Avengers: Age of Ultron

Joss Whedon (2015)

135min

12A Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Jeremy Aspinall

Following the break-up of SHIELD in Captain America: the Winter Soldier, Marvel's superhero A-team returns with a vengeance in this exhilarating sequel. In a rousing opening, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and co take the fight to Hydra in a battle that's worthy of a war movie. But a more powerful adversary soon emerges in the robotic shape of Ultron (chillingly voiced by James Spader), whose ultimate aim is to destroy humanity. It doesn't help that he's a Tony Stark experiment gone rogue, whose insider knowledge allows his allies, the Maximoff twins (Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen - "he's fast, she's weird"), to take the Avengers apart from within. It's then full mayhem ahead, including a humdinger of a punch-up between a bulked-up Iron Man and a rampaging Hulk that makes the Thor/Hulk tussle from Avengers Assemble look like a tiff in a teacup. However, director Joss Whedon is just as interested in what makes his characters tick than how they throw a shield or a hammer - the burgeoning relationship between Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) is given particularly sensitive treatment. Although there are some longueurs when Whedon feels bound to plot a pathway to Marvel's next tranche of potential blockbusters, the witty repartee between stars at ease in their superhero skin leavens the odd lull. And then there's the first appearance of the enigmatic Vision (Paul Bettany). But will he be saviour or sinner? A literally earth-shattering climax, in which not everyone remains unscathed, reveals all.

Summary

The superhero team faces a threat from within when Iron Man creates an artificial intelligence to take their place protecting the world. The android grows resentful of his creators, and decides his mission is best accomplished by wiping out the human race. Meanwhile, two vengeful superpowered twins seek to turn the Avengers against each other. Sci-fi adventure sequel, starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson.

Cast & Crew

Tony Stark / Iron Man Robert Downey Jr

Thor Chris Hemsworth

Bruce Banner / Hulk Mark Ruffalo

Steve Rogers / Captain America Chris Evans

Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow Scarlett Johansson

Clint Barton / Hawkeye Jeremy Renner

Nick Fury Samuel L Jackson

Pietro Maximoff / Quicksilver Aaron Johnson

Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch Elizabeth Olsen

Jarvis / The Vision Paul Bettany

Ultron James Spader

Colonel James Rhodes / War Machine Don Cheadle

Maria Hill Cobie Smulders

Baron Wolfgang von Strucker Thomas Kretschmann

Ulysses Klaue Andy Serkis

Heimdall Idris Elba

Erik Selvig Stellan Skarsgård

Peggy Carter Hayley Atwell

Laura Linda Cardellini

Thanos Josh Brolin

Dr Helen Cho Claudia Kim

Sam Wilson / Falcon Anthony Mackie

Madame B Julie Delpy

Hulk Lou Ferrigno

Veteran Stan Lee

Dr List Henry Goodman

Zrinka Dominique Provost-Chalkley

Friday Kerry Condon

Director Joss Whedon

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: DisneyGuidance: Some violence and swearingAvailable on: DVD and Blu-rayReleased on: 24 Apr 2015

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Joss Whedon (2015)

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