Avengers: Age of Ultron

After their first big get-together, Earth's Mightiest Heroes have found a way to top themselves. That way is to just add more to their cinematic universe. The end result is called Avengers: Age of Ultron.

The cinematic Marvels open the film by raiding the remnants of Hydra, itself the remnants of the Third Reich. Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) leaves with the scepter that the Asgardian villain Loki used in the last film. He and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) use its gem to complete the AI Ultron, "a suit of armor around the world" guarding humanity against Alien threats.

Ultron (James Spader) gets second thoughts about his mission, gives himself a physical form and sets out to eradicate humanity. Naturally, the Avengers aren't pleased with what Iron Man did, especially not Captain America (Chris Evans). But Tony's loyal AI, JARVIS (Paul Bettany), maybe a big help to stop the cybernetic villain.

Once again with writer/director Joss Whedon, The Avengers have another Marvelous cinematic adventure. There's plenty of quips and banter from the characters even during battle. They even have time to develop characters outside of battle, especially Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and newcomers Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen). It was a good mixture between story and action.

There's plenty of on-screen action waiting for you on either 3D or Flatscreen formats. There's much to behold from the opening assault on the Hydra base to the Hulk and Iron Man fight. There were a few obvious CGI shots, but those were the minority. One particular character appeared to be a motion-capture creation, but he was really a mix of that and prosthetic makeup.

The film fits so much in its 141 minute time-frame. How much time it devotes to its story elements may make or break the film. For example, the re-emergence of Hydra was the key sequel hook of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and they're taken out in the first half-hour. Whedon's original cut was much longer; perhaps we'll see that on home media.

But what we got on-screen was a fun summer movie. Avengers: Age of Ultron is style and substance rolled into one. Even if it's not like the original film, this sequel is still an amazing cinematic adventure.

Be sure to stay to the mid-credits to see the set-up for the two-part sequel, Avengers: Infinity War, set for release a few years from now.