Just short of the first one, but still pretty stellar

Rating: 9/10 (24 April 2015)

Tony Stark has only a couple of days access to Loki's staff, newly recovered by the Avengers in a sweep of Hydra lairs, before Thor returns it to Asgard. He is keen to incorporate the advanced technology in the staff's power source into his global protection system, Ultron. But something goes very wrong as it turns out that Ultron is both self-aware and malevolent, and assisted by a pair of twins with unusual talents. It's time for the team to regroup.
As Marvel adds each new film, it becomes increasingly apparent that, just like the comics on which they are based, one long, ongoing story is being told. In Avengers 2, we see payoffs and further developments from things which were seeded in earlier films (by which I mean the entire Marvel cinematic universe), and which look to payoff in the future.
This film doesn't quite have the cocky swagger which its predecessor had, but that is perhaps because we are now very familiar with every member of the team, and how well they function as a team. The film is great fun, nevertheless. It is maybe missing moments like Hulk's rag doll Loki incident, but there are still a number of moments which had me drooling deliriously with delight, and I nearly wet myself during the first 5 minutes.
The new characters are great – Ultron is particularly well realised – and there are more returning characters than a Harry Potter film (well, not quite, but you know what I mean). I'm glad I managed to avoid the rumour mill, although I did catch the suggestion that a certain character might die. What can I say? Wars have casualties.
This is another very successful movie in the Marvel series – roll on Ant-Man!