Step up, Avengers junkies, and see the summer 2015 blockbuster that you’ve been waiting for since 2012. Like the first Avengers movie, “Age of Ultron” tries to stuff part of the Marvel universe (past, present and… future?) into one movie. The character overload may leave newbies dazed and confused. But fans are in for an exhilarating rush. Director Joss Whedon returns to the game he started successfully a few years ago (the numbers speak for themselves) and he does himself proud. I’m not saying his new film is superior to its predecessor (it’s not), but I had a great time watching it. It’s everything a comic-book superhero movie could hope to be: funny, exciting and even dark at times. So what happens this time around? Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) has messed up. His peacekeeping program, Ultron (motion-captured and voiced brilliantly by James Spader), has turned against him and is intent on destroying every human on the planet. So naturally it’s up to Team Avengers, including Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans) Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) to save the day. Downey has set the bar high and inspired his colleagues to play at the same level. There’s no weak link here as everyone gets a chance to shine (and even crack a joke or two). Best of all, Whedon brings on a few newbies. There’s the twins, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). No way am I spilling more. But I will say that Iron Man and The Hulk have a potent face-to-face and that Ultron’s entrance is a wowser. OK, maybe “Age of Ultron” is merely a stopgap between Part 1 and the upcoming “Infinity War”. But it’s also a movie that uses action to define character and has the skills to make you care about each and every character in this huge Marvel universe. Whedon gives us all of that and more, in a film that clocks in at well over two hours but never seems long. Now that’s something worth calling spectacular.
Rating: 3/4



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