Following a prolonged battle, the Avengers capture von Strucker and retrieve the Sceptre, but the twins escape.īack at the laboratory, Iron Man and the Hulk are intrigued by the power of a crystal embedded in the Sceptre. Together the twins are capable of testing the Avengers to their limits. These superhumans include orphaned twins Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who can manipulate matter and control minds, and her twin brother Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who can move at speeds faster than the eye can see. Von Strucker has been using an ancient Asgard relic called the Sceptre to transform human subjects into superhumans.

The movie begins with them attacking the stronghold of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann). Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye is a particular standout.Avengers: Age of Ultron brings the Avengers team together again – Iron Man (Robert Downey Junior), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). This is where Whedon really shines: Banter feels realistic but screwbally at the same time, which helps keep the film fresh throughout its 2 hour, 21-minute run time. The film is, in general, much funnier than previous Marvel films, too, and up to par with 'Guardians of the Galaxy' in terms of jerky humor, particularly when it comes to dialogue. Some of the film's quieter moments offer glimpses into these characters we've never seen before - and it helps us understand why they're heroic, not just superpowered. Taking stances on these big issues is inherent to The Avengers' various personalities, and it's another big reason why 'Age of Ultron' exceeds the original: The characters are much more opinionated, more human, and therefore likable.

(This political tension will come to fruition in next year's Marvel film, 'Captain America: Civil War,' where Captain America and Iron Man famously go at it after legislation is passed requiring all superheroes register their identities with the government.)

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