'Avengers: Infinity War'—Review

It's nigh-on impossible to understate just how much is riding on Infinity War. Fans have followed the Marvel Cinematic Universe across 19 movies for the last ten years. Everything that's come before has led to this. I had become increasingly concerned just before release that a movie of this scale could quite easily collapse under its own weight, though I now know this wasn't the case. Not only have the Russo Brothers met the ridiculously high fan expectations, they've exceeded them and created something truly spectacular.

There are going to be no spoilers in this review, so if you haven't seen it yet you can breathe easy. I'll be writing a separate, spoiler-y review once the movie has been out for more than a couple of days.

Avengers: Infinity War wastes no time getting going, starting straight after the mid-credit scene from Thor: Ragnarok as Thanos' ship tracks down the remains of the Asgardians. We're reminded once what exactly the Infinity Stones are; the brightly coloured MacGuffins that our heroes have been coming across for seven years worth of movies now.

However, besides that, the film assumes that the audience knows what's what and propels forward with tenacity. Even now, having seen it twice, I'm baffled by how the Russo's have squeezed just so much movie into only two hours and 40 minutes. There is a lot to take in, and it is probable you may even feel physically exhausted by the time the credits roll. It's easy to forget that the plot in all of this is pretty much "Thanos makes a grab for the Infinity Stones, Avengers try to say no".

The Russo Brothers manage to keep all the spinning plates well balanced as the film juggles the ridiculous list of main characters while daring to introduce even more new faces to the fold. There's a couple of nice cameos, and Peter Dinklage's secret role was a genuine surprise. The Black Order get a decent amount of screen time and look fantastic, but they don't move past "cool henchmen." But with everything else going on in the movie, to me this is absolutely fine. It's not their film.

Everyone has something to do and all the main players really up their game this time around, Thor in particular. He finally looks like a god, and not just calling himself one. Although his fetch quest with Rocket and Groot does go on a bit longer than probably necessary.

The stakes have never been higher in the MCU, and it really does feel like the heroes all know it. Scarlet Witch has some excellent moments, as does Spider-Man and the Guardians. Even as I write this, I can't help but feel this childlike buzz seeing them all on the screen together.

The cast is split into several mixed groups across the universe and it's great to see them play off each other in wordplay and while working together in one of the many dazzling action sequences. Everyone contributes to the collective goal of stopping Thanos collecting all six stones for his shiny Infinity Gauntlet.

Speaking of Thanos, he has absolutely been worth the wait. Ever since his little tease at the end of 2012's Avengers Assemble, we've had little glimpses of him, slowly giving viewers an idea of his evil schemes, and in Infinity War, he takes the centre stage.

It's very much his movie, and Josh Brolin does a fantastic job of bringing the Mad Titan to life with motion capture. His on-screen presence is intimidating, and he speaks with authority and a gravitas that no Marvel villain before him has earned or commanded so terrifyingly.

He has a clear vision, and even though audiences may not agree with his plan to wipe out half of the universe, you can almost understand where he is coming from. He's clearly mental, but at the same time, he understands the weight of his mission. After more than a few missteps in the villain department, Phase three of the MCU has seen a significant upturn in the quality of their antagonists, and Thanos stands tallest among them (literally, he's massive). His arrival has been a long time coming, and his grandeur cannot be understated, Thanos is the greatest movie villain Marvel has ever created.

The action is almost non-stop throughout the movie from the word go. It seems like each scene is trying to outdo what came before it. It results in two magnificent scenes with the battle of Wakanda and the small band of Avengers taking on Thanos on his home planet, Titan. Everything leads to this almighty climax which is utterly breathtaking to watch, with the groups of heroes subtly re-mixed to show them working together in different ways seamlessly.

One thing that did worry me in the buildup to release was that it might have the same problem that Age of Ultron did, where the humour felt a little too forced at times and detracted from the stakes. So the movie may run around telling us half the universe could die but what's actually occurring is Marvel's Sunshine & Rainbows™. This time around it wasn't the case. Not only is Infinity War somehow one of the funniest Marvel movies to date, the humour itself feels much more natural.

On the other hand, I also wasn't prepared for the rollercoaster of emotions we were given. I'd be lying if I said I didn't cry both times I've seen it so far. I was left genuinely heartbroken at times, and full-on "hands to mouth" shocked by the time the credits started rolling. Infinity War lands several gut-punches to your feelings that you wouldn't think the Russo brothers had the willingness to do. It only makes the movie all that more memorable and leaves fans clamouring for more, desperate for answers in the year-long wait to Avengers 4.

While it isn't quite perfect, Avengers: Infinity War manages to meet the impossibly high fan expectations built over the last ten years, and then it absolutely smashes them. It delivers a non-stop thrill-ride that's both hilarious and incredibly emotional, as Thanos leaves his mark on the MCU as the greatest villain in its history. Not only does Infinity War rank among the finest movies in the series, it's without a doubt one of the greatest superhero movies that will ever be made.

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