The Avengers are back and are bringing the summer blockbuster movie season with them.

Director, Joss Whedon was given an incredibly large task; top The Avengers. Is it even possible to top one of the highest grossing and beloved comic book movies ever made with characters that have been developed since the original Iron Man back in 2008? Ultron moves the Marvel cinematic universe (MCU) forward, develops characters and is a non-stop adrenaline thrill ride. From the opening action sequence to a battle for earth once again, this movie doesn’t disappoint but it falls slightly short of surpassing of the original.

Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner are back together and their chemistry has never been better. They have become a highly successful team and with any growing group, they are dealing with internal conflict as they become more powerful. This movie doesn’t shy away from conflict and embraces it. This brings in a darker tone to the film compared to the original and it adds a layer of complexity and depth to this cinematic comic book realm. Despite a more intense villain and storyline, the humor that has become a Marvel signature is still a major part of the movie. This sequel has terrifying moments and can have the audience laughing out loud the next minute.

Ultron is even able to improve on things that weren’t well received in the first Avengers. Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) move from being side characters into a more front and center role. Renner especially brings new life into Hawkeye and shows why a human with a bow and arrow can be part of a team that has Thor in the lineup.

Fans and critics alike because of lack-luster villains, with the exception of Loki, have criticized Marvel repeatedly but Ultron exceeds all exceptions. James Spader is simply terrifying as the artificial intelligence entity known as Ultron. Spader brings layers of personality to his portrayal of Ultron and shows his acting range through his voice performance and motion capture. Ultron is terrifying one moment and witty the next. This is not a one-dimensional villain and Spader was the perfect casting choice to bring this character to life.

Newcomers, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Quicksilver) and Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlett Witch), who play the enhanced twins, develop as the film goes on but at first their introduction seems rushed and their accents are off putting. Taylor-Johnson plays the lightning-fast Quicksilver, which was also a main character in the recent X-Men: Days of Future Past played by Evan Peters. Compassions between the two are unavoidable but Taylor-Johnson owned the role and made it his own. He brought a level of depth to his character and the chemistry between him and Olsen seemed natural. The twins are not the only new characters in Ultron, also featured is Andy Serkis and Paul Bettany. Bettany, who has voiced Jarvis in the MCU, expands his role within the universe and steals the movie with his performance.

The biggest problem with Avengers: Age of Ultron is that the first film set the bar so astronomically high. The sequel has to compete against itself. In the first Avengers, we see the “dream team” of heroes assemble, that moment can never be recreated but now we are moving forward on a new journey; a journey that has been carefully laid out by the masterminds behind the MCU. Everything, every detail, is all leading up to a war that will go well beyond this world and into infinity.

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Image courtesy of INFphoto.com