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Next up in the "Marvel-thon" is the second best sequel in Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that is Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Following a mission in Eastern Europe where the Avengers retrieve Loki's scepter from an enemy lab, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner examine the stone powering it. They find that it contains artificial intelligence, which they use to create Ultron, an intended worldwide peacekeeping program. Ultron gains sentience and steals the scepter, believing his purpose can only be achieved through destroying humanity. The Avengers must reassemble in order to stop him.
What Worked: The returning cast continue to play off each other very well. One thing that is done better than the first movie is the development of Hawkeye. He even addresses something that involved him in the first movie in one of several great quotes.
As for the new characters, the first ones to mention are Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, twins subjected to experiments using the scepter that the Avengers discover in the opening. Pietro has super speed, and Wanda is a telekinetic who can also use mind control. They are played respectively by Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass) and Elizabeth Olsen. They feel like siblings because they look after and help each other.
Then there is Andy Serkis in a small role as Ulysses Klaue, an arms dealer who has history with Tony Stark back when he was making weapons. Even though he's not in the movie that much, he's really good here. The reason for his small role in this: setting up a larger part in the MCU's soon-to-be-latest movie.
Before I get to Ultron himself, this movie has a grey area, like Captain America: The Winter Soldier did. There's a character here that is familiar, but gains a new identity. The only difference is that here, it takes place over the course of one movie, rather than having happened in between two.
As for Ultron, he may actually be a better villain than Loki. They both have an army, but with Ultron and his army of robots, he can just copy himself into the body of a drone, so he presents more of a challenge. No matter how many drones the Avengers take out, as long as he's around to control them, there's no chance of stopping him. Plus, James Spader's performance makes Ultron one of the highlights here*.
Outside of the cast, another positive for me is the visuals, an example being the new tech some of the Avengers have. Iron Man uses a specialized suit in what's possibly the best action scene in the movie. Captain America's shield is now magnetically linked to his gauntlets, so he can throw it and summon it back to him. Black Widow has upgrades to her suit, and Hawkeye has a new cartridge that loads multiple arrows.
The action is also very good here, with even the new characters having some satisfying moments. The sequences here show that the villain's plan is not the only thing they have to prevent.
The next positive is the tone. The movie may have some lighthearted scenes, but there are a fair amount where it gets dark, like with Ultron's introduction; it feels somewhat creepy. Other examples include some characters' backstories being addressed, as well as potential foreshadowing of bigger things to come.
I also liked how Ultron was chosen to be the villain in this movie. He's a good example of what I call a "second-movie villain." Loki didn't seem too overpowering, so he was a threat the heroes could easily handle. With Ultron, his plan will really test the heroes' ability to overcome him. Then the stakes will get even higher with a villain where the heroes may have just met their match, and with that the tone gets even darker.
What Didn't Work: There is a subplot that comes out of nowhere, having not been hinted at in any previous movie at all. I understand what its purpose is, but there were probably more effective ways of approaching it.
The writing and direction by Joss Whedon aren't as strong as in the first movie. Sometimes the humor, while it does work, can distract from the tone.
The score by Brian Tyler (this time accompanied by Danny Elfman) is good, but doesn't feel as impactful as the score by Alan Silvestri in the first one.
Overall: In spite of its flaws, Avengers: Age of Ultron is still a very good movie. It's not as good as the first one, but that's a tough act to follow, considering how much of a landmark in the superhero genre it was. However, it does have a better villain and better character development. It also sets up some interesting new characters and foreshadows a turning point for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While there is still a Stan Lee cameo in this movie, there is only a mid-credits scene this time. All I'll say is this: it continues to build towards something big.
*The same can be said for another movie I hope to talk about soon as part of a new editorial, so look out for that.