Not sure what to expect from Marvel’s latest superpowered blockbuster?  We’ve got you covered in this quick spoiler-free review.

What’s it about?

The Avengers.  Do you really need to know anything else?  Age of Ultron carries on several ongoing storylines from the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Loki’s scepter from the first Avengers movie, for instance, as well as several dangling plot threads from all of Phase 2.  This film shows Earth’s Mightiest Heroes at their best and worst, pursuing Ultron around the world to stop him from doing all sorts of evil stuff.

Is it any good?

• Absolutely brilliant!  Perfectly-pitched comedy, eye-peeling drama, snappy dialog, three-dimensional characters.  It continues on with some dangling plot threads from previous Marvel films, but feels like it’s fresh and new – not a retread.
• The familiar six Avengers are front and center, but the film also includes (by my count) three new major characters and two returning major characters from previous MCU films without seeming overstuffed or stretched too thin.
• The action scenes were thrilling and visually interesting without being gratuitous.
• I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such an amazing group of actors in one place before.  (Scarlett Johanssen deserves a special shout-out, as she delivered a bombshell of an action performance of the same caliber as we’ve come to expect of the Black Widow, and I didn’t find out until after the film that she was pregnant during the shoot.)

Bottom line: It’s a visually stunning, well-paced work that builds on what came before without being burdened by the weight of the past.

Should I see it?

Do you like superhero films?  Or just action films?  Then yes, you should.

What should I watch for?

From a Redeeming Culture perspective, there’s so much to look out for!  Follow the “monster” discussion throughout the film, and make sure you take stock of what each character’s perspective on fear is.  There’s much more, though, and I’d be interested to see your (spoiler-free!) observations below!