War for the Universe

Rating: 10/10 (6 May 2018)

The thing about conflict is it goes both ways, no matter how well trained we are to not lose, no matter how many battles triumphed, death and loss are never far away.
This is one of my favorite sequels of all time up there with "The Empire Strikes Back" in my book, it's also believe it or not my favorite Avengers film (at least for now, till the next one comes out). This film really is something not just is it a big event but it's also the darkest entry in the franchise and MCU, as it is the most epic but also the most tragic. Though the film is fitting as it's takes place in the MSU's 10th Anniversary and through the years it has build itself of to this, and I'll just say it's one hell of a pay off.
Characters are good each have good moments: Thor and Peter Quill/Star lord stand out for me I really felt both were at their best on an emotional basis, from what both have to endure it's interesting seeing both of them really pissed, it really drives both of them to do what must be done and you really route for them doing it.
Though who also stand out are Scarlet Witch and The Vision, both characters I honestly felt we're really at their best. I really like that you get a little depth on their relationship as we see how far they have can for themselves and each other. It's really touching which is also what makes what they endure all the sadder; I honestly wanted both to somehow find a way to survive but there were no guarantees.
However, the one character that stands out in the whole film and that we're all really here for is Thanos. Josh Brolin is just fantastic as Thanos, this is probably my favorite role from him; it just fit like a glove for him (no pun intended). I really love the physicality as well as emotionality of his performance, let alone voice which is spot on I actually did imagine that is what Thanos would sound like. Strangely this film is sort of his movie, he truly is the main character throughout the film. Which is cool, Thanos is one of my favorite fictional villians of all time not just is he terrifying but he's the most complex as he is three dimensional.
The most interesting thing about him is he doesn't perceive himself as a villain, he honestly feels what he is doing is right, that it's for the universe's own good as he feels by destroying a certain number of worlds that are heading toward failure, he can save several other worlds in the universe so there would be an harmonious balance. He's actually aware his actions breach ethical boundaries but to him they are necessary evils to accomplish what he sets himself out to do.
I even like seeing the emotionality to him as you see from his eyes and voice a lot of anger but also a lot of sadness, as if this guy carries an emotional weight that is as heavy and large as his size as you see this is a person that has endure more than his share of loss. Which fuels his rage as it seems he despises it more than any enemy he fights. I also like that there is a bit of this unpredictability about him, you're not always sure what he's about to do until he does it which can kind of catch you off guard.
And of course, his trademark weapon The Infinity Gauntlet is just awesome, it's one of my favorite fictional weapons as that gauntlet with all the stones in place lets you weld God Like Powers. With all six stones intact, you could do just about anything you want, I won't say what you have to see for yourself to believe.
I really like the story format and the pace in it is great as it's really fast, despite how long the film actually is I honestly didn't notice the time which is a good sign. At first, it's sort of an adventure as we see things taking place in both space and earth, and it's practically a race for the stones. There is kind of a double layer suspense where on one hand your hoping the Avengers will find the stones before Thanos, but on another hand your kind of are quietly routing for Thanos to find those stones because let's face it we deep down really want to see what each of them can do. And once we see Thanos utilize those stones it doesn't disappoint, it's kind of a payoff for each and every plight.
And then the film turns into you could say a war movie, in the final half it gets into one of my favorite battles of all time let alone one of the longest as it clocks in about 30-40 mins. It is just absolute pandemonium as we see left, right up and down there are actually two different battles taking place. One in space with Thanos and a group of Avengers and another on earth against Thanos's forces and the secondary group of Avengers. It's almost like seeing a live action "Where Waldo" art illustration as there are just things happening all around the characters and you've got just most of the character from the Marvel Verse involved.
In the battles there are some really cool moments from Thor getting his new hammer which I'm glad, I know that in the last film "Thor Ragnorok" he's fully harnessed his power of lightening but it's just not the same, that hammer is his trademark and is just really cool seeing him kick ass with it. Which he does in this film and you can see from the ferocity of his actions he's really mad now. Or even Bruce Banner in that Hulk Buster, I thought it was really cool for once seeing Bruce doing the ass kicking and not relying on the Hulk all the time, it just shows he's no wimp Bruce truly can hold his own against danger.
But I like that you see the battle isn't one sided, it really looks like things can go either way. We see the Avengers kicking ass as usual but also, we see Thanos and his forces at times get the upper hand and turn things around. Times like that really made me worried for the lives of the characters, despite the Avengers abilities they're not bullet or knife proof. You really get that wavering feeling you have where at times you feel a glimmer of hope but then gets crushed, you can say by Thanos fist.
The score by one of my favorite composers Alvin Sivelstri is good, though it's really the end theme song that is the most memorable and is probably one of my favorite end themes ever. I won't say what kind of theme it is, but I'll just say just like what happens at the end it will hit you really hard.
From here I've said enough, and I'll just say one last thing, a battle may be won but the war is far from over.
Rating: 4 stars