Avengers: Infinity War - The War of the Worlds and Why Its a Good One!

 

WARNING: POTENTIAL SPOILERS AND GENERAL FUN-RUINING AHEAD! 

Alright, well, with the customary disclaimer out of the way, let's crack on, shall we?

Summer is nearly upon us and that means longer days, hotter weather and of course, blockbuster films we flock to like some long-awaited pilgrimage to a fanboy Mecca, where we shamelessly gorge ourselves on a large popcorn and a bladder-busting Cherry Coke! Kicking off this summer is the flick every comic book geek both young and old has awaited like it was the second coming of Captain America: Avengers: Infinity War!  As I write this review, the film is still vibrantly fresh in my mind, having only hours ago spent two and a half hours of my precious weekend immersing myself in the grand spectacle that is the most anticipated installment in the MCU.

I can say this with utmost certainty: it is at once a glorious popcorn film, checking all the boxes for fun and nonstop high-octane action, while simultaneously presenting itself as an examination of what each one of us is willing to sacrifice for what we desire most. It's a film that doesn't hold back from the bravado but never oversells itself, rewarding us for paying attention while telling one helluva story! From the very first moment, the film drops you directly into the action from the last moment of Thor: Ragnarok, and makes clear in just five minutes that this will not be your typical romp with our super friends. In fact, Avengers: Infinity War turns the typical superhero flick on its ear, skewing the notion that anyone - least of all our heroes - are safe. This is most definitely a peek into the darker marvel universe.

In globe-trotting (and cosmos-trotting) fashion, the movie is an escalating game of cat-and-mouse where our heroes are often - frustratingly - one step behind Thanos as they struggle to prevent him from collecting the entire set of Infinity Stones and adding them to his nefarious fashion accessory. Herculean feats of heroism and soul-crushing moments of sacrifice abound in this dark tome. In fact, Thanos himself makes a personal sacrifice halfway through the film that is so personal and gut-wrenching, for a fleeting moment I actually sympathized with the big mauve lug.  That is, until he acquired the Soul Stone and proceeded with this plot to lay waste to the universe.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this spectacle is just how seamless and smoothly it unites heroes from across the MCU, joining them up for a final showdown simultaneously on planets Titan and Earth that can only be described as the stuff comic book nerd dreams are made of. Those of us who hoped for a heartfelt reuniting of camps Stark and Rogers will have to settle for a lukewarm cooperation to prevent mass genocide of the universe. Speaking of which, any fanboy (or fangirl) that is familiar with the comics can attest that the finale of this flick will not exactly make it the "feel-good film of the summer." The final ten minutes are at once horrifying in its implications for humanity and devastating in its consequences for our remaining heroes.

Yes, I said remaining heroes.

Death is the ever-present specter in this movie, and its scythe cuts down more than one of our beloved heroes at the - ahem - hand of Thanos. Fear not, though, for anyone familiar with super hero lore can attest, death is never final. For those willing to stay until the end of the credits (and who doesn't for a Marvel movie?), I have two reassuring words for you: Captain Marvel!

My final verdict: this is a must-see for any fan of the Avengers, or MCU. It certainly earned its place at the top of the summer blockbuster mountain, promising a conclusion that will be worth the wait.

Cinema Score: A-