'Infinite War' is not just a film, it is a cinematic event. More than an adventure or action film, like most of its predecessors, the film has a much greater sense of urgency!

Rating: 9/10 (22 March 2020)

A decade after the debut of 'Iron Man', Marvel finally reaches its peak, concluding three phases that brought the great heroes of Casa das Ideias to the screen, who knew how to make the necessary adaptations while maintaining the essence of the original material of the comics. In this decade of huge successes, the audience became intimate with Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Ant-Man, Thor, Black Panther, the Guardians of the Galaxy, in short, the whole range of characters that today make part of everyone's life. And there are characters to come before the end of phase 3 in 'Ultimatum'. The cinema knew how to popularize and expand exponentially all these characters already so familiar to fans of comics. With each new phase, new characters and universes are added to this formula, consequently leaving everything bigger, better and grander.
With the contracts about to expire and having to increasingly pay stratospheric salaries to their stars, it is natural that this phase closure is the end of the cycle for some, while other characters will continue to emerge for years to come. To command this last film, which will be divided into two parts, the Russo brothers were called, who directed highly praised films by Captain America, The Winter Soldier and Civil War, which is also an Avengers for having brought together several Super heroes. For the script, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely were called again, who had the complex mission of bringing together earthly and cosmic characters in an organic and convincing way, placing the heroes in the face of a devastating threat. In Avengers, Infinity War, Thanos (Josh Brolin) finally arrives on Earth, willing to collect the Infinity Stones. To face it, the Avengers need to join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy, while dealing with disagreements among some of their members.
One of the points that we observe here is how the connection between the different films of the Marvel universe is made with extreme mastery. All loose ends are tied and we can see the consequences of the events of previous films, since the split of the heroes in 'Civil War' (after the events we noticed that Tony Stark and Steven Rogers had broken off since then), Bucky Barnes' exile (Sebastian Stan) in Wakanda and how the heroes have followed separate paths since then. Captain America (Chris Evans), the Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) went to one side as fugitives, the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) started a relationship, the Hulk had stayed the recent years in another galaxy, as seen in 'Thor, Ragnarok', the Guardians of the Galaxy continued their space adventures, now with Mantis (Pom Klementieff - featured in 'Guardians 2') integrated once and for all with Peter Quill ( Chris Pratt) having, finally, relating with Gamora (Zoe Saldana). We see Spider-Man (Tom Holland) continuing his student life with his newfound powers joining in the cosmic battle with the group, officially becoming an Avenger. We also see characters from the Black Panther universe, presented a few months before to the public, with Wakanda being the stage of an extensive and important sequence.
'Infinite War', like the infinite itself, has no beginning and no end, starting in the midst of the action directly connected with Thor, Ragnarok in which we have an exact notion of the size of the threat faced. If in small appearances in previous films, Thanos failed to show everything he was capable of, here he arrives showing what he came for. In ten minutes of film, the Titan beats Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) mercilessly and without mercy, decimates Asgardians and ends Loki (Tom Hiddlestone) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) without making the slightest effort. This is the point at which, we buy the seriousness of the situation and the grandeur and seriousness of the villain.
From there, as never before, the universe is fully explored as we follow the villain in search of the Jewels of Infinity across the galaxy. Thor's encounter with the Guardians of the Galaxy and the split of the group in two, with Thor, Rocket and the teenager Groot going to Nidavellir, where Eitri, the dwarf (Peter Dinklage) would manage to make a new hammer for Thor, with which he he could defeat Thanos and the others by going to Knowhere, where The Collector (Benício Del Toro) keeps the Jewel of Reality. Having already had the Jewel of Power, obtained when Thanos wiped out Xandar, he would become even stronger. Meanwhile, the other heroes stay on Earth to face Thanos' allies, who desperately try to obtain the Jewels of Time (which is protected by Doctor Strange) and Mind (which is part of the Vision).
This beginning of the conclusion of phase 3 of the Marvel universe expands the action to several places on Earth (New York - where Thanos' followers go after the Jewel that is with Doctor Strange, Scotland and Wakanda - to obtain the Jewel of the Mind). In addition, in space we travel to Gamora's home planet wiped out by Thanos, to Knowhere - where The Collector, Titan lives - Thanos' planet, Vormir - where the Soul Jewel was, where only Gamora knew her whereabouts, Nidavellir - dwarf planet forging the most deadly weapons in the galaxy.
In 'Infinite War', we have the feeling that there is really a powerful and practically unbeatable threat that puts humanity and the entire galaxy at risk, to the point of being wiped out in a snap. The film carries an air of despair and hopelessness. What we see on the screen are characters fighting side by side and trying to improvise in the face of a threat far greater than the sum of their powers. The battle still carries the airs of altruism and strength of the previous films, but this time, we have moved far from that feeling that everything is under control and will be resolved in some heroic and inventive way. The writers rightly chose to leave the villainous titan Thanos at the center of the story. The film carried by the antagonist's unexpected charisma, which has contextualized motivations, and fits perfectly into the presented universe - he is cruel, merciful, has a sense of humor and is kind. Here, his relationship with his "adopted daughters" can finally be properly explored. In this respect, many applause for Josh Brolin's performance combined with the incredible visual effects that created the figure of the Crazy Titan
With an established enemy, the directors' competence shown in 'Civil War' in reconciling so many heroes on the scene, is repeated here, on a much larger scale. With so many heroes on the scene, it was possible to notice even more the relationship between them. Thor's dynamic with the Guardians of the Galaxy is excellent, especially with Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper). We even have some scenes of the God of Thunder with his half brother Loki, who once again reinforces the love-hate relationship between the brothers. We also have the hilarious relationship between Spider-Man and Iron Man, again repeating the partnership in some hilarious scenes. The duo still has great chemistry with Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). Captain America's team also had a fearless resistance with the Royal Guard, the Frontier Tribe, the Dora Milaje and the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). Whether across the galaxy or on Earth, the groups formed to defend humanity from Thanos' imposing threat. The whole cast is great and the excitement of each one to be part of these experiences is notorious.
Contrary to what we saw in the past, by the way, you can say that Infinite War is the darkest film in the Marvel shared universe. This is not only due to the aforementioned sense of hopelessness, the result of the notion that, at that time, the heroes really are dealing with a threat far greater than the strength of their powers, but also because of the decrease in the tone of jokes and comic reliefs. . Not only the public, but the heroes themselves know that what they face now is far greater than any enemy they have faced before.
There are no words to describe the magnificent visual effects, which are further magnified on the big screen of the cinema. The action scenes on practically all planets and scenarios bring out the best to be explored in each situation. The joining of so many worlds, in so many contexts and how everything is so integrated was certainly an arduous task, but performed to perfection. The varied photography of Trent Opaloch combined with the production designer of Charles Wood and the soundtrack of Alan Silvestri places the viewer in the most diverse environments and brings all the dramatic and spectacular load to the viewer.
It is the feeling of integration of the entire Marvel universe materializing in a way that it is impossible not to please the public. Infinite War is not just a film, it is a cinematic event, one of those films that are practically unanimous and that manage to go down in history, due to the quality, repercussions and records achieved successively. More than an adventure or action film, like most of its predecessors, the film has a much greater sense of urgency. The Russo brothers made a megalomaniac work, with unforgettable scenes of action (with special emphasis on the action scenes that take place in Titan and Wakanda) and with dilemmas of friendship and family that are fully supported. This is the long-awaited show since 'The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King (2003)', something so spectacular and well built at the same time.