Not even the Infinity Gauntlet could get me to spoil Infinity War. The creative team, cast, and studio have requested a spoiler free review, which leads to an interesting challenge. How does one review a movie without describing any of the movie’s content? Avengers: Infinity War has finally arrived, and audiences will finally get to witness the epic story that has been ten years in the making.

 

 

I feel emotionally wrecked after watching Infinity War. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. There is a level of constant intensity throughout the 156 minute adventure that is unlike any previous Marvel Studios endeavor. Infinity War is extremely ambitious, bringing together the casts of every single movie from Iron Man to Black Panther, in a story has been building since Thanos was first introduced in The Avengers. With so many talented actors on screen, it was inevitable that some would get more time time than others. I would have preferred to see some additional characters take the spotlight, but I can understand why the Russo brothers highlighted certain players for this story. Hopefully the scales may balance a little more in the untitled “Avengers 4″, but we will have to wait and see. 

 

 

 

In addition to juggling an insanely large ensemble, the Russos are also telling a universe-spanning story in just a few hours. While two and a half hours would normally be sufficient time for a Marvel Film, the extensiveness of the story creates pacing and characterization challenges. Infinity War becomes a massive balancing act as the story progresses, and the scales don’t always stay level. The powers of the characters also become slaves to the story, resulting in noticeable inconsistencies. 

 

I found it interesting that Infinity War feels less like an Avengers story than a Thanos story in which all of the Marvel Universe characters appear. The density of the cast means we spend more time with Thanos than any other character. Who the protagonists and antagonists are in this film is really up for debate based on perspective. Josh Brolin takes center stage as the Mad Titan, and he provides a surprisingly emotional take on the gauntlet wielding villain.

 

 

Avengers: Infinity War is one hell of a roller coaster ride, from both an action and emotional standpoint. Experiencing a wide range of characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe in one story is exhilarating to say the least, but this story is more about setting the stage for the future rather than telling a finite tale. There are many amazing surprises, shocking returns, and hilarious encounters throughout the story. Do yourself a favor and don’t read any spoilers. It will detract from your overall viewing experience. 

 

I will leave you with this: for the first time ever at a Marvel screening, the theater was dead silent as the credits rolled. You may need the entire length of the credits to process what you just witnessed. As a life long Marvel Comics reader, I can tell you that no level of preparation will help get you ready for this one. To say that the stakes are high would be a massive understatement. 

 

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Avengers: Infinity War 4 out of 5 universe-spanning cinematic endeavors.

 

 

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