Warning: The following contains spoilers that are not suitable for naïve readers.
The Avengers: Age of Ultron contains everything one could expect. Action, explosions, the Avengers joining together in spite of insurmountable odds and a fairly predictable plot. Though the villain is different anatomically, he is similar to the previous villain in many ways, including his plan to destroy the world. In place of an alien army, a robot army assembled by the first artificially intelligent robot battles the Avengers in the final scene. However, Age of Ultron keeps it exciting by adding some new elements, including a new direction for the franchise.
Initially joining Ultron (voiced by James Spader) are Wanda and Pietro Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson respectively), twins who were enhanced with powers. Fired by rage from their parents deaths that they blame on Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), the twins form an effective team against the Avengers. However, upon discovering Ultron’s true intentions when reading his mind, the twins turn on him and join the Avengers. Pietro Maximoff, also known as Quicksilver, dies while valiantly saving Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) from the spray of bullets. His sister Wanda continues the fight and vows to become an Avenger. Another hero forged to battle Ultron is the Vision (Paul Bettany). The Vision is Stark’s computer program incarnate. Using the power of an infinity stone, Stark transferred JARVIS to a physical body. Only with the help of all these new heroes are the Avengers able to stop Ultron. After the dramatic defeat of Ultron, several members of the Avengers decide to part ways. Hawkeye promises to give up avenging in order to spend more time with his young family. The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) leaves after people discovered the true extent of his rage induced powers. Iron Man also expresses his desire to “settle down.” That leaves Captain America (Chris Evans) and the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) to train the new rag tag team of Avengers. The stage is set for a new installment of Avengers.
Age of Ultron followed the formula of the first movie in many ways. However, it added enough new characters and features to keep the movie interesting and fun. Most importantly, the movie prepared the franchise for the future.
