“There was an idea… To bring together a group of remarkable people, to see if we could become something more. So when they needed us, we could fight the battles that they never could.”
Since the end of 2012’s The Avengers, fans have been itching to see the Mad Titan face off against Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The Phase 3 announcement back in Fall 2014 stoked these flames even further in what was then a two part movie. With that announcement, came a string of some of the studio’s best movies to date. The good news? The Russo Brothers and Marvel have delivered THE epic we’ve all been waiting for.
The bad news? Well, read on. Aside from brief lines, this review will remain spoiler free. It may seem like we’re skipping details here but go in as fresh as you can. Like Black Panther, this is one film that must be seen in the theater. After the ten year journey to get here, why would you want anything else?
To start, you will be laughing your butt off non-stop. The banter between each character feels almost Aaron Sorkin-esque in the delivery of each line. Even with the stakes the highest they’ve ever been, it’s laugh out loud hilarious and makes the film one of the studio’s funniest thus far.
Now, if you’re wondering if Thanos has been worth wait, wonder no more. Marvel successfully solves it’s villain problem in this film. Josh Brolin shines in the role, even through layers of motion capture and CG wizardry. Brolin manages to make Thanos frightening yet emotional. Brutal yet humanized. There are a few moments you feel for him. Make no mistake though, Thanos is a beast of a villain and unlike any you’ve seen before. There is a sense of unnerving dread whenever he shows up on screen.
Every actor brings their A-game to Infinity War, making the film feel elevated and grand. Even after ten years, the actors break new ground in each character and expand them from what we’ve come to know and expect. Though the film is clocks in at 149 minutes, it moves at a brisk pace. The combination of tones takes some time to get used to, but after a couple minutes you’ll find your self settling in.
The Russo Brothers have delivered exactly what we expected and then some. The care, the writing, the work and the visuals prove they are at the top of their game and know how to deliver a movie that will have you talking about it days, even weeks after viewing it. Christopher Markus and Stephen Mcfeely’s script definitely has the hands of the other directors on it, but they succeed in making it feel balanced, clever, unpredictable and overall a joy to experience.
If there’s any downside to this movie, it’s the fact that we have to wait a year for Avengers 4. Without spoiling it, the by the time you get to the end of the film, you’ll feel like you’ve been on a rollercoaster that comes to a complete stop unexpectedly. Almost a day after seeing it, I find myself in a conflicting cacophony of happiness, sadness, elation, humor and just wondering… where do we go from here? I suspect many may find themselves feeling the same after the film opens worldwide. It will cause conversation for a long-time to come. Bring handkerchiefs. Bring tissues. You’re in for quite a ride.
To date, the film has outpaced the last seven Marvel films combined for ticket presales. If you haven’t gotten your tickets by now, what are you waiting for? Get to it and avoid spoilers at all costs.
Additional thoughts and observations:
- Run, don’t walk to your nearest theater.
- Make sure you listen out for all the quips and lines. They come fast and furious here (forgive the pun).
- You’ll need repeatedly viewings for this one. It’s going to be a long wait until Avengers 4.
- Lord of the Rings fans, you’ll definitely get some Return of the King vibes from this one.
Avengers: Infinity War arrives in theaters on April 27, 2018.