“The hardest choices require the strongest wills.” —Thanos
Today’s quick review: Avengers: Infinity War. Thanos (Josh Brolin) seeks the Infinity Stones, six objects with the power to reshape the universe. Led by Captain America (Chris Evans), the heroes of Earth mount a desperate defense to protect the last of the Stones. Meanwhile, Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) ventures into space to attack Thanos at the heart of his power, and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) hunts for a weapon capable of killing the would-be god.
Avengers: Infinity War is a superhero movie that ties together plot threads from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The culmination of a decade of build-up, Infinity War pits Marvel’s collected heroes against Thanos, a powerful alien conquerer with designs on omnipotence. The movie boasts top-notch special effects, non-stop action on an enormous scale, and a sprawling ensemble cast that includes nearly every Marvel hero so far.
Infinity War is a superhero team-up writ large. The cast numbers in the dozens and contains the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, multiple solo heroes, and a host of supporting characters. The plot shuffles the heroes into groups and sends them after different targets, each one crucial to defeating Thanos. The new character pairings and the calamitous events of the story show a new side to many of the film’s heroes.
Thanos is the glue that holds the movie together. Easily the most powerful villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thanos is a threat worthy of the many heroes arrayed against him. His warped morality puts a fascinating spin on his ambition, while his nuanced relationship with his daughter Gamora (Zoe Saldana) is an unexpected gem. Throughout it all, Thanos’ calm dominance makes him the focal point of every scene he’s in and the movie as a whole.
These virtues do come with a cost: Infinity War makes for an incredibly heavy watch. Marvel’s trademark humor is still present, but in smaller doses than usual, and the tone remains serious throughout. The film also doesn’t shy away from killing its characters. Combined with the cosmic scope of Thanos’ plan and the moral dilemmas the heroes face, this gives Infinity War much higher stakes and a much more dramatic tone than anything that has come before it.
The other price Infinity War pays is its complexity. Each character receives only a fraction of the screen time they would in a solo film. In that brief period of time, the movie has to squeeze in old character threads, new ones, exposition, comedy, and action. While Infinity War does a skillful job of juggling its cast and making sure everyone has the chance to shine, not every character gets a full story arc, and the story can be hard to keep track of.
For those willing to brave its lengthy run time, its flurry of characters, and its dramatic tone, Avengers: Infinity War is a superhero movie of the highest caliber. Its scope, its polish, and its climactic story make it a must-see for anyone who has been following the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Those who haven’t may want to steer clear, as its plot depends heavily on the movies that came before it.
9.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 9.0 for the superhero genre at its grandest.