Escapade 2020

Another successful escapade_team is done. I had a wonderful time at Escapade 2020. Some significant changes for me:

 

1. Because I'm even more invested in MCU than I was before, I got more out of the MCU panels this year.

2. I have a definite plan for fic. Before, I had ideas, but nothing was ever certain. My exact fic plan is to write 10,000 to 20,000-word stories with a bisexual Black Widow as the main character and in coordination with the Marvel stories where she appears.
3. I always had an interest in Marvel movies, but now I'm also into some of the comic books. Thanks to the Escapade attendee (unfortunately, I don't remember her name) who turned me on to Comixology.

4. I managed to pay my admission fee for 2021 at Escapade rather than waiting until later in the year and at the last minute.

5. I got lucky again with the swap table and found a couple of awesome items, including a new Dr. Strange t-shirt with its Marvel tag still on it.

6. I got lucky again with the raffle and won an Orphan Black jacket. I've won something at every Escapade I've attended!

I am so looking forward to attending Escapade 2021. I always take the Southwest Chief train from Chicago to California and back with my best friend ride_4ever. It's so much better than taking the plane, and it's a great way to deal with con-drop after the conference is over. We have approximately three days and two nights on the train to think about things and plan for next year.

 

Movie Review: "Avengers: Age of Ultron"

Movie Review: "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015)

Cast: Robert Downey Jr,  Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, James Spader, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders.

 

Director: Joss Whedon

 

The superhero movie "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is the eleventh film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

 

My 30 Second No Spoilers Intro

 

The Avengers – Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye open the movie in a winter fighting scene to retrieve Loki's scepter stolen by Hydra.  Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Dr. Banner (Hulk) have created what is known as Ultron (voiced marvelously by James Spader), incorporating the scepter, to be part of Stark's global defense program. But things don't go so well, and The Avengers are not too happy with Tony Stark.  However, cooler heads, like Captain America's, prevail, and a plan is established. In the movie, we are introduced to the character Wanda Maximoff, otherwise known as Scarlet Witch, and her twin. (Wanda has powerful, magical abilities.) 

 

Who Was Good, and Who Wasn't?

 

Props go out to James Spader with this one. He's an excellent actor, and his creepy, snarky, sociopathic voice is perfect for Ultron.

 

What I Liked, and What I Didn't Like

 

Dislike:  As I said earlier, the movie opens with a winter fighting scene. I don't like it when scenes begin with wild fighting, but that's just me. I prefer movies that have scenes leading up to any fighting.

 

Dislike: Unlike some other Marvel movies, such as "Guardians of the Galaxy," the jokes in this one weren't funny. I'm not saying they were offensive. I'm saying they didn't make me laugh. 

 

Dislike: There's a dynamic between Natasha Romanoff and Dr. Banner/Hulk that didn't do it for me. I'll be writing about this relationship in one of my upcoming fics.  But I'm not sure how I want to approach it.  Although I did like Natasha's line to Banner, "I adore you, but I need the other guy."

 

Like: New Avengers are recruited and ready for training.  I love that scene.

 

Like: The mid-credits scene with my favorite villain, Thanos. It's awesome.

 

Who Will Like This Movie?

 

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" is good for people who like superhero/villain movies and who like James Spader's voice!

 

Rating?

 

This is my least favorite MCU movie so far. (But again, that's just me.)  I give it four stars.