Avengers Assemble...Again!!!

Rating: 10/10 (30 April 2015)

After a three year break to tend to the specifics of these costumed men and women, the A-Team has reunited for "Avengers: Age of Ultron," a darker, more internalized follow-up that still retains all the expected bang and boom. Writer/director Joss Whedon has pulled off an impressive feat here, sustaining the intensity of a ripping adventure yarn while digging into a few of the characters a little more deeply, finding fresh ground to cover in a more satisfying epic.
After taking care of Loki and the Chitauri invasion, the Avengers, including Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), are off to shut down human experimentation efforts from Hydra leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann), who's found two particularly gifted subjects in Wanda/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver (Aaron-Taylor Johnson) -- powerful twins out to punish Stark for his war profiteering. Claiming success, the Avengers enjoy a rare moment of peace, only to find their confidence shattered by Ultron (voiced by James Spader), a monstrous robot powered by Stark's unwieldy research into artificial intelligence, where he hoped to retire Iron Man by assembling a robot strike force to protect the innocent. As Ultron grows in power, he recruits Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, with plans to slaughter the Avengers and destroy humankind as a way to create the perfect world order.
In keeping with Marvel momentum, "Age Of Ultron" opens in mid-battle, returning to the individual powers and technologies of the heroes as they steamroll into the Eastern European town of Sokovia, where the last traces of Hydra remain. It's a thunderous sequence, energetically following the team into enemy territory, with fluid CGI and soaring camera-work creating a roll call for the protagonists, watching Thor beat soldiers with his fist and hammer, and Iron Man control the skies with his arsenal and quips. Whedon is terrific with introductions, reviving the feeling of teamwork and power that made the original feature irresistible at times, stepping back to watch this collection of personalities and power crush evil. The story also kicks in immediately, sharing the details of Hydra's secretive mission and renewed interest in the Infinity Gems, while introducing a unique threat in the Scarlet Witch (a master of telekinesis and hypnosis) and Quicksilver (super-speed). It takes Ultron a good 30 minutes to get up and running, yet the sequel is already stuffed with enough information to keep the narrative humming along, waiting patiently for the towering villain.
Born from an A.I. program similar to Stark's J.A.R.V.I.S. system, Ultron takes form as colossal robot, retaining his childlike observance of the world, demanding a fresh start for the mechanical age. Backed by legion of drones, Ultron is a formidable foe, with developing smarts and a curious case of impatience guiding his initial domination. However, while his strength is significant, he needs Scarlet Witch to truly take down the Avengers, with her powers of mental manipulation digging into the fear and confusion the superheroes have kept hidden. This psychological warfare is a major plot point in "Age of Ultron," pinpointing Avenger vulnerabilities in a way they're unprepared for and, for a brute like Hulk, mind manipulation results in destructive puppetry, forcing Iron Man into caretaker mode, with a mid-movie sequence detailing an uncharacteristic fight between the two, with Stark prepared for such a day, suiting up in Hulkbuster armor. Captain America is hit with visions from his past, Thor is handed a strange, apocalyptic puzzle of guilt, and Black Widow is confronted with her traumatic past, trained at a young age to become a killer. The addition of emotional wounds and the way Scarlet Witch accesses them is a welcome opening into the ongoing inspection of Avenger insecurities, adding some substance to the confection, while strengthening the team dynamic as they grow tighter as a security unit.
Warmth is also new to the franchise. In "Age of Ultron," Banner becomes a romantic fixation for Romanoff, with their beauty and the beast pairing giving the heroes something more profound to explore than the simplicity of a haunted past. Instead of indulging the Iron Man Show, Whedon spreads attention around the group, finding a few sweet, mournful beats to play as Banner retreats from his love interest, fearful of the monster he is, while his heart aches for companionship. The miracle of "Age of Ultron" is Hawkeye, watching the oft-maligned character stand upright for change, showing boldness during skirmishes, awareness of his oddity, and domesticity with his secret family. Humanizing this strange addition to the Avengers is Whedon's greatest achievement, giving the character purpose and depth that makes his subplot perhaps to most fulfilling of the bunch. In a picture filled with gargantuan action sequences and world-crushing enemies, the highlight of the sequel is the chance to see Hawkeye hug his wife and children. Whedon is a real superhero for pulling off that trick.
Humor isn't completely scrubbed from "Age of Ultron," which keeps up a rhythm of wisecracks and banter -- even the titular robot overlord is allowed some sarcasm. The scope of the movie is massive, running around the globe to thwart evil, figure out why Ultron is after a shipment of vibranium, and reunite with old friends. Seeds are planted for future chapters in Marvel Cinematic Universe, finding Rogers and Stark developing heated ideological differences as the lure of technology and the demands of safety collide. Whedon doesn't sacrifice the core unit to feed corporate demands, with enough time devoted to heroics and interplay to keep the picture satisfying, giving fans the Avengers dosage they demand. "Age of Ultron" manages to improve on its predecessor in numerous ways, smartly building on its foundation of trial and error.