I’m going to make a potentially unpopular opinion: I didn’t love Avengers: Infinity War. Granted, I’ve said that I’m tired of super heroes before but I still go see these films, so...

The story is the story of the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy and various other super hero types trying to stop Thanos from gathering the Infinity stones and wiping out half the universe.

There is a lot to like here, I admit. The characters are grouped in new configurations and separated across the galaxy. With the large number of characters, some are given short shrift (despite large set pieces set in Wakanda, Black Panther and the Wakandans are basically background characters) or significantly diminished (Captain America, Black Widow after being front and centre so long). Tony Stark is partnered with Dr. Strange and Peter Parker, and later, the Guardians, in outer space. Thor is partnered with Rocket and Groot in a mission of their own. Hulk is largely absent in favour of Bruce Banner.

The villain, Thanos, gets a lot of screen time and his story and motivations are compelling. Josh Brolin is strong in this performance. This film basically follows three stories: Thanos gathering the stones in space; Tony Stark, Strange and the Guardians trying to stop him; Thor’s quest to find a weapon that can stop Thanos. The lesser story of the rest, on Earth, trying to protect the Mind stone in Vision’s head, is just that: lesser. With the exception of Banner, I really didn’t care for the story or characters on Earth. Stark’s quest was far more compelling as it built on the arc started way back in his first Iron Man outing. Gamora had a great arc here but the Star Lord subplot was unearned. Thor continues to grow as a strong character and his arc is both tragic and heroic.

Spoiler Alert

The large battle set piece in Wakanda that concludes the film was just a lot of colour and the weakest part of the film. Banner provides some decent comic relief but the rest was pointless until Thanos is able to arrive.

I loved how this film ended.

I get that it is only the first half of a two part piece but the ending here was perfect and where Tony is left, where Thor is left is perfect. Captain America is sort of superfluous here as he is merely the Boy Scout soldier. The drama belongs to Tony and Thor.

Worth Seeing but Flawed.

-all photos via IMDb.com.