*Mild Spoilers Alert*
With the biggest box office opening weekend in North American history, the first installment of the Avengers series showed the world that the main players of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) could be tied to together on screen in a cohesive and explosive way. The second installment does the same, but it leaves us wondering what could have been.
Age of Ultron begins with heroics enough to placate even the most rabid action junkie. The team dynamic is as strong as ever, as we see the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), skillfully bang, smash, shoot, bob, duck, and weave through their enemies, reminding us just why we fell in love with The Avengers in the first place.
The story begins with their attempt to end the super-villainous organization HYDRA, by assaulting their last base and capturing its leader, Baron Von Strucker. After briefly facing off against legions of HYDRA henchmen, and two of the film's main antagonists, Pietro (Aaron Tayler-Johnson), and Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). These super-powered terrorist twins are bent on exacting revenge on The Avengers for past wrongdoings, and the team recovers Loki's Scepter (used by Thor's demented demigod brother Loki in the first Avengers movie).
The main plot line then begins when, after returning to Avenger Headquarters in New York City, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner secretly use the power of Loki's Scepter to jumpstart an Artificial Intelligence program aimed at providing the world with extra protection against cosmic misfortune. In this, the titular villain, Ultron, is born, entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe in grand, grimy geared fashion.
The execution of a movie's primary antagonist can make or break a film. Luckily for the Avengers, James Spader's Ultron is every bit entrancing as he is unsettling. Created as a twisted reflection of Tony Stark , Ultron is equal parts witty and brutish, putting him in league with Captain America's hauntingly devilish Winter Soldier in terms of screen presence. James Spader absolutely dominates the fight for your attention in every scene that he is in, making you wish for more, even as the film draws to its close.
The plot line itself follows the typical superhero mold with little in the way of surprise or shock value, leaving it to the characters, dialogue, and action to hold your attention. And hold your attention it does, as each character is given the opportunity to shine through new backstory insights, and impressively choreographed action scenes (Hulk vs. the Hulkbuster would put the five-year-old you in an excitement induced coma).
Captain America is still as out-of-place in time, Thor still smashes things and Tony Stark is still condescendingly charming. Even the Hulk/Bruce Banner feels authentic in this movie. Hawkeye, who spent most of the first Avengers movie under Loki's mind control, is given an opportunity to prove himself in this movie, setting aside any questions you may have had about his usefulness to the team.
Marvel's newer characters like the Maximoff twins and The Vision (Paul Bettany) are given their time in the limelight as well, providing a breath of fresh air to a film that is choked with references to older material and past features. The Vision, in particular, is an exciting addition to the Avengers roster, issuing an air of mystery that will keep fans eager to see what Marvel will make of him.
It should definitely be noted that for those versed in Marvel lore, it becomes glaringly obvious that Age of Ultron is the setup for the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as certain plot lines and references are introduced rather suddenly, or are left hanging awkwardly in the fray (here's looking at you, Thor). References to upcoming Marvel features are littered all over, and they can sometimes bring you out of the film. If the terms, "Wakanda", and "Infinity Stones" mean anything to you, you may have trouble taking Ultron completely seriously.
Regardless of your level of experience with Marvel Universe, however, the plot line of the story will feel rather condensed, with gaps in logic and reason appearing frequently (Nick Fury, please stand up). Age of Ultron connects the events of the last phase of Marvel films well (Captain America: The Winter Soldier being the lead-up to this film), but suffers thematically as it attempts to balance the weight of the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe on its shoulders. More than once I caught myself wondering if director Joss Whedon sacrificed a strong plot line for future Marvel movie setups.
