Don’t worry Marvel fans – this is a spoiler free review.
The 19th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the culmination of ten years worth of superhero blockbusters, Avengers: Infinity War assembles nearly every hero on its roster for two hours and 30 minutes of breathtaking, non-stop action.
The Russo brothers unite the founding Avengers (Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Hulk, Thor) with the series’ newest additions (Scarlet Witch, Vision, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man and the Guardians of the Galaxy) to battle the intergalactic titan, Thanos, who’s scouring the galaxy in search of the remaining Infinity Stones.
With over 60 characters, several different planets to explore, and plot threads from its 18 predecessors to intertwine, the Russos manage to seamlessly deliver a full-blown comic book extravaganza on a scale unlike you’ve ever seen. The epic blockbuster boasts one of the biggest casts in history and one of the biggest movie budgets ever – and trust us when we says that all that mulla spent really shows on screen.
An ensemble of this magnitude, you’d expect a few of the characters to get lost in the mix. We’re happy to report that this is not the case. Despite some faces being more prominent than others, every single hero has their chance to shine (including some genuinely incredible cameos). Enhanced beings such as Thor, Spider-Man, Iron Man and Gamora are among the standouts, and even non-powered characters like Black Widow and Okoye have opportunities to fucking slay. Oh, and the character interactions? Worth. The. Wait. One is utter genius, and had a massive response from Marvel fanatics.
However, there is no denying this is Thanos’ movie, and Brolin’s nuanced performance elevates his character from a menacing, purple alien hellbent on genocide to a layered, complex villain with a devastating agenda – however much he’s convinced himself it’s for the greater good.
Villains in the MCU so far have been largely disappointing (bar a few), but Thanos makes up for it in SPADES. His relationship with Gamora also makes for some unforeseen character development for them both, and is surprisingly human for a pair of intergalactic aliens. And it’s just one of many fleshed-out relationships in Infinity War that attribute to its unexpected heart. Vision and Scarlet Witch, while flirtatious in previous instalments, are now a serious couple, and the choices they make result in serious consequences.
Infinity War has much to juggle with the constant flipping between worlds (much like Star Wars), but it never feels jarring. The film is perfectly paced, boasts an incredible amount of dazzling visuals, stunning set pieces and jaw-dropping action sequences.
Remember how you felt when you saw The Battle of New York in The Avengers (2012)? The airport showdown in Captain America: Civil War (2016)? Well, the assault on Wakanda wipes the floor with both of them, and the emotional stakes are ridiculously higher. You feel genuine terror for your favourite heroes, especially because of the amount of fatal devastation witnessed up until this point.
It all leads to one of the most shocking and unexpected climaxes of any recent mainstream blockbuster. With the trailers and a handful of promo clips circling social media over the past few weeks, you might think you have a rough idea of where this epic is going. All we can say is don’t believe the teasers – they give absolutely nothing away.
Director: The Russo Brothers
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Josh Brolin, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, Chris Pratt, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Benedict Wong, Peter Dinklage, Benicio Del Toro
Runtime: 149 minutes
Certificate: 12a
Rating: 5/5
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