Marvel Really Knows How To "Up The Ante".

Rating: 7/10 (26 April 2015)

Three years later and the team returns. Come to see this movie completely up to date with the story, because "Avengers: Age of Ultron" barely gives you time to breath among its many spectacular action sequences that start even before the opening credits. Die hard fans will love that all the main characters and supporting heroes make an appearance, and by the end you'll definitely be excited for what is to come before the 2 part finale in 2018 & 2019.
An unspecified time has passed since the events of the first movie, and the Avengers have learnt to somewhat bounce off each other and utilise the best of each others powers significantly. Among various missions across the globe, they storm across compounds with enough various technologies from previous movies that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) can finally work upon the "Ultron" initiative. Like any comic book narrative, things are jumped into too hastily and suddenly plans to attempt world peace and security could ultimately lead to its extinction.
Those familiar with the comic books know that "Ant-Man", famously created "Ultron" (A character who is about to receive his own anticipated film release in a couple months). However the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been doing its own setup for a while now, and they've flawlessly worked their choices into a movie that definitely does justice to the destructive capabilities "Ultron" is known to be capable of. Joss Whedon returns from directing the first movie and I really enjoyed the speed and pauses they've incorporated into this lengthy movie, considering that while I still enjoyed the first movie I also felt like I was watching an episode of "Firefly" in terms of patient waiting (FYI, "Firefly" is a truly great show). Some of the action is a little obstructed from being so up close, but the particular sequences and outcomes will guarantee to leave you enthralled.
"Age of Ultron" has its slow and tender moments also. Nothing that falls into overall cheese, but some stuff incorporated feels a little underdeveloped or unnecessary (The "flashback" sequences were a nice touch). Ultron is voiced and motion captured very well by the always charming James Spader, whose villainy is somewhat established right from the very start and I found that a little jarring. The only two downsides I saw (As a fan) is that I wish they had somewhat introduced a naive mind that eventually turns evil (A later introduction of a certain fan-favourite android was handled this way perfectly), and that they incorporated the design of Ultron from the comics onto the main "body". Alas we have the somewhat face we've seen similar to the "Transformer" movies, but his minions have the comic book look so I was happy nonetheless to see it somewhat done. Regardless, James Spader did wonders for the part, and brought a real presence to one of Marvel's most memorable foes.
Final Verdict: It was loud and extremely fast, and surprisingly that wasn't really a bad thing this time around. Every actor and character new and old delivers greatly, and the footage from the trailers of the last previous months lived up to the hype and more. The 3-D felt a little unnecessary for the many dark sequences of the film, and I don't think you'd be missing anything regardless. But all in all, "The Avengers" are most definitely back for a superior follow up. It's gonna gross unfathomable amounts of money, and by the time the credits roll I was more than happy with the intelligent directions taken and the foreseeable future of the series as always looks promising. 7/10.