Avengers: Infinity War Movie Review (Spoiler Free)
The universe is in danger! Thanos is on the verge to find all Infinity Stones; only with the combined force of the Avengers and the Guardians can he be stopped.
Genre: Action / Fantasy / Sci-Fi
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Cast: Josh Brolin, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Don Cheadle, Danai Gurira, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Carrie Coon, Michael Shaw, Terry Notary, Benedict Wong, Tom Hiddleston, Karen Gillan, Peter Dinklage, Letitia Wright, Gwyneth Paltrow, Idris Elba, Benicio del Toro & William Hurt.
Run Time: 149 min.
US Release: 27 April 2018
UK Release: 26 April 2018
German Release: 26 April 2018
Here we are, the culmination of what has been ten years of build-up is finally in theatres. This is the movie that people all around the world have been waiting to see, ever since the first Avengers hit the silver screen and gave us a glimpse of what was to come in its mid-credit scene. The Russo brothers already proved with Captain America: Civil War that they can helm a blockbuster with a big cast. For Avengers: Infinity War, however, they needed to bring down over thirty main and side characters on screen. The question is, did they manage to pull it off?
Story-wise, this is the ballsiest, most ambitious Marvel flick that has been produced so far. It not only deals with some of the personal issues between characters, which were set-up in previous instalments but also introduces a new threat that feels real. The plot is packed with action scenes, yet, also includes quieter segments that serve to progress with the narrative, including surprising emotional moments, as well as an unexpected ending. Contrary to what the title might suggest, the plot focuses more on the villain than the heroes; this is very much Thanos his film, fleshing him out while depicting his path to power. An interesting but smart move, since the majority of the viewers are already familiar with Iron Man and co.
Tonally, it departs from the usual light-hearted atmosphere of other MCU features, following the darker ambiance set up by Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It does feel as if millions of lives are at stake, with the danger of Thanos looming like a dark shadow over the future of the universe. It still possesses the typical Marvel humour, though, that is delivered through dialogue; this is especially true when it comes to the bickering between Tony Stark and Dr. Strange or Thor and Star-Lord.
As entertaining as Infinity War is, it does have big pacing issues since the immense size of the plot demands the use of different settings, as well as the inclusion of every character of this cinematic universe. Consequently, the events happening on screen can be a little too overwhelming to process in one sitting. Fallouts from previous films need to be put mostly on hold, to proceed with the tale of Thanos and his search for the infinity stones.
Piecing this picture together has been a monumental undertaking, which makes it that more surprising that it turned out as good as it did! Containing the largest ensemble of primary and secondary characters in cinematic history, this blockbuster should feel overcrowded, but instead, it merely feels like an organic progression of Marvel’s cinematic universe. However, since it contains so many heroes and villains, I will only focus on the ones that had the most impact on the story, beginning with the main character Thanos.
Thanos is without a question the main protagonist; he is also the best Marvel villain to date! His actions are driven by the firm belief that what he is doing is serving a greater good, a goal that he is willing to reach at all cost. That, together with the fact that he genuinely thinks he is the misunderstood hero makes him much more approachable for the audience. Josh Brolin portrays him fantastically and gives the mad Titan an emotional angle no one had expected. The only problem concerning the villain is his entourage. The Children of Thanos are a real disappointment; one-dimensional characters that are easily defeated.
With the immense number of characters and the limited amount of time, not everyone managed to obtain an elaborate backstory for this picture. This is especially true of Captain America and his “Secret Avengers,” who are forced to come out of hiding. On the other hand, Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man, played once again by a brilliant Robert Downey Jr., is progressing in his relationship with Pepper Potts, when the alien invasion begins in New York. Tony’s junior apprentice Peter Parker (Tom Holland) joins the fight as Spider-Man, trying to save Dr. Strange, portrayed by the great Benedict Cumberbatch. The trio has tremendous chemistry and are hilarious as they bicker atop an alien spaceship.
Then there is Peter Quill and his Guardians of the Galaxy, who save the god of thunder from the grasps of Thanos. They do split up, though, with half of the crew going after the purple baddie. Chris Pratt returns as Quill, giving once more a memorable rendition of the character. He also proves that his character can handle himself outside of his franchise, standing side by side with other Marvel heroes. Gamora’s arc is incredibly tragic in this tale, giving her a staggering emotional depth. Drax, while having the chance to revenge his family, isn’t given much to do and Mantis is completely sidelined.
The most memorable lines are delivered by Thor, whose conversation with Rocket are some of the most tragic but also funniest of the film. The two, together with Groot, are on their way to obtain a new weapon, in the hopes that it will defeat Thanos. Bradley Cooper convinces once again as the little furry creature, while Chris Hemsworth tops his performance in Thor: Ragnarok. Both have marvellous chemistry with one another. Groot is taking a back seat in this one, as he is going through puberty and can be a little grumpy at times.
The Russo brothers upped their game since Civil War; the giant battle segments use locked cams and wide shots, to enhance the feeling of epicness. Close-ups or medium shots are used for one-on-one fights, as well as for conversations between characters, but the panoramic sequences are the most impressive ones, taking in astonishing sceneries of the surroundings. The motion capture used is impressive, Rocket Raccoon, Groot and Thanos look like real living creatures; the Hulk, on the other hand, took a surprising back seat which is explained as the plot unfolds. His fight with Thanos, however, is unforgettable.
The special effects are stunningly beautiful. Titan and Nidavellir look like existing places in the universe, while the second destruction of New York appears disturbingly real. Although the battles are well executed and designed, specific movements of characters do feel a little animated and most of the motion capture is brilliant, the facial mouldings for the Children of Thanos do not always look convincing enough, except that for Ebony Maw.
Verdict: All in all, Avengers: Infinity War is a great second sequel to the first movie, surpassing the somewhat stale Age of Ultron. The Russo brother’s managed to pull through what seemed to be an impossible task and created an appealing blockbuster that left me longing for more. The sheer magnitude of characters hinders everyone to get a well-rounded backstory, yet, since it is an interconnected motion-picture universe, most characters are already established and well known by the audience. All of the characters have breathtaking chemistry, but the most memorable one is the villain, who also serves as the main protagonist. The cinematography is superb, capturing magnificent battles with long shots and touching sequences in close-ups. The effects, while mostly brilliant, do have a few flaws. The plot is Marvel’s most ambitious, including their largest story yet with epic battles and surprisingly emotional notes. While not flawless, it did leave me wanting to know what will happen next! I will give Infinity War a 9.0 out of 10.
Have you seen Avengers: Infinity War yet? If so, do you agree with my thoughts? Leave a comment in the section below. For all of you who didn’t see it, I can only recommend it!