Works well as an ensemble piece

Rating: 7/10 (6 May 2018)

The Avengers : Infinity War is not going to win Best Picture, but hey as an excuse to sit in a comfortable seat in an air conditioned theater and munch popcorn, it does the trick!
This film is way too difficult to talk about without spoilers. So much stuff here. I will keep everything to a general nature.
This is a ensemble of Marvel characters, both good and bad. Amazing to see the multi-protagonist story structure done this deftly. George Lucas is a master at it, and well, it appears that the director here attempted to emulate him....it is a workable effort. The first act is re-introducing us to characters we all know (with a great entry by Captain America). The second act does the best it can, slipping into formulaic action and one-liners. But there is reprieve! The third act delivers a multi-layered, thought-out ending coupled with an awesome post credits easter egg scene that leads into the next film. So please folks, catch that last scene. *Just as a helpful FYI - as soon as the credits roll, there is enough time to visit the lavatory and return to view the final scene...about 5 minutes, I'd say.
It is a long film, be mindful of that. There is much violence also, parents be advised.
My overall impression that this film succeeds at connecting the dots (albeit we all can see what it was without the dots being connected). It is rather predictable. Some scenes, either overtly or subtly, are telegraphed to us. I am not sure if this was deliberate or desperate. You be the judge.