It's Divisive but brilliant in its execution

Rating: 8/10 (26 April 2018)

Just got out of watching this movie in Imax 3d and although I love this film, it will have some negativity simply because it involves so many characters and only 2hr 36 minutes to tell the story. Ok let's start, the first act starts at a frantic pace just after the events of Thor Ragnorak and we instantly find out Thanos malevolent intentions, he wants all the 'infinity stones' to balance the Universe by wiping out half the Universe's population. After this showstopping first Act we are whisked off to New York where Dr Strange meets Spiderman and Iron Man for the first team closely followed by Hulkless Dr Banner. Thanos, Knowing that Dr Strange and vision has two of the stones on earth first heads to 'knowhere' from the GOG franchise to pick up the third stone from the collector drawing out Gamorra who is critical to the main and sub plot of the film, after using the reality stone to defeat The GOG he now tries to locate the 4th stone, the Soul gem which is hidden to all but one, before he will venture to earth to collect the final 2 stones. Thanos sends his children , 'The Black Order' to locate and find the two stones while he searches for the most difficult. During this rollercoaster of a ride that at times feels so similar to the cut scenes of the DC injustice movie, Thor meets the Guardians, then with Rocket and teenage Groot journies to the planet of the Dwarves to forge a new hammer called "Stormbreaker". All this is happening while Capt, Falcon, Black Widow rescue Scarlet Witch and Vision from the black order and then seek refuge with War Machine in Wakanda.
Also concurrently in the film we see Iron Man, Spider Man and Dr Strange hitch a lift to Titan, homeworld of Thanos where they meet the GOG all intent on stopping Thanos reaching Earth to collect the final 2 stones. Ok as you can see the plot is so fast there is no time to pause for breath and this is where some of the critics will have a field day but the film achieves its goals with brilliant pacing, fight scenes, special effects and great moments for all our heroes and villains alike and some stunning shocks that leave you gasping and exhilarated both at the same time. The ending is brilliant but you know especially with the aftercredits scene that the franchise simply can't end this way so Avengers 4 will be another must watch movie!!
Joss Brolin is rightly getting plaudits for his portrayal of a wonderful villain but for me, he's only the 2nd best in the MCU, behind Killmonger and still a distant 3rd in Comic book movies behind Heath Ledger's Joker, netherless his brilliant emotional arc of the character and in paticular Thanos relenting unerving motivation is what elevates the film to top 5 in the MCU behind Winter Soldier, Black Panther, Avengers 1 and Civil War. My only criticism is I wish there was more Wakanda in the movie but it does host the one of the best battle scenes witnessed on the big screen.