Avengers: Infinity War
(Marvel Studios)
By Lucas Allen
“Avengers: Infinity War,” a movie that’s a culmination of 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, brings most of the universe’s most heroic characters together for an epic battle to save the universe. It’s certainly an event film that will pay off for fans who’ve been there since the beginning with 2008’s “Iron Man.”
Be prepared for a movie that brings the laughs, the action and the tears from the first scene to the last.
Thanos (Josh Brolin) is a God-like king searching the universe for five infinity stones that will grant him ultimate power with his gauntlet. Members of the disbanded Avengers soon get caught up in the chaos, including the time stone belonging to Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and the power gem belonging to Vision (Paul Bettany). Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland) find themselves in space trying to save Strange as they end up in Thanos’ home-land of Titan.
Meanwhile, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) runs into the Guardians of the Galaxy, including Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and teenage Groot (Vin Diesel). Plus, he needs their help in building a weapon to kill Thanos. However, Gamora contemplates about killing the man who raised her into an ultimate warrior.
Finally, Captain America (Chris Evans), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), War Machine (Don Cheadle), and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) bring Vision to Wakanda to remove the power gem. There, Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and his army come together for a battle that will lead to a shocking finish.
Thanos proves to be another standout among the best villains of the MCU. In fact, there’s more layers to his character than the rest and when his motivations are realized, you feel some sort of sympathy with him. He does cause some misery throughout the movie, but you can still tell where he’s coming from and why he’s doing it. Not to mention, he’s better written with improved special effects than the villain in “Justice League.”
While both the villain and the superheroes are the stars of the film, the action and the comedy also take over to help make the two-and-a-half hour experience encompassing. The last act is unforgettable in how it packs enough characters fighting each other that makes you care so much. The comedic parts also makes you care about the story and where your favorite heroes go from there. It’s a striking balance that helps make the downer-filled last scenes worthwhile.
There’s not much point in mentioning every single actor reprising their roles since they’re still magnificent in every way. Brolin, as Thanos, brings an extraordinary presence when he’s acting through digital makeup, and does an incredible job in the process. There are also some surprise appearances that’ll leave a lasting impression on your viewing experience, including the usual Stan Lee cameo.
“Avengers: Infinity War” has a lot to take in for any average viewer or comic book fan. At the end of the day, it’s a Marvel movie that’s always worth seeing on any screen regardless of your favorite theater location. Please be aware that it ends in a classic blockbuster cliffhanger, in the tradition of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” that will make you anticipate what happens afterwards in next summer’s follow-up.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, language and some crude references)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.75 Stars (Out of Four)
