Strong, heroic superhero sequel with plenty of swagger

Rating: 7/10 (26 April 2015)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the most impressive film franchises ever created and is by now a living, breathing world. Ignoring the bland villains, dull love stories and occasional quality dip, which it is thankfully easy to do thanks to the high standard, the MCU can continue for as long as it likes. Phase 2 more or less concludes as the Avengers, who are individually fascinating, combined they're cooler than Indiana Jones at the South Pole and more powerful than The Green Mile, face another villain which Iron Man accidentally creates. Avengers Age of Ultron is not a sequel without faults. Although the film kills someone off, it's no-one major and there aren't any real risks. The mid credits scene is a bit disappointing, it doesn't set up later films, especially the hugely exciting upcoming Civil War, and feels like just another all out superhero brawl and goes down the Empire Strikes Back dark sequel route but doesn't actually do anything with it. Still, Marvel shows they still have skill, and this soon to be box office juggernaut deserves to be one.
Joss Whedon proves a very good director once again, and the film includes an incredible long take in the opening, smooth and coherent cinematography and many genuinely beautiful moments of superhero madness. Robert Downey Jr. is still excellent as Iron Man, while with Chris Evans it's hard to believe that's the same guy who played that tiresome Human Torch in those Fantastic Four cheese sandwiches. Mark Ruffalo is very good as well, as is all of the others. Samuel L Jackson is still working wonders as Nick Fury. The spectacle is smashing, but there is a soul as well. The superheroes are characters you care about and there are some thought provoking themes of hubris in here too. The special effects and naturally spectacular and the script is well written, although a few more of the jokes which Whedon does so well would have been appreciated. The villain surprisingly doesn't suck, the girlfriends aside from the actually entertaining Black Widow are thankfully absent and the new additions are worth it. Aaron Taylor Jonhson partially redeems himself for Godzilla. Overall, a good though not great blockbuster, and a more than adequate follow up for the excellent original.
8/10