Rob Jefchak
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Well, it’s finally here; after ten long years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had reached its culminating storyline by bringing its penultimate villain out of the cameos and into the full centre stage: Thanos. After 18 movies, numerous superheroes and cryptic cutscenes; it has all been leading to the most epic crossover event that everyone has been waiting for since “Iron Man” first exploded onto the silver screen back in 2008. Even those not interested in the MCU or superhero movies have to recognise the mad amount of skill and collaboration this movie accomplished as there has not ever been a film that has brought together such a gathering of stars, heroes and villains. This is the eagerly anticipated review of “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Despite protecting the world, the universe and reality from countless villains; the superheroes of the Marvel universe have never faced against the true puppet master behind all of their cosmic troubles: Thanos (Josh Brolin). The galactic tyrant has been collecting the mystical Infinity stones across the universe in order to achieve an omnipotent power capable of reshaping reality itself to his twisted whim. It’s going to take every superhero in existence; working together against one unstoppable force, including the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, the Black Panther; together for the first (and possibly) the last time.
It’s hard to even begin describing or reviewing the gargantuan amount of material crammed into this nearly 3-hour epic superhero crossover event. There are so many things that can be spoiled it’s like “The Last Jedi” all over again. We’ve seen the Marvel heroes team up before in the likes of the previous Avengers movies, “Captain America: Civil War” and “Thor: Ragnarok” but never like this before. Aside from the non-stop fighting and flashy spectacles, the real core of this film is seeing the jaw-dropping reactions of the heroes interacting with each other unlike ever before and seeing what weird mash-ups work and how these guys can survive against such impossible odds. It’s such a fast and frantic film, but each scene makes full use of its star power and never spares the tension or the comedy.
In a sea of famous faces, it’s hard to narrow down the true standouts but I’d have to say Robert Downey Jr, Tom Holland, Dave Bautista and Zoe Saldana; and of course Josh Brolin. Most of the heroes bring new levels of expected comedic gold, but it’s the raw emotional depth and pain these heroes endure that truly elevates these characters and actors to outstanding new heights. People have unlawfully moaned about Marvel movie villains being one dimensional and boring (an opinion I adamantly disagree with), but none can deny the magnitude of a villain like Thanos. He is every bit the living Doomsday weapon the past Avengers films have built him up to be. His motives are maddening but not without reason or logic. He’s a character that invokes fear and power but has a purpose that Brolin delivers with a subtle intensity that is always impactful.
For a film clocking in at almost 3 hours, it sure as Hell doesn’t feel like it. There’s a constant barrage of development, action, drama and fan service delight. You never feel bored or are left wondering how can they possibly up the stakes after this fight or the next, and yet the Russo brothers do it time and time again. If there are any hurdles to overcome with this film it’s the fact that you need to have seen ALL of the previous Marvel movies for everything to make sense; otherwise, this will be a whole lot of confusion to the audience. My personal gripe comes from the sad fact that certain supporting characters lose their chance to shine due to plot movements and time constraints. The ending is without question; the most controversial finale for any Marvel movie ever.
To speak of the ending would reveal colossal spoilers and I’ve been careful not to leave any hints of what it alludes to, suffice to say though I believe the ending can be summed up in two words; the same words I’d use to describe the movie as a whole: jaw-dropping. Overall, “Avengers: Infinity War” is everything I was hoping this ten-year storyline was developing and more. It holds nothing back, fires on all cylinders and combines your favourite heroes in unforgettable ways; both in their interactions and their collective hilarity. This is a masterful achievement that defies expectations and is one of the greatest accomplishments in comic book movie history.
Jason Harris
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Jade
