Avengers: Infinity War

Reviews from the Dark Side

Avengers:  Infinity War

Released 4/27/18

I think something was released this weekend that was kind of a big deal.  Can't quite put my finger on it.  Was it a new Star Wars movie?  I could say a lot about that, but, I'd ramble on for 10 pages, so let's move on.  Actually, all kidding aside, what was released had as much hype and publicity as any Star Wars movie has ever had.  Of course, this could only be the movie the masses have anticipated since at least January 1st.  It's the culmination of 10 years of planning and world building that started with the first Iron Man in 2008.  It can only be Avengers:  Infinity War, a film vying for the biggest release in motion picture history even prior to its coming out party.

And, it's a party all right.  But, is it the kind you wish wouldn't end or the kind where you're looking for the first excuse to leave?  Unfortunately, I've been through a couple of the latter in recent memory.  And, even worse, they've both been Disney releases like this one.  But, in the immortal words of the Rock, I can honestly say that Disney and Marvel Studios "Laid the smacketh down on everyone's candy ass!"  Mostly.

It's no secret what this one is about.  If you've followed the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the last 10 years, the big bad we've all been waiting for since the end credits of 2012's Avengers is the focus of Infinity War.  Thanos is finally here.  Thanos is ready to tear it up.  Oh, and does he do just that!

Starring just about every character you've seen in an MCU film since 2008 with exception of Hawkeye and the cast of Ant-Man (there's a reason why they're not in any of the footage you've seen), it's really not necessary to rehash who's returning.  While it's not really a debut, Josh Brolin, gets to fully flex his muscles as the malevolent Titan this time around.  He and his evil cabal of followers are on a mission to eradicate half the living beings in the universe by acquiring the six Infinity Stones, objects of immense power that would bestow ultimate dominance to anyone who would dare possess all of them.  The Avengers and their allies desperately attempt to prevent that occurrence.  Fairly simple premise.  Not a simple execution.  

And, let's talk about execution.  If  you're a fan of certain characters in the MCU, your level of exuberance or frustration will vary depending on who your favorite(s) might be.  The Russo Brothers do as good of a job as can be expected given the number of characters they are working with.   Infinity War jumps around quite often between three primary storylines.  Without getting into too much detail on how the various characters meet, Thor and Guardians, Rocket and Groot go on a quest for a new weapon.  Iron Man, Spider-Man, a group of Guardians, and Doctor Strange attempt to protect the time stone in New York and, later, on the desolate planet Titan.  Captain America, Black Panther and a contingent of Avengers try to keep the mind stone out of Thanos's clutches in Wakanda.  Given the circumstances, I believe all three threads were handled extremely well by the Russos with the two and half hour time constraint.  The whole project is a bit unwieldy due to its sheer mass, yet, I had no trouble following each transition as rapidly as they came at some instances.

As far as the heroes are concerned, the true MVP of this affair is without a doubt Thor.  Despite a few ill placed quips (which I'll cover a little later), we, as fans, are given more than one glimpse of the might of the Odinson (although he does get handled at the beginning).  His journey in the film takes him from the lowest point in his life to a magnificent re-entry into the fray.  You've never seen him tougher or more determined.  It was magnificent if you're a fan of the Thunder God. You didn't have to wrap your head around anything mindnumbingly silly in Infinity War like a god who has mastered lightning being felled by...electricity!  Uggghhh!  That movie still makes me furious.

So, now we come to big evil himself, Thanos.  Those who are sticklers for canon may have an issue here.  The Mad Titan is not necessarily the death-loving nihilist many remember from the comics.  He's more reflective, more a being on a pilgrimage than one inflicting gleeful destruction.  I usually am someone who prefers sticking to canonical storytelling, but, I have to say I didn't mind this change in Thanos.  His demeanor and role reminded me a bit of Galactus as a dispassionate force of nature.  He's Thanos and he is what he is, no more malevolent than an earthquake or tornado.  Granted his reasoning for doing what he does is still unhinged and he's no less a being that shouldn't be trifled with.  I thought Josh Brolin brought him to life as equal parts terrifying and sympathetic in a twisted way.

The Infinity War's frenetic action scenes are massive, but, somehow not overwhelming.  This isn't a Transformers movie.  There's a lot to digest in these scenes, but, the action is still allowed to breathe if that makes any sense.  You can always discern what's happening without it completely overwhelming your senses.  Some may disagree.  It's a fine line and I think the Russos did a good job straddling it without crossing it.

One thing the MCU has been accused of for years is having no real stakes or consequences for its heroes.  This movie dispels that complaint.  Many of the Avengers and the Guardians (and a few others) face the ultimate consequence going toe-to-toe with Thanos.  Now whether some of those situations stick is a matter yet to be determined in next year's sequel.  But, not every character makes it through Infinity War unscathed.

