Avengers: Infinity War – Review
Thanos is here. At last, the buildup which has commenced over the past 10 years dating to the first Iron Man movie in 2008 and with 18 films leads to this moment. Early on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe though there was a clear connection of events, no one could have predicted just how intertwined these heroes would become.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (who previously directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War), Avenger: Infinity War comprises the largest and most spectacular ensemble cast ever put together. Almost all the heroes are together this time around including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Tom Hiddleston, Zoe Saldana, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle . . . the list goes on and on.
The majority of the infinity stones have made appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe dating back to the phase one films. Even a single stone is capable of providing immeasurable power and destruction. The titan Thanos has previously elected to work behind the scenes to try and acquire the infinity stones. After multiple failed attempts dealing with others, he finally decides to take it upon himself. He has had a gauntlet constructed which was designed to hold all six infinity stones and he sets on on a mission to retrieve them all in what will be the most epic struggle the Avengers, or anyone, has ever gone through.
The Avengers meanwhile are somewhat in disarray. The events of Captain America: Civil War has left the team fragmented, with many members missing as fugitives, not to mention the fact that the separation was not exactly on good terms. Meanwhile, Thor and the Hulk have been off planet on their own adventures. Can the Avengers reassemble? If so, will they be enough?
The brilliance of Avengers: Infinity War begins with the setup. The film does not need to spend the first 60-90 minutes setting up the conflict because the past 18 films have already set it up. The power of the infinity stones have already been demonstrated on an individual basis. This allows the film to hit the ground running – which it does, including game-changing events which occur before the title screen is displayed.
Thanos and the Infinity War are exactly what the Avengers needed. They have already banded together multiple times for your average “take over the planet” type of peril. This type of menace would no longer suffice. Something bigger is needed which Thanos is perfectly happy to oblige.
Character development which has been ongoing for the past decade begins to undergo the final hardening. Plot lines years in the making begin to reach climax. It’s no secret that Avengers: Infinity War is not the end, but rather the beginning of the end. The film keeps you racked to your seat as you watch the end enfold. Moments which could have stood alone as the climactic event of prior films, occur frequently and shockingly. To quote one of the heroes “We’re in the end game now” and while it is currently impossible know how the universe will be left, the next Avengers movie is surely one of the most anticipated films of all time.