Ultimate Avengers: The Movie DVD (2006)
"Ultimates ...Unite?!"
In their 40 years of existence, Marvel's Avengers have never really had a decent animated presence.
The old "Cap's Kooky Quartet" had a few cameo appearances in the 1960's Captain America cartoons and then there was the abyssmal FOX adaptation of the team in 1999. Based more on the comic series "The Ultimates", than
"the Avengers", "Ultimate Avengers: The Movie" is somewhat of an improvement.
It's obvious that the amalgamated
title was slapped on to broaden the project's appeal. However, the modification does little to expand the potential audience of this DVD. This movie is especially for comic geeks. But in the geek-heavy market of the 21st century, that's not a death sentence (consider the success of other geeky things, like ...oh, anything on the Sci-Fi channel)
Beginning in the final weeks of World War II, the movie opens with an Allied paratrooper mission against a Nazi fortress housing a "doomsday weapon". Leading the troops, Captain America destroys the weapon (a nuclear missile), but falls into the North Atlantic and a 60 year deep freeze. During the raid, a mysterious race of Nazi sympathizing aliens were revealed.
Jump to the present day, where a SHIELD sub and Gen. Nick Fury discover the frozen Captain America. SHIELD and Dr. Bruce Banner have been trying to replicate the Super Soldier formula. Slowly and almost scatalogically, the remaining "Avengers" are recruited into SHIELD's new super team. Blak Widow, Iron Man, Giant-Man, the Wasp and
even super-tree-hugger Thor.
The mysterious aliens are still kicking around and are SHIELD's arch enemy. Their motives aren't revealed, we just know that they're EVIL shape-changing aliens. There's not alot of time for explanation as several plotlines and charatcer conflicts are squeezed in. Captain America's displaced Rip Van Winkle theme gets the most screen time, at a whopping 8 minutes. There's also the conflict surrounding Bruce Banner and his unsucessful attempts to control his Hulk persona. Plus Hank Pym's resentment at being ousted from SHIELD once.
While the themes and characters from the "Ultimates" comics are there, the plots begin to vary a bit. The team bickers, but things don't get as ugly with all the in-fighting, like the comics. Hank Pym doesn't beat-up Jan and Cap doesn't beat up Hank in retaliation. Thor is cast as a loon, but doesn't have a violent altercation with the team. The team is set-up as the "Ultimates", but after coming together and riding some rough rapids, they're more like the "Avengers".
 |
| Hulk uses some stolen Pym Particles to shrink to ant-size and attack some guy in a scuba suit |
However, Banner does change into the Hulk during the climactic fight with the aliens and loses control. After defeating the aliens, the team has to subdue the Hulk. It doesnt' feel like a true climax and everyone has a picnic the next day. Seriously. It also seems strange how the aliens are so fixated on SHIELD. They don't attack New York, they pinpoint their attack on SHIELD's island in the Hudson River. Oh yeah, and if you don't know what SHIELD means, don't expect the movie to tell ya'. (Darn...I needed to know if was the "Strategic Hazard" or "Supreme Headquarters" version of the acronym!)
The movie is essentially the opening act of what is slated to be an ongoing series of DVD movies. The disc's special features include a preview look at the next movie, set for release in July 2006. In a complete divergence from the "Ultimates", the team goes to Wakanda and meets the Black Panther. Nifty..I don't think T'challa's ever been animated before (I dunno...was he in the 90's Fantasic Four cartoons?). That sparks my enthusiasm for more, as it looks like subsequent movies will harmonize with "Avengers" stories, rather than "Ultimates"stories. No team name was mentioned in the acual script, so hopefully the name "Avengers" will take over as the on-screen moniker.
The animation itself is a mixed bag. The designs are crisp and smooth, but at times the actual animation seems to be overdone. The shadowing effect is overused and close-up shots look over-animated. In a scene with Black Widow and Cap on the waterfront, it appears as if the animators didn't know when to stop working. The script's pacing moves too quickly at times and ,as a result, some events (like the climactic battle) don't feel as important as they should be.
The special features completely cater to the comic nerd. There's a 20 minute documentary on the history of the Avengers... with about 1 minute spent covering the Ultimates. It covers characters and concepts that have nothing to do with the "Ultimate Avengers" movie-- like Hawkeye, Wonder Man and the Scarlet Witch. I don't see how this would be helpful to a non-comic nerd who picked up this DVD on a whim. Sure, it's supposed to foster interest in the comics, but it's not the correct comics. Someone might pick up "Avengers"...then wonder why it's not like "Ultimate Avengers".
A good portion of the documentary is spent on the Geroge Perez and Kurt Busiek version of the team. Perez comes off as hilariosuly enthusiastic, which is refreshing. Other comic guys, like Tom Breevort, Mark Millar and Joe Quesada chime in. However, in all cases, each guy looks like the stereotypical comic dweeb. Dang, would it have hurt someone to maybe SHAVE or BATHE before giving their interview?! Quesada apparently takes alot of pride in his appearance... appearing like a Clearasil poster child, in a t-shirt and a backwards baseball cap.
The other noteworthy special feature contains outtakes of fans who tried out for the movie's voice talents. Sorta' like the "American Idol" outtake shows, it's scary as all hell. One guy appears in a plastic viking helmet and does his version of Thor. A redneck with sideburns does HIS portrayal of the Wasp. For "fun", one fan does his take on famous celebrities doing the Avengers--which includes absolutely the most horrendous Christopher Walken impression ever caught on film (and now it's touched YOUR DVD player!!) A sub-title reveals that while hundreds of audition tapes were received, nobody was offered a job.
Note: the credits list Andre Ware as the voice of Nick Fury. Sorry, that's NOT the former Heisman
winner and Detroit Lions quarterback. Different guy.
A brambly start to an Avengers animated franchise, but hopefully one that will improve with each round. Recommended for the Avengers fan, but a yellow light for everyone else.
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