Movie Review: Avengers: Infinity War
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
Marvel Studios has accomplished something seemingly impossible. They have created an entire universe full of franchises that ebb and flow with excitement for not only the team-up films, but the solo efforts as well. The idea started ten years ago with Iron Man (2008), a blockbuster that is about as standalone as it gets until its post-credits scene. There, we meet Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and he tells Tony Stark (who is but a surrogate for the audience) that there is an “Avengers Initiative.” The seed was planted, but it didn’t fully bloom until four years later when Marvel unleashed The Avengers (2012). Not only did that film pay off elements established in the five films that came before it, but it also laid the groundwork for everything that came after. The Avengers raised the profile for every Marvel character and resulted in each of the solo sequels earning more at the box office. Marvel Studios created a cycle (which they call phases) where audiences could follow their favorite characters in their own movies, then introduce new characters, and see them team up in bigger films. They perfected what comic book readers love about comics, and now it seems movie audiences love this type of storytelling too.
More so than say Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) or Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War feels like the true culmination of the eighteen films that came before it. Nearly every protagonist seen in the previous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films makes an appearance in this gargantuan film. In what could have been a daunting task for any director (or in this case, directors), Anthony and Joe Russo once again nail the spirit of an MCU movie while balancing an enormous cast of wide-ranging characters.
Thanos says it best, “Perfectly balanced, as all things should be,” and while he’s talking about the vision he has for the fate of the universe, he could be referring to the approach the Russo Brothers took with this movie. The directing duo, also responsible for Captain America: The Winter Solider (2014) and the aforementioned Captain America: Civil War, balance a universe-sprawling epic plot with plenty of heart, humor, and big budget thrills that is sure to leave any viewer floored. They aren’t afraid to take risks either as Infinity War is truly one of the most shocking MCU films to date and will likely leave more than a few viewers gutted by the time the credits roll.
This film, more than any other in recent memory, must be experienced more so than read about. A plot summary or synopsis will not do the grand scope the Russo brothers were trying to accomplish justice, but the set-up is simple: Thanos (Josh Brolin) wants to gather all six Infinity Stones (five of which have been seen in other MCU movies such as The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World [2013], Guardians of the Galaxy [2014], Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Doctor Strange [2016]) so he can wipe out half the galaxy with the snap of his fingers. Heroes like Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), and the various Guardians of the Galaxy don’t like the sound of that, so they try to stop the Mad Titan from gathering all the stones. There’s a lot of characters doing a lot of things, so those who have kept up with the MCU thus far will have a leg up on those who haven’t been doing so. The filmmakers assume you have seen most of the other movies so they spend little to no time defining the characters, which is fine since that’s what the other movies were for. This truly is the ultimate payoff of a decade worth of films and it rewards fans ten-fold. In fact, the bigger the fan you are of the MCU, the more you are going to get out of this movie, which is another way of saying that this might not be a great jumping off point for those who have never seen a MCU movie.
The story is sprawling and epic in every way imaginable, but it’s also remarkable how each character still feels the same from their previous installments. For example, heading into the film I was slightly nervous about how the Guardians of the Galaxy were going to come off since they weren’t being written by James Gunn, who had done the two Guardians films. That worry was unfounded as the Guardians as they were in their own movies, and kind of steal the show. That holds true for the rest of the characters as Marvel has truly mastered how to transition their characters from solo movies to the team-up films almost seamlessly. It’s not only a treat for any fan to watch, but it’s also immensely rewarding. Character arcs from other films pay off in big ways—especially when it comes to Thor. This is impressive when they are essentially introducing the character of Thanos. Yes, we have seen Thanos in other films before this, but this is the first time we get to know the character, and he’s arguably the lead of the film. It goes back to how well-balanced the film is that the Russo brothers can afford every character their own moment to shine while also giving Thanos the proper introduction and arc he deserves. Brolin absolutely kills it as Thanos as he nails the overwhelming power of the character while also playing the character with subtly and nuances that aren’t usually seen in a comic-book villain. He isn’t mustache twirling or overly dramatic, he just believes that this is what needs to be done and he’s the only one who can do it.
Josh Brolin as Thanos in “Avengers: Infinity War.” Photo by null – © null
Lots of people go to these movies for the big budget spectacle, and the Russo brothers make sure that those people will not be disappointed. The film has numerous action set pieces, all with varying levels of scale, which keep them from all feeling the same. There’s some action moments with two or three characters, and then there’s the epic war-sized action scenes, both of which are handled expertly by the directors. The two showed that they could do more grounded fight scenes in Winter Solider, then proved they could handle group battles in Civil War, and then doubled-down to make Infinity War. The action is clever and fast-paced with characters in groups we have never seen before. Every character has a moment to shine, once again bringing it back to the film’s unbelievable balance. Thanos proves to be a unique challenge for the Avengers and the film features many clever ways as to how they attack the mighty villain. There’s fun to be had, but the film does start to struggle with how and when to show all the action. There’s essentially two climaxes happening at the same time and the film cuts between the two without much reasoning, even at times undermining some key moments. It’s all in service of telling the larger-scale story, but it does show that there is at least some validity in the argument of this film being simply too big.
That is an incredibly minor road bump in what is one truly incredible ride the Russo brothers expertly guide MCU fans on. Avengers: Infinity War could have been a hot mess with too many characters and the weight of 18 previous films crushing the overall enjoyment of one movie, but the outcome is the complete opposite. Avengers: Infinity War is fun and thrillingly zips through its 156-minute running time and features an ending that shows the MCU can still deliver the audience high stakes indeed. The bigger fan of the MCU you are, the more enjoyment you will take from Avengers: Infinity War, but even mild fans will enjoy the sheer scope of the film. It’s a gigantic ride that will leave you breathless and anxious for Avengers 4.
Scott Davis
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