We knew that “Avengers 2: Age of Ultron” was going to be darker than its predecessor, but by how much?  Not too much, I’d say.

The film thrusts us into the action with the team in a heated battle.  Their mission is successful.  Back at Avengers Tower, Tony Stark convinces Bruce Banner to help him create a new Artificial Intelligence.  The duo successfully created Ultron, but he doesn’t waste any time before taking control, declaring his intent of bringing about the Avengers’ “extinction.”  His body is destroyed, but it’s too late. After entering the internet, he creates a new body and takes over Stark’s Iron Man army.

One noticeable thing in this movie is the improved CGI, especially with the Hulk.  His CGI elements are just as dark as the movie.  When his muscles grow, the effects pronounce it.  His facial expressions are more twisted at times.  There isn’t much difference, but just enough.  We also get to see Hulk do a transformation back into Banner.  Though not perfect, it’s impressive nonetheless.

The film’s darker elements come into play most prominently with Ultron, whose original purpose is twisted so that he works towards humanity’s destruction.  Where Loki took his villainous role seriously while still having fun with it, Ultron spares little time while working towards his goal.  The stakes are higher as well, with the final conflict being a life-or-death game of “Capture the Flag.”  They are also for the team itself, as tensions within the team start building early on.  These divisions come to an intense climax that outclasses the last film.

This movie gives more food for thought than the first film, as Ultron’s entire mission is based on the idea that human beings must be destroyed.  The line between good and evil blurs throughout the film, forcing our heroes to give serious thought to whether they are good guys or bad guys.

Newcomers Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch work with Ultron to get revenge against Stark, whose weapons killed their parents when they were children.  Another newcomer becomes the antithesis of the blurred line between good and evil.  The contrast between his moral absolutism and the ambiguity of the others sets everyone straight and sets up one of the funniest moments in the movie.

There is only one real complaint to have about this movie: they paired Banner with Black Widow.  While some of their interactions help to bring the aforementioned themes in the film into focus, this pairing is otherwise pointless.  The Hawkeye x Black Widow teasing in the last film doesn’t help, especially when Hawkeye reveals that he has a family, which comes as a slap in the face for the shippers.
That being said, this movie is not quite perfect, but it’s still just what you’d expect of a Marvel film of this magnitude.  While it’s darker than its predecessor, it’s still The Avengers.  While the first film focused on doing something unprecedented, “Avengers 2” focuses on being a Marvel film.  And neither is less superb for it.