Avengers: Infinity War

Release Date: 27 April, 2018


What's It About: Thanos embarks on his noble quest to save the Universe by gathering the mysterious and powerful Infinity Stones, but his mission is hindered by the evil Avengers who want to stop him at every turn.


The Good: I am honestly amazed that the film was able to fit everyone in without feeling too cramped. The plot has numerous threads that jump around, a lot like the Lord of the Rings films, which actually helps to split pockets of characters up whilst keeping everyone moving on parallel tracks. There's some great room for interesting pairings and groups here, and seeing everyone journeying around the Universe was definitely a highlight (more of the film takes place in space than on Earth). Mechanically speaking, the action is absolute top notch and the inclusion of the Infinity Stones and their powers make for some really novel effects and battle mechanics.


The Bad: The franchise is starting to get a little complicated and you really need to be keeping up to date with each instalment, since they all lead into one another. The film leaves the exposition to the other films so it can stay tight without dumping information on you. This is a good thing overall, but a point of weakness in the plot (you can blame the comics' decades-long lore for that). If you have a favorite Avenger, don't expect them to get much screentime, and if you like Ant Man or Hawkeye, don't hold your breath. Also, bear in mind that everyone in this film is a mortal.


Best Performance: Josh Brolin as Thanos, an alien from the planet Titan. Brolin played the character both in voice, facial model and motion capture. Teased in the post-credits scene for The Avengers (2012) and gradually making cameos here and there ever since, Thanos is a man on a mission. His character is highly nuanced and multi-dimensional - he isn't necessarily 'evil', and he has his own motivations and lives by his own code of morals. It really impressed me how expressive he appears on screen, given that he is a CGI character, and his emotional moments are genuinely touching. He is Marvel's most complex and developed villain and it is a joy to follow him on what he believes is a righteous path for the utilitarian good of the Universe.


Should I Watch It: If you've seen single MCU film over the past decade, then this is the culmination of all that it has been leading to. A spectacle of blockbuster filmmaking of the highest order, featuring no less than two-dozen protagonists in an almost miraculous balance. No one character really gets more screentime than the other (not including Thanos), and it never feels overcrowded at any point. It's actually difficult to take sides with this one because there is no inherent evil at play. This is easily the most intense and entertaining Marvel film made so far.


Post-Credits Scene: End-credits scene only


Similar Films: Anything in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The DC Cinematic Universe


Trailer: