Avengers: Infinity War

A showcase. Slight differences of opinion above/below are irrelevant. This film is a great success, while so much could have gone wrong. In the lead role, Thanos is absolutely readable, willing to make a personal sacrifice and Brolin’s charisma gives the purple heavyweight a very human dimension. All of the characters have their moment, even though they are given very limited room to shine. Marvel movies answer the dreams of fans of Iron Spider who we were robbed of in the Civil War now comes back at full strength. Wanda and Vision go off down entertaining storylines and Wakanda longs for Starbucks. A first class finale closes the movie with a happy ending (at least in the context of the characters) and tempts you to watch the next part. (30/04/2018)

Unexpected enthusiasm and a spectacular conclusion to ten years of building the Universe. It couldn't have gone better. Everything works here. Superb visuals rather than CGI mess, the best villain Marvel has ever had, thanks to the great Josh Brolin, plus his unpleasant cronies, the Black Order, where Ebony Maw in particular excels. There’s less humour, but it mostly worked (Drax was the most entertaining), and I really liked the entrance of each hero into the action (whether it's Captain America or Thor, who absolutely blew me away with his arrival in Wakanda), and the gradual introduction and meeting of the heroes is very enjoyable especially for fans. I'm also very intrigued by the alien planets (especially with the dwarves where Tyrion appeared), I would love to see a Marvel movie from that planet. The bleak finale is slightly annoying as we have to wait a year for an explanation, but there's nothing we can do about that tribute. Solid entertainment that didn't spear me with me goosebumps or emotions. 100%. (03/05/2018)

Earth is closed today. When the actors, creators, and producers proclaimed that the last decade had led to this exact point, they were not lying. However many such encounters  we've experienced throughout the series and left the cinema highly satisfied every time, it was always obvious that it is fundamentally about the characters of the Avengers and only secondarily about the definitive fate of the city, state, or planet. Everything is different in Infinity War, and a universe teetering on the edge is recognizably at stake from the very beginning. There are casualties, ships are falling, moons are falling, and for an hour and a half I am staring at the screen in astonishment, knowing that this is something I have longed to see, perhaps even more than I was willing to admit. The cooperation of Iron Man with Doctor Strange, the verbal duels of Thor with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Cap with Black Widow and their emergence from the shadows – and above all, the fallen Titan who takes the concept of division by two far too seriously. I had a great desire for the film to shake me up. In this regard, the reality exceeded expectations when my heart was beating so fast that at three moments I thought it might jump out of my body. This time, the Avengers are not just redefining team-ups, not even just comics. This time, they are redefining blockbusters, and they can only raise the bar higher again next year. (30/04/2018)

I can't imagine how it could have been done better. The third Avengers isn't a perfect movie, of course, but with this many characters, it was clear that it couldn't be done without compromise. Fortunately, the Russos didn't make too many of them. The first half, when the film is just getting its breath for the epic mayhem, pushes a little too hard on the humour, but given that there wasn't much room for character development and some more complicated plot, it doesn't really matter that much. Something had to be going on. And then it starts to get more intense and it's something to watch, whether it's the battles between confused heroes who don't know each other, the efforts to take down Thanos, or the epic battle in Wakanda. At Disney, though, they knew that a bunch of characters with no room to properly show off and rush towards an epic finale probably wouldn't be enough, so here's Thanos. The MCU's best and most interesting villain is given more space than most heroes, and you'll be glad for it, because he's not a one-dimensional villain, and Josh Brolin as the purple titan lives up to the reputation build across several movies as a total annihilator, but he can also sell the more emotionally-charged scenes. I could have asked for more room for the characters, their relationships with each other, or some more significant emotional development, but there just wasn't room for it here. So, good for me. I don't really know what I could criticize about it in any significant way. In the context of the "make the greatest comic book film ever" brief, it couldn't have been much better. (27/07/2018)

Brace for impact! Thanos always seemed to me like a strange rubber figure with an obscene chin, but he largely grabs Infinity War for himself. Finally, a surprisingly well-drawn mega-villain who works differently than a hanger for inflated weapons. Otherwise, it's like when your favorite characters are pounded into a giant mixer, from which they fly to different corners of the galaxy and some of them may not live to see the next film. The chemistry of the mash-up is very well set up, both the lively Guardians humor and the Avenger pathos work, and they complement each other very nicely. The Russo’s again excellently directed the film. It has a strangely realistic, darkened touch, and it also fits into the flashy key of Ragnarok. I rejoiced for two and a half hours, because someone always appears epically and saves someone else... almost until the end. Avengers: Infinity War is a great combination of fun and fan emotion, a truly dignified first act of a film that closes the era. Some may miss a clearer point, but I take it as an invitation to another Avenger joyride in a year. I'm already standing in line like a fakin MCU bitch. You got me there... (25/04/2018)