Avengers: Infinity War | Film Review

From Here to Infinity

Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War is a movie 10 years in the making. It unites all the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the war against the galaxy’s greatest threat – Thanos the Mad Titan – who is trying to collect all 6 Infinity Stones and basically become a God (he has his reasons). This journey started with the massive gamble that was Iron Man in 2008. Had that one failed, we would not have gone on beyond the first two films. Now it comes to the end of Phase 3, 18 movies later. It is an unprecedented achievement that birthed the term Cinematic Universe and made household names of Tony Stark, Groot and Doctor Strange. But for me, that journey started a lot earlier.

I have always been an enormous Marvel fan and my true comic love were the X-Men, ever since I was given my first comic book by my grandmother at the ripe old age of 6. My journey to Infinity War started in the Spring of 1994 when I picked up the first copy of Infinity Gauntlet, a massive Marvel universe-shattering crossover that not just featured several of my beloved X-Men, but a slew of other heroes and villains. In the Netherlands, comic books weren’t as easy to get as they were in the US or Great Britain, so I was very glad that this was published as a 4-part special limited series (originally 6 parts in the US). This was the story I had been waiting for since Secret Wars 1! The story introduced me to the Infinity Gems, Adam Warlock, Gamora, and most importantly to Thanos the Mad Titan, an incredibly powerful cosmic warlord. He made an immediate and everlasting impression. I didn’t need to know his background to grasp that this was the most deadly threat the Marvel universe had ever faced; bigger than Galactus, more dangerous than the Beyonder and certainly deadlier than Doctor Doom, Ultron or Kang the Destroyer. For he is Thanos, and his name means Death!

I loved the Infinity series so much that I bought Infinity War and Infinity Crusade when they came out. Later we got Infinity parts 1 and 2, where the Black Order was introduced to me. I read Thanos’ origin story in Thanos Rising, I read stories of the Infinity Watch, I read everything I could get my hands on.

In 2008 the Marvel Cinematic Universe was launched. Iron Man was a great success and my geek heart cried tears of joy when I saw Captain America, Thor, Black Widow and Hawkeye brought to the big screen after old Shell Head had made his debut. Joined by Hulk we were given The Avengers, assembled by Joss Whedon, and I saw that one 6 times in the cinema. The first time I saw it, on opening night in a sold out cinema, I stayed during the credits with the other people who knew there was something coming up at the end. It was THAT after credits scene. “Humans…” the alien on screen said. “They were not the cowering wretches we were promised! They stand. They are unruly and therefor cannot be ruled.” The camera pans closer and closer to a new alien, who rises from a throne. “To challenge them is to court death!” The new alien turns his head and grins. My jaw drops to the floor. I literally jump up out of my seat when I see that familiar purple face and yell “THANOS! Oh my god, Marvel is doing the Infinity Gauntlet!”

I must have been the only one there who realized the full implications of that 48 second scene, as the rest of the visitors looked at me with confusion in their eyes, including the friend who was there with me. When I understood Marvel’s master plan, everything became clear to me and I looked forward to every new Marvel movie with even more excitement. I couldn’t believe the immense ambition on display! The non-comic book-reading cinemagoers would have no idea what was going to hit them!

We are now 10 years after the premiere of Iron Man and 6 years after that post-credit sting and Infinity War is finally here. The trailers promised epicness on a scale not seen since the king returned to Middle Earth, and a cast so big they almost need the Titanic to house them all. I must have watched those two trailers over a hundred times, I scoured YouTube in search of reaction videos. I could hardly contain my excitement. Was this really happening? I was looking forward to this film even more than I was with The Force Awakens. But I was also a bit nervous. Will they do my favorite villain Thanos justice and will the audience accept him as the greatest villain of them all? Marvel does have something of a villain problem after all, even a fan like me can see that. How are the Russo’s (directors Anthony and Joe) balancing all those characters and how close will they follow the storyline of Infinity and Infinity Gauntlet? I couldn’t wait to get my answers, so I took the earliest opportunity to see the film and that brought me to my local cinema, waiting for the clock to strike 12 with a pair of 3D glasses on my nose.

This film isn’t just epic, it is EPIC. It begins with a distress call from the Asgardian ship that Thor, Loki and Heimdall are on and ends after the post-credit sting and from start to finish this movie has a pace, scale and mood that reminded me of the biblical epics of early cinema. The visuals are astonishing and we get introduced to a lot more of the Marvel Universe than we had previously seen, as well as treated to some familiar locales. New York and Wakanda play an important part, which was already clear from the trailers, but we are introduced to new locations as well. The first half of the film is setting up the board, making clear who and where all the players are and most importantly, setting up Thanos. Believe me when I say that it is made very clear, very early that Thanos is indeed extremely badass and ruthless. This is the Thanos I know and ‘love’. The stakes are sky high.

From the trailers, it was also pretty clear which characters were grouping together. You could feel the tension in the room of people waiting for their favorite hero or heroes to be introduced, and one particular appearance made everybody cheer out loud. That was something I had never experienced before. What I found incredibly unique is that the Russo’s not only introduce all of these characters in a natural way, but they also managed to capture the feel of their individual franchises.

Scenes with the Guardians are 100% the Guardians, Thor is the Thor we all love from Ragnarok, and Iron Man is pure Tony Snark. And when they meet up it doesn’t diminish that feeling, it strengthens it. There is quite a lot of humor in the film, but because it comes from the interaction of all these different characters, it doesn’t take away from the seriousness of the situation. There are massive egos in play and that comes across very clearly. It wouldn’t be a Marvel film if the heroes didn’t fight with each other first before taking on the big purple cosmic threat in the room, and this brings equal parts tension, thrills and laughs.

Because there are so many characters in the film, some have more screentime than others. This doesn’t feel unfair though. We all know who the major players are, but nobody really gets underserved. But there’s only one person this movie belongs to, and that is Thanos. He dominates this film and Josh Brolin totally owns the role. The heroes are pawns for him to play with, that is the feeling you get throughout the film that only gets stronger the more time we spend with him.

In terms of spectacle, there are several great fights that beautifully showcase all the abilities that each of these characters have, and the massive battle in Wakanda is Marvel’s Helm’s Deep. Often, effects-heavy films lack weight and depth, but there’s none of that here. This battle will leave you breathless, excited and emotional. The finale is unique and had us literally gasping in our seats. Emotions can run high, because we love these characters and we care deeply about what happens to them. They have been with us for 10 years. We want them to succeed and to survive. But make no mistake, there will be blood.

Infinity War has many throwbacks, nods, cameos and easter eggs towards the other films in the MCU, but without being too obvious or on the nose. It also has several big and unexpected moments that surprised even me, with all my knowledge of the source material and having seen all the Marvel films multiple times, and I’m not talking about Stan Lee’s cameo. This is a gripping adventure that will leave the heart racing and have you on the edge of your seat for 2.5 hours. There will be no urge to check the time nor your phone. Your eyes will be affixed to that glorious screen.

It feels like someone slammed Lord of the Rings and The Empire Strikes Back together like two action figures, poured a delicious and Marvelous sauce over it, and then put a cherry on top with sprinkles. It left me both extremely satisfied and hungry for more. Marvel and MCU overlord Kevin Feige and the Russo Brothers have pulled something off that is unprecedented in cinematic history, and could only have been done by Marvel. Give the entire team the credit they richly deserve. They took some very big risks, but they all paid off.

The adventure 10 years in the making is here and is both the end of an era, and the beginning of an exciting new chapter. To me, Avengers: Infinity War is a masterpiece of superhero cinema.