Nineteen films and a decade in the making, Avengers: Infinity War brings together the marvellous heroes we’ve grown to love for this epic story of humanity and destruction. Cap, Tony, Spider-Man, a whole group of awesome Wakandians – the gang’s (mostly) all here for this epic tale.
The film is full of surprises that are sure to make audiences the world over laugh, gasp and cry into their popcorn. And it just keeps coming. There’s a lot to get through here and we’ve had a decade of exposition so no time is wasted getting down to the nitty gritty of what is in store for Earth’s mightiest heroes – and those off-world, too.
What is so truly impressive about this film is how utterly collaborative it is. In a sea of brilliant and much-loved characters, there is nobody who stands out above the rest. Sure, you’ll have your favourites. You’ll have the ones that get the biggest reaction when they appear. But Infinity War belongs to no one. Not even Thanos.
Infinity War is an engrossing ensemble from the outset. And it can achieve this because we’ve come to know these characters so well already. As Thanos speaks of balance in the universe, we see the truly balanced way each character is given their time on screen. All the threads are woven together so beautifully and so intricately that you can practically see the care and attention that so deftly went into developing each strand.
And with so much hinted at, it’s an absolute treat to finally see Thanos in all his glory. Like the very best villains, he is not one-dimensional. Brolin’s incredible portrayal of this genocidal maniac brings humanity where there should be none.
The film is relentless and intense and full of drama and anguish. Yet in true Marvel style there is still room for humour and whimsy. You can’t bring the Avengers together with the Guardians and forget the many facets of these characters.
But it’s not just about the people on screen. Those behind the camera who were involved in putting this together understand the responsibility they carry on their shoulders. They get the importance of honouring the characters we’ve been travelling with this past decade and they take it seriously. They understand the build-up and the pay off that’s needed and the end result does not disappoint.
This is event cinema at its best and most ambitious. Avengers: Infinity war is an exhilarating and heart-aching cinematic event that will leave you breathless – and desperate for the next installment.