That's not to say everything is all puppies and rainbows with Infinity War.  Again, the Russos did as much as they could given the time they had and the number of characters they had to use, but, I still wish Thanos's motivations had been fleshed out a little more.  We know that he has the delusional belief that he's some type of humanitarian/environmentalist. That he's thinning the herd in the universe to save it from overpopulation.  He says that's the fate his home planet of Titan faced.  I thought that motivation deserved more than a few throwaway lines.  The movie did take some care into exploring his relationship with his "daughter", Gamora.  I just wish a little more had been devoted as to the why of his origin as a destroyer of worlds, how he acquired his creepy, fanatical followers in the Black Order, and how he acquired his personal might.  He's a pretty bad dude WITHOUT the Infinity Stones.  Was that natural or was he enhanced in some way.  I know the answer is both from reading decades of comics, but, is this the same in the MCU?  Maybe that's explored more in Avengers 4 next year.  I didn't find it to be a glaring weakness, I just wished this part of the story had been beefed up a little more.

So, here's where we get into something I mentioned earlier in the review.  The quip-happy Marvel way.  I've become a little more sensitive to it in recent years.  Well, let's really be honest, I became painfully aware of it in last year's Ragnarok.  I'm not one who minds levity.  A film doesn't always have to be dour and serious.  It's another fine line that's not the same for each individual.  You can take seriousness to an extreme and be a downer like some have accused with the DCEU.  You can take it to the opposite extreme and turn the film into a joke-a-minute sitcom minus a laugh track like the last Thor.  Bottom line, quips are just something Marvel does and it's worked for them since the beginning.  Some of the jokes in Infinity War made me laugh.  Some made me roll my eyes.   But, I never found it to be odious.  The movie took itself seriously when it needed to.  

While most characters give a good accounting of themselves in Infinity War, some need to be slapped silly.  It's two and a half movies now.  When is Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner going to stop being a bumbling buffoon?  He was a revelation as Banner and a clear standout in the first Avengers film.  He's been given a little of the short shrift since then and I think Ruffalo is better than that.  And, I'm speaking as someone who is not a great Hulk fan. 

Hulk fans will also likely cringe at the beatdown he receives at Thanos's hands and the subsequent cowardice Banner's alter ego displays thereafter.  I say this.  What else would show how formidable Thanos is than beating down the Hulk and holding Thor helpless at the same time?  And the Hulk is in good company.  Everyone is taken down by Thanos.  And, as much as Infinity War sucked for the Hulk, how much did it suck for the Vision?  Think about it.

And, Star-Lord.  Why, Star-Lord, why?!!!  You came up with such a great plan.  You, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Drax, Nebula, Doctor Strange, and Mantis almost had Thanos beaten.  And, for plotline purposes, you had to go and do something stupid to ruin it for everyone.  I'm only being partially facetious.  It was a very obvious plot device so the bad guy could triumph.  It was necessary, but, a little lame at the same time.  Especially considering the sacrifice he was willing to make not that much earlier in the film.

And, Doctor Strange's final act I'm not really going to say is a weakness of the film until this whole thing plays out next year.  If you've seen it, you know what I'm referring to.  He makes a puzzling decision considering the person he saves he said he would willingly sacrifice previously in the film.  I have to think this was a slyly clever gamble on his part.  And, if we do know one thing from Strange's own solo film, he is slyly clever.

There is only one end credit scene in Infinity War, but, it's an important one.  It features two of our favorite S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and a distress call made to a new character who is obviously going to be a major player in the MCU very shortly.  

Speaking of new characters (or sorts), there is one completely unexpected return of someone you probably haven't given much thought to in recent years.  It was strange to see him where we do.  You're not exactly sure if there's more of his story to tell in future installments or not, but, his placement here was very unexpected.

My overall thoughts of Infinity War?  Given the limitations of what they had to work with and the scope of the project, the Russos did as well as could be expected.  I'm not has euphoric about this one as I was initially about Civil War, The Winter Soldier, or the first Avengers.  But, I still would place it in the upper echelon of MCU releases.  It's one that I think will have long term staying power in our imaginations and not one that will fall apart on multiple viewings as some other MCU releases.  It's a clear triumph for the MCU.  Another one at least.  Parts will make you raise a curious eyebrow.  Parts will leave you breathless.  As a whole, it will leave you very satisfied.  And maybe a little dewy-eyed to boot.  Some of the interactions, particularly between Tony and Peter, Wanda and Vision, and even Thanos and Gamora, are heartfelt and beautifully acted.

Some wonder when the air is going to leave this MCU balloon.  All they do is raise the bar.  Like it or not.  Believe it or not.  The MCU is the standard bearer for which cinematic blockbusters are judged now.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

****3/4 stars

Ratings Legend

0*= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Worth a look.  Better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. I'm doing my happy dance!
5 *= Pure eye candy. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good