Avengers: Infinity War

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)

It flowed nicely, you kind of fall into it at the beginning and let the story take you where it takes you. I'll admit that, for me, it's probably the best movie in the whole dubious Marvel universe. So I'm curious to see what's in store for us next year. You can think about it a lot and spin wild theories with friends (without the internet, without knowing the source material to enjoy it more). Sad scenes, funny, predatory, emotionally blackmailing, artificial, natural, awkward, uber stilted ... it's got it all. It's really good to watch in the theaters. (09/05/2018)

Apart from some minor tweaking, it's still the same Marvel space soap opera. What makes it so special this time is the extreme number of main characters, which is an interesting ploy, because it's clear that everyone will find something to like, apart from the absence of Hawkeye, everyone will have their favourite on screen. Another positive is Josh Brolin, whose digital face and voice conveys more emotion than most normal characters put together. An actor who has the advantage that he doesn't have to do much, just look and say something here and there – that's how charismatic he is. The other good thing is the dramatic weighing of the characters of Captain America and Stark – both in good ways. The negatives are still the same. Again, the destruction of the world (and the relatively solid motivation doesn't excuse it), digital monsters, unimaginative heavy-handed action scenes, pathos, bumbling around unknown planets, finding unknown things at unknown blacksmiths, and aside for a few more adrenaline-filled moments like Thanos vs Hulk, Thanos vs Stark, etc. then it's a downright cheesy action finale with a few cool catchphrases, usually provided by the members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. (03/05/2018)

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)

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)