Buena Vista Pictures
Avengers: Infinity War
The marvel of all superhero movies has arrived at last. Avengers: Infinity War will challenge multiple box office records for its opening weekend. It will challenge audiences on more than their endurance. It will challenge their preconceived notions of what a superhero epic can be.
Ten years in making, Disney’s newest superhero brawl is one of the most staggering and fantastic things attempted in the history of cinema. It’s truly unbelievable to see a pantheon of 60-plus heroes and villains battle for the fate of the world.
What’s most surprising is how effortless the collection of superheroes appears when working together. The enormous ensemble cast seamlessly works together like they’ve been doing this all along instead of the 18 previous films in Marvel's Cinematic Universe.
For those totally disconnected from the story, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and the band of heroes must stop an alien warlord named Thanos (Josh Brolin.) Thanos is pillaging both Earth and the cosmos for six artifacts called Infinity Stones to complete his wicked gauntlet/bracelet.
Equally calm as he is violent, him collecting the stones would mean the end of our entire universe as we know it. That’s no exaggeration - Thanos has a few short monologues that enrich his desire for universal sustainability. Even by means of genocide.
Infinity War is both things the title suggests. This is a large scale war story that is intense and emotionally strong - every sequence is a rich exploration of each character. Thanos (and especially Brolin’s performance) is a formidable villain that maximizes the power he’s boasting about.
Good or bad, everything feels more powerful
The primary message is a question of reality and the sacrifices of peacekeeping. Each of the Avengers must ask: what is the true cost everyone is willing to pay to save their world? And what happens when we don’t all agree?
Avengers: Infinity War continues that long-standing theme from the entire Marvel canon to date. But this new feature is notably long and busy. Part of what makes the movie so exciting is the lack of exposition. We are simply immersed in the action and it doesn’t stop until the credits roll.
While that helps keep the movie tight, this many characters and battles stop it from being completely cohesive. No big screen spectacle has been this intricate since Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. And even still, 19 movies in 10 years allows for some great possibilities.
Having seen those previous 18 movies, by the way, will absolutely elevate your enjoyment of this ultimate showdown. Unlike the best superhero movies (like February’s Black Panther,) knowing the past Avengers flicks is mandatory to enjoy and fully understand what the heck is going on.
Also unlike past Marvel movies, knowing what surprise or twist coming next is impossible to guess. Even the most devout comic book readers will be on the edge of their seats, unsure exactly what moment we’re going to see.
The sharp turns come from left, right and centre. More importantly, the closely-guarded surprises all are clever and cleverly incorporated. Some are truly jaw-dropping, that echoing gasps and cries from the audience.
It's still Avengers: Part 1, but the conclusion has undoubtedly begun
We, the audience and passionate fans of this colossal franchise, are finally seeing the complicated web untangle. Slowly the darkest corners of the Avengers’ story are being discovered with both terrifying and wonderful results. For example, anyone who disliked the innovative storytelling of last year’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi should stay far away from Infinity War.
Ultimately, is it worth seeing? The new Avengers is a must for anyone who has seen other Marvel properties. This is a cultural juggernaut and inescapable property - and the justified hype features an event of never-before-seen proportions.
This will be something audiences will be buzzing about for the foreseeable future. Its greatest weakness is that the story is clearly a part 1 of 2 (ahead of next May’s true finale.) It does make the disjointed plot feel longer, though there’s a definite end to this film’s story.
This is a war that took an infinity to create. The infinite possibilities are captivating and truly dazzling throughout. It’s an exciting scope and scale that will best be enjoyed and appreciated by audiences who are cautiously prepared.
If the stakes were never high enough for your taste, that changes here. This team isn’t called the Avengers for nothing.
Avengers: Infinity War
3 1/2 out of 4 stars
PG, 150 minutes. Superhero Fantasy Action Epic.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Josh Brolin, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans.
Now Playing at Film.Ca Cinemas, Cineplex Winston Churchill and Cineplex Oakville & VIP. Also in IMAX.
