Movies - Ultimate Avengers

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	Movies - Ultimate Avengers

Ultimate Avengers is a direct-to-video animated film based on the Marvel comic book The Ultimates. This movie is one of the couple of Marvel Comics properties to be released by Lions Gate's Family Home Entertainment on DVD and was released on February 21, 2006. The other animated films to be released include a sequel to Ultimate Avengers 2 which will feature the character of Black Panther (for release July 2006), Iron Man, and Doctor Strange.

Plot synopsis

When a nuclear missile was fired at Washington in 1945, Captain America managed to detonate it in the upper atmosphere. But then he fell miles into the icy depths of the North Atlantic, where he remained lost for over sixty years. But now, with the world facing the very same evil, Captain America must rise again as our last hope of survival, and lead a strong-willed team of today's superheroes.

Storyline

The animated film starts out during the World War II, and shows Captain America being frozen in suspended animation, only to be revived in the twenty-first century by the American military, who are hoping that they can recreate Captain America's superserum in order to create more super-soliders.

Bruce Banner and his girlfriend Betty are among the government scientists working to recreate the Super-Soldier serum. Banner has been taking a series of drugs to prevent his transformation into the Hulk, but wants to stop taking the drugs because they interfere with his ability to work. Meanwhile, a revived Captain America has to get used to living in the twenty-first century, while Nick Fury is trying to persuade the Avengers (Thor, Giant-Man, Wasp, and Iron Man) to unite under the leadership of Captain America to stop an attempt by Chitauri space aliens to take over Earth.

Infighting between the Avengers hurts the ability of the team to battle the space aliens. Thor is a hot-headed environmentalist, and Iron Man's secret identity is revealed to be the wealthy industrialist Tony Stark, but he is still reluctant to be part of a team. Giant Man and Wasp are having some domestic disputes (although not as explict as in the comics), as are Bruce and Betty. When the Chitauri launch their attack, the Avengers finally get their act together and successfully defeat the aliens.

However, Banner stops taking his drugs and transforms into the Hulk to help destroy the aliens. Since he took the Super-Soldier serum based on Captain America's blood, he maintains some control over his Hulk form. Unfortunately, Banner gets into a beserker rage during the battle and turns his aggression toward the Avengers. With the help of Betty, they are able to defeat the Hulk and imprison Banner for failing to take the drugs. The film ends with the Avengers reunited and celebrating after saving the world.

Reviews

Ultimate Avengers was released to mixed reviews. Some reviewers were impressed by the film's quality of animation, voice actors and storyline, while others detracted the film for basing the personalilties of the Avengers on their normal Marvel Universe counterparts as opposed to their Ultimates incarnations (with the exceptions of Thor and Banner, who stayed accurate to thier Ulitmates interpretations). The film was criticised by some fans for the story's plot and more mature themes being toned down from the original source material.

Comparison to The Ultimates

The character histories, artwork, and early plot are all directly adapted from the "Super-Human" storyarc of the Ultimates re-launch of The Avengers. Notable differences from the book include:

Henry Pym is portrayed as merely hotheaded rather than abusive and unstable.
Tony's dual identity as Iron Man is public knowledge in the Ultimates. In Ultimate Avengers, the public is unware that Tony Stark and Iron Man are the same person.
The Hulk is affected by gamma radiation, and this is what causes him to transform into the rampaging Hulk. In the Ultimates, Bruce Banner was working to recreate the Super-Soldier serum that created Captain America. He used an experimental version of the formula on himself and transformed into a mindless Hulk.
Betty Ross in Ultimate Avengers is a scientific colleague of Bruce Banner. In the Ultimates Betty is the team's public relations person.

DVD

The DVD contains numerous extra features, including interviews with the comic book creators of the Ultimate Avengers comic book, exploration of the creation of the animated film, a video game and previews for the future film.

Cast

Captain America — Justin Gross
Iron Man — Marc Worden
Nick Fury — Andre Ware
Wasp — Grey DeLisle
Giant Man — Nolan North
Thor — Dave Boat
Black Widow — Olivia D'Abo
Hulk — Fred Tatsciore
Bruce Banner — Michael Massee
Dr. Betty Ross — Nan McNamara

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Ultimate Avengers ]

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