Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War holds a unique place in my cinematic adventures. Infinity War is a unicorn, a film that I have seen more than once in the movie theater. Admittedly, the second screening was a bit under duress although it did manage to clear up a few plot points and details. But overall it did not do much to sway my opinion.

Of course I have put it rather late to post my reaction to the film, but I think that it is still a worthwhile exercise that will serve to help me for whenever Avengers 4 comes out. And – YES – I know that the official title has been released along with a few other spoilers, but I figure it is best to leave well enough alone 🙂

Due to my delay, I will keep my recap to subheadings and short list items …

Overall Thoughts on Avengers: Infinity War

• I liked it. Personally I think that the Russo Brothers did a good job in gathering all of these characters and their uniquely crafted standalone stories into one cohesive story. As a person who has seen most (but not all) of the films in the MCU, I think that is a big win.
• I know some are critical of the lack of full continuity with the most recent MCU entries (Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther). For me, any incongruities are inconsequential since I expected as much – within reason. In my opinion, it is a credit to Marvel and Disney that they give each artist some leeway in how they tell the story, as long as the “big stuff” remains fairly consistent. A little ‘retconning’ it is okay with me.

Things that Worked in Avengers: Infinity War

• Chris Hemsworth’s Performance. This turned out to be a pleasant surprise. His arc as Thor really ran the gambit of emotions – from the lighthearted comedy to the semi-defeated warrior who is at the end of his rope with nothing left to lose. That is quite a range to pull off in the same film and he did the thing!
• Bring on the Theories! Because of where we leave the story, there are lots of unanswered questions – we know things cannot end or move “forward” in their present state. Over the past several weeks since seeing Infinity War, it has been fun, if not frustrating at times, to discuss what it all means.
• A Feeling of Stakes and Consequences. The impending sense of peril and loss were quite pronounced throughout the film. It was clear that for our heroes, not only was the fate of the universe a big deal, but the personal stakes also weighed heavily in motivating their (in)actions.

Things that Did Not Work (as Well as They Should Have)

• Post Credits Clip. This one has bugged me more than many others in the past. It was a direct reference to a character that I have never seen. And without any in depth knowledge of the machinations of the MCU, left me a bit perplexed.
• Thanos. He just annoyed me. To the creators of Infinity War, I guess ‘mission accomplished.’ After all, the point of creating a villain is to get your audience to generally loathe them. Full marks on that account! As a baddie, Thanos comes off more like a petulant man-child wanting his own way more than anything.
• Just Say No (to 3D). This does not have anything to do with the film itself, but it is worth noting. Having seen Infinity War in both cinematic dimensions, I do not think anything is ultimately lost in seeing this in 2D. The only loss I suffered was in my wallet after shelling out the extra cash for the additional ‘D’.

So that’s it. I enjoyed Avengers: Infinity War and look forward to seeing how events will unfold come May 3, 2019 (subject to change).