Avengers Infinity War
*** SPOILER FREE REVIEW***
“Infinity War” is the sequel to the “Avengers” (2012), and “Age of Ultron” (2015). The 19th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) saga will take you on an ostensibly never-ending battle between right and wrong, good and evil — and I mean this in both a metaphorical and literal sense.
Brace yourself for 156 plus minutes of utterly unabashed imagination, witty banter, sentimental moments, over-the-top special effects, and non-stop, ferocious action in “Avengers: Infinity War.”
One thing I’ve learned is to avoid watching trailers and reading reviews or commentary before a screening so I can take in a film with low expectations. Though it’s hard to ignore the hype of a Marvel movie, I try to go see these flicks cold turkey.
Did I like the movie? Yes, though I had to take a breather before writing this. It’s a long sit, so be prepared for that. Still, I really enjoyed watching this movie. Below is my spoiler free review for you. It may be light in context, but rest assured I am not revealing any surprises that, in true Marvel fashion, are in this movie right up until the end of the credits. Remember, stay after the credits!
Movie Synopsis
Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers unite to battle their most powerful enemy yet — the evil Thanos. On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain as everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) kick things off with an intense battle against Thanos (Josh Brolin). After the first epic battle scene concludes – and I won’t say anything about this except to expect the unexpected — Tony Stark (Robert Downy Jr.) and Pepper Pots (Gwenyth Paltrow) continue the superhero red carpet line up in this film. And it only gets better from here.
One after the other, the superheroes show up to face showdown after showdown in their quest to rid the world of the evil Thanos. The seriousness of the plot wasn’t lost on me, and my guess is that MCU fans won’t miss it either. To temper the crisis at hand, you can always count on the quick quips and masterful jabs the defenders inflict on each other. Their male bravado takes over, and it makes for some of the best comic relief moments of the movie.
Sparks fly when Iron Man meets Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in New York. They get off on the wrong foot since there’s a lot of ego to handle on both sides. But, you bet they come together against that gargantuan Thanos, and they wreck the Big Apple to pieces in the process.
Avengers Infinity War
Infinity War will have you paying attention to the clever exchanges between Marvel’s superheroes as they re-assemble to battle the common enemy: Thanos. It’s thrilling to see each of the lead characters of past MCU movies when they initially come into the scene and meet each other for the first time. Imagine the confusion that develops with the introductions alone. Is that your real name or are we going by our other names?
“Hi. I’m Peter,” says the ingénue and youngest superhero played by Tom Holland.
“I’m Dr. Stange” he replies in a smug tone.
“We’re using our other names? In that case, I’m Spider Man.” *Said in a cheery tone infused with pride.
Avengers Infinity War
The special effects in this movie are stunning and will have you on the edge of your seat (albeit ducking and covering from the pounding flying debris on screen), as we travel along with the Marvel superheroes to different worlds — from Earth to Wakanda to Knowwhere — in search of ways to stop Thanos from collecting the Infinity stones.
Some scenes have a familiar feel to them as well. If you’re a “Star Wars” fan (like me), you’ll likely notice that signature Industrial Light and Magic effect spilling into this Marvel movie. And if you’re not a Marvel die hard, Infinity War might be the perfect crossover movie to bring over into the MCU.
As you can imagine, the massive destruction in this film is unrelenting. And there’s human collateral damage as well. The body count is so high that we stop paying attention to the numbers. Instead, we’re laser focused on which side will win.
There are a few plot twists in this movie that will make your head spin for about a minute. Though the central plot of this movie is not a new theme, it’s the way it’s laid out that makes this story so gripping. In fact, the topic might be a little too close to reality for some movie-goers who might find it difficult to disconnect or enjoy the escapism movies usually offer. But this is what makes this particular superhero movie different. You’ll have to think a bit after watching Infinity War.
And then there’s the ending… We’ll have to talk about this after you’ve seen the movie.
Will the combined super powers of the Avengers, The Guardians of the Galaxy, Dr. Strange, Hulk, Black Panther, Black Widow, Vision, Captain America, Spider Man, Thor, War Machine, Iron Man, etc. finish off Thanos and restore order in the world? You’ll have to watch Infinity War to find out!
Rated: PG-13 for extreme violence and intense action sequences
Runtime: 156 minutes
Parents should be aware that the level of violence in this movie is brutal and graphic. Some thematic elements are too strong for children under 10.
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