Quickie Movie Review: "Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther"

Rated: PG-13 for intense action violence
Starring: Justin Gross, Grey DeLisle, and Michael Massee
Released: August 8, 2006

Synopsis: In this sequel to Ultimate Avengers, the fictional African country of Wakanda is under attack by aliens.  When their leader is killed, his son and the villagers try to defend their homeland...but their weapons are not enough.  The Avengers, who have dealt with this same threat before, are called in to help...but, even with all their powers and abilities, will they be able to vanquish the threat they once thought long gone?
Based on Marvel's The Ultimates.

My Review (Warning: Spoilers!): Can a sequel be better than the original? Maybe sometimes, but, not in this case.  Most of this movie is on par with the previous outing; same great animation, same amazing action sequences, same voice actors, most of the same content concerns.  It almost feels like the next episode of a television show, which is funny when you realize how much this film and its prequel have in common with Disney XD's The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes cartoon.  However, I found the ending a bit depressing; though the heroes triumph, Giant-Man is killed.  That, to me, was an unnecessary plot point.  Other than that, I enjoyed it.

Content Concerns:

• Sex: Kissing. 4/5
• Nudity: Bare midriffs, shirtless guys, and cleavage, the latter of which is made rather sultry at times. 3/5
• Language: None. 5/5
• Violence: The movie starts with the leader of an African country being killed, which is a bit bloody.  Other scenes feature the heroes, other humans, and the aliens punching, kicking, shooting at, etc., each other quite frequently.  Blood is seen in a few of these sequences, as well.  The film ends with the death of one of the heroes. 2/5
• Drugs: Wine is consumed. 4/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: Along with the violence mentioned above, the aliens are rather scary looking, and there is quite a bit of emotional intensity, especially after the two characters die. 1/5

Score: 3/5