Very Satisfying episode in the Avengers arc!

Rating: 8/10 (26 April 2015)

I am going to be controversial.
Joss Whedon should not direct Avengers: Infinity War.
The reason is he has created 2 perfect super hero team up films and I just do not want him to fall flat being pushed by a studio to create a third.
He should however write and produce and delegate the direction to the Russo's for the third installment. The division of labor would ensure quality as they, with The Winter Soldier, get where this should go.
Ultron is without a doubt a worthy villain, a potentially omnipotent AI that can be everywhere with an internet connection and yet also no where to be found. The conclusion he reaches regarding humanity is a little tired but the execution in this movie is so good this can be forgiven.
The development of the Avenger characters is also good to see i.e.
Iron Man, Tony stark - Should we really be doing this anymore? He clearly has PTSD from his experiences. He is having to soldier whilst never meant to have been a soldier.
Hulk, Bruce Banner - Finding it difficult to reconcile the wanton destruction and casualties, including fatalities, caused by his alter ego!
Captain America, Steve Rogers - Will the war ever be over, can I ever go 'home'. Basically deals with everything and remains a stable leadership force.
Thor, with his unique perspective realizes there are too many 'Infinity Stones' appearing and causing too much trouble over a short period of time so some greater bad must be behind it. Otherwise he remains consistent as you would expect from a God. Chris Hemsworth is the most perfect casting for this role and I hope he continues with it as long as he is able.
Hawkeye - Family man, great development here and has much more screen-time and some key moments, really would like a Hawkeye film and what comes through is his vulnerability, self sacrifice, commitment, skill and intelligence - he has no powers other than supernatural accuracy so everything else is all him, a relatively normal guy with a lot of specialist training.
Black Widow, shows a vulnerability also, carrying on that road she has created of 'yes I am a super spy/assassin, but the scales are off my eyes' and the romantic beginnings with Banner are well written.
New characters The Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and The Vision - see the movie and be impressed.
Where do they go from here? Based on the evidence of this film alone I would predict:
Andy Serkis is going to be the bad guy in 'Black Panther'.
Planet Hulk is set up not by the banishment of Bruce Banner but by the 'self imposed' banishment.
Thor will not be involved in 'Civil War' but his next movie will be the big set up for 'Infinity War' in which he will return, and be very upset with Tony Stark...................
Captain America will die in Civil War, and, em, return in 'Infinity War', and be very upset with Tony Stark...................
Tony Stark will try to make everything better whilst making everything worse and everyone will be upset with him until he redeems himself at the end of the 'Infinity War'.
I, for one, cannot wait. 8 out of 10. Loses 1 for clichéd main premise and another for not being the original Whedon cut of 3 hours, at this stage the studio needs to trust its Director and also the fact the audience loves this!