff twins - Pietro (Aaron Taylor Johnson) who can move at superhuman speed and his sister Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) who has the ability to harness magic and control telekinesis and hypnosis. With their powers they can thwart The Avengers and so they team up with Ultron as the story progresses.

As far as Ultron is concerned, it is a former programme that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr.) was developing to create a safe world where The Avengers services were no longer required or necessary. Stark's thinking is that he can retire peacefully and sip Pina Colada's by the beachside without a care in the world - yeah, dream on Iron Man! With the Loki sceptre retrieved from the Hydra hide-away and now at Avengers HQ safe & sound, Stark and Banner (Mark Ruffalo) seek to reinstate Ultron using the artificial intelligence they have discovered within the gemstone encased within the sceptre. Of course they have no idea what they are dealing with and while The Avengers and gathered guests are celebrating their win over Hydra, Ultron secretly springs to life sucking up all of J.A.R.V.I.S.'s (Paul Bettany) intelligence in the process. Keep an eye out here for Stan Lee's ever dependable cameo!

When Ultron manifests itself in A.I. robot form all hell breaks out in Avengers HQ setting up the second set piece where an unprepared Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) face off against their unsuspecting newly formed foe. Needless to say they survive to fight another day.

When the other Avengers discover that Stark & Banner sought to reinstate Ultron they are none too pleased and so dissent in the ranks starts to manifest itself, while Ultron is out there running amok, growing more intelligent by the day, replicating an army of mini-Ultrons with which to annihilate the world as we know it, and take down The Avengers . . .  and Stark first & foremost, front & centre!

Before all this goes down Wanda bends the minds of our Avengers friends and causes them to hallucinate and lose track of who, what & where they are, With this Banner goes into overdrive, morphs into the Hulk and promptly trashes a few city blocks - his first public show of strength which shows the world watching on TV that he is a menace to society! To calm him down it is Iron Man to the rescue which sees our third set piece as as few city blocks get trashed well & truly and Iron Man in his souped up Hulk busting suit 'Veronica' go head to head with no due care whatsoever for life, property or city & public wellbeing.

Eventually The Avengers reunite, regroup and re-examine what they stand for and how they stand, but not before Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) has made an appearance and sets them back on the straight and narrow in the name of truth, justice, integrity and the American way! As Ultron continues to replicate itself on his path of destruction and world domination by wiping it out so that it can rebuild itself, The Avengers seek an alternative saviour through an Internet connection that might just be their salvation. Whilst J.A.R.V.I.S. was banished to cyberspace oblivious in the mind of Ultron, his blueprint still remains hidden in the deep, dark recesses of the inter web, which of course Tony Stark is able to uncover, and reboot his former stablemate and trusted cyber-companion.

This all leads us to the final set piece back in Sokovia where it all began with the final showdown between Ultron and his amassed army of replicants, and The Avengers which by now have been joined by Quicksilver (AKA Pietro Maximoff), Scarlet Witch (AKA Wanda Maximoff), War Machine (Don Cheadle) and perhaps more importantly by Vision (AKA the former J.A.R.V.I.S.) now rebooted into almost human form, that Ultron had previously wanted for his own form.

It's all impressively executed, albeit perhaps a tad too long and drawn out but these are minor faults only. It is fairly predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable, well executed fare with a solid story line that is up there with the first instalment in 2012, backed up with tried & tested performances. I am not sure if this will do well as the first but it is solid, very well realised, well crafted and well acted by all the principle characters we have come to know & love. Catch it on the big screen soon - I know you won't be disappointed.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-