‘Avengers: Infinity War’ – Review
A journey that started 10 years ago with a very big dream and a tremendous helping of passion has finally brought us to Avengers: Infinity War, the biggest blockbuster of the year, if not the decade. Now Marvel Studios and directors Joe and Anthony Russo lay it all on the line as the fate of the universe is about to be decided.
Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) are broken and disbanded. Earth’s greatest heroes have fallen by the wayside, and now a great darkness is growing. That darkness is Thanos (Josh Brolin), a celestial titan bent on control of the entire universe and who has come to collect the remaining Infinity Stones to do it. With the threat of extinction imminent Stark, Rogers and their allies, both old and new, will have to come together in order to battle Thanos and stop him before it’s too late!
Let me be clear. This is a SPOILER FREE review. As I am myself a lifelong Marvel Fan and I despise spoilers in every way possible I will not be hinting at any such thing.
So with that bit of housekeeping set in order where to begin? Well, let’s put it out there that Infinity War is WOW factor on a whole other level. This film is enormous. From its cast to landscape, action sequences and emotional resonance Infinity War has it all. And what’s more, it’s a team effort. While the Russo Brothers might be steering the ship, there is no single person that has built this film, as no single person has built the MCU. It has ultimately been the effort of a multitude of performers, directors, producers, artists, designers and craftsmen. A group of amazingly talented individuals who have given every part of themselves to this movie…and it really shows through. This is filmmaking on a whole other level and it transforms Infinity War from a mere movie into that of pure spectacle.
The defining part of Infinity War is that it truly ties everything together. This is after all the culmination of a 10-year journey to bring the MCU to life. While we’ve seen different parts of the MCU, and have seen our heroes interact with each another from time to time, this, in my opinion, is the first time that this interaction seems truly seamless.
This collective world building is glorious to behold and you can’t help but feel transported from the epicenter of New York to the vast ends of the cosmos. You’ll find yourself getting giddy as Doctor Strange talks to Iron Man, and the Guardians crash in on the party, or when Steve Rogers is greeted by King T’Challa of Wakanda and is welcomed into this hidden nation. All of it will have you salivating at how flawless it all is.
Civil War might have torn our heroes apart, but Infinity War is ultimately the film that brings them back together. While I can’t go into specifics without falling into huge SPOILER territory, what I will say is that Infinity War is a celebration of the very concept of what it means to be a hero. Not only do these characters provide us hope in the darkest of hours, but we know that they’ll never give up the fight and that whatever their own issues or hang-ups may be they’ll always put these aside for the greater good. Plus I’ve gotta admit that it’s pretty cool to see Steve Rogers, Black Panther, The Winter Soldier and Black Widow all standing next to one another in Wakanda!
But if Infinity War does belong to any single character then it’s definitely the Mad Titan himself Thanos. Crafted to perfection by Josh Brolin and rendered to life in amazing CGI artistry Thanos is leading the charge as the new villain to define cinema history for this generation. He’s everything you could want in a villain and Brolin does an incredible job of portraying his motives and desires for the Infinity Stones. The performance is completely 360 and is a credit to Brolin’s exceptional acting abilities. His casting was a brilliant piece of work by Marvel and he sure does deliver.
While I’ve mentioned the WOW factor briefly, I ask you, plead with you, that you go and see this film in IMAX.
As the first ever blockbuster film to be shot entirely in the IMAX format Infinity War comes alive on its gigantic screen. The colours are richer, the sounds are louder and the frame is not stripped away as it would for a conventional release. What you get out of this is a bigger, more immersive experience and again you truly feel like you’re in this film, and not just watching it. Film experiences that truly suck you into them are a rare thing these days, but this is not so with Infinity War in IMAX. It’s simply perfect and I could not find a flaw in this film. It’s that good. Marvel promised us the WOW factor, and they certainly delivered here.
If you’re seeking an amazing narrative, heroic characters, a complex villain, immersive worldbuilding and plenty of twists and turns along the way, well, you’ll get them with Infinity War. This film is delivered with a tremendous amount of passion and flair, and it shows through in every single frame. It might of been a long wait but in my opinion, it was well worth it. So please go in and marvel at the magnificence of Avengers: Infinity War. It’s a cinematic experience that is utterly unforgettable.
Image: Walt Disney Pictures
