A good movie, first was better

Rating: 8/10 (3 May 2015)

The first Avengers was excellent, my favorite comic book movie. It seemed after Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Daredevil that Marvel was unstoppable.
The facts are Age of Ultron is not as good as these three. It is much better than most summer movies though, and if it didn't have these three in it's recent canon, nor the amazing first movie, I think this one wouldn't be getting so much criticism. The danger of consistent excellence is flaws and shortcomings tend to get magnified.
So, let's be clear: this a good movie. Pretty well balanced with action and comedy (although it does have a LOT of one-line quips, most work though), a few characters get fleshed out nicely (Hawkeye, Black Widow, and The Vision have some of the best character development, others not so much), a fine villain (but with a with a rushed origin story), and pretty decent juggling of a very crowded roster. So kudos, many great things to see and enjoy.
Where it's getting so much heat is that people wanted it to be the best comic movie of all time, to be better than the Avengers and Winter Soldier and The Dark Knight. But it isn't, it's a good movie in a strong cinematic universe. As second movies go it's more Temple of Doom than Empire Strikes Back: it will stand proudly on the shelf but nerds will argue whether the first or third was the best.
Frankly though, I wasn't disappointed at all, in fact I enjoyed every minute of it. It didn't have to be better than those others to be very good, and it is. I just wanted it to be more, but I'm happy with what it is.
Ignore the extremists on both sides, this is neither "amazing" nor "bust" material. Come watch a really good film in a film series that's providing some great entertainment. I'll be very excited for the further films, to me this really sets the stage nicely for Civil War and Infinity War.