Recharge your suits, man your battle stations, get your swing, and aim your arrows. Avengers Assemble! Age of Ultron reviewed.

Here comes the team of mortals and gods fighting side by side to protect Earth from any who wish it harm. As Avengers (2012) took the world by storm we cannot expect any less from Joss Whedon's sequel. Promising more action, more emotion and more characters, could Age of Ultron reign supreme or would it crumple down in shame? Let's explore.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe saw light with it's first entry 'Iron Man' back in 2008 and built its way, slowly adding in new characters and movies leading up to the big event that was 2012's 'Avengers'. Divided by phases they each have a beginning and a relative end, with a few movies creating small story arcs of sorts. While the 'Avengers' (2012) marked the end of phase 2, 'Iron Man 3' (2013) marked the beginning of phase 2, which closes with 'Ant-Man' (2015) right after 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' (2015), and phase 3 set to start with 'Captain America: Civil War' (2016) and end with 'Inhumans' (2019). The most notable thing within these phases are the tones in story and character development. Phase 2 deals with much more emotional storylines and slightly darker themes, and with the teasing of phase 3 we can expect much more.

When we last left off in 'Avengers' (2012) Loki and his army had been defeated by the Avengers, and taken back to Asgard, while we saw the repercussions of the events on the lives of the Avengers and their personal battles in their standalone movies. Tony had gotten rid of the arc reactor in his chest and gotten all the shrapnel out. Steve had fought off the Winter Soldier and so on, while we were introduced formally to the Infinity Stones and the power they possess in 'The Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014).

In 'Age of Ultron', Stark and Banner find an Artificial Intelligence source and apply it to Stark's Ultron Program. Ultron a sentient being, decides to turn against his maker and humanity and wreak havoc and enlist in a mission to run the human race to extinction as a means of achieving true peace. ‘Age of Ultron’ feels like an honest and commendable sequel. The writing has made room for more action, understandable as you build on from the previous movie which was a more setting up scenario. Also very well directed, Joss Whedon shines again. With certain elements working better than the previous installment and certain elements not so much, I cannot say which without heading to spoiler territory.

Almost all of the previous cast returns with new members added, Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson joining as Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, Paul Bettany moving on to the role of the Vision from Jarvis. And a cameo from Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaw. And finally James Spader as Ultron.

The score by Brian Tyler however falls short, he did well for ‘Iron Man 3’, ‘Thor: The Dark World’ and ‘Furious 7’, however here 2012’s “Avenger’s” Alan Silvestri feels utterly needed.

All in all Age of Ultron works for what it is, and is a great sequel to the original Ensemble superhero movie. Age of Ultron is currently screening at Majestic Superior, Majestic Platinum, Empire Delux and Liberty Lite in 3D.

Reviewed by Aasif Faiz