Phase 3's Satisfyingly Epic Finale

Rating: 8/10 (26 April 2018)

Attempting a sequence of artful spoiler manoeuvres, I am going to endeavour to deliver a review of 2018's biggest film, while avoiding marring Avengers: Infinity War for the vast crowds who I'm sure will besiege cinemas this weekend. With this in mind, I'll probably tend towards the fairly condensed version, and keep it brief.
Avengers: Infinity War is the exciting culmination of an entire decade of cape-toting, witty-minded heroes who work at just about the coolest gig imaginable - operating as a super-powered team that's the perfect amalgamation of soldiers, gods and billionares under the law enforcement/counter-terrorist organisation aptly named S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division). Throw the roguish Guardians of the Galaxy and a few newer Marvel Cinematic Universe additions into the mix, and you have a ginormous, well-accrued force that'll bash any opponent black and blue before you can say, "Mr. Tony Stark". Well, that's the hope. But rising at last to the challenge, the great arch-villain of the Marvel universe finally rises to the (age-old?) challenge to subjugate Earth's Mightiest Heroes in a global domination that will forever shift the reality of the Marvel universe.
Avengers: Infinity War follows on from its numerous predecessors as a very worthy finale (or part one thereof). It delivers on comedy (if the Guardians of the Galaxy are involved, I guess that's just part of the parcel), drama (we see new emotional depths in this film that I think Marvel is desperately in need of) and a whole bunch of extensive battle sequences, pitting together a range of enemies (an interesting experiment in abilities). The movie does a good job of juggling several dozen characters, and gives everyone a special role. I'm intrigued by how the movies have shown the progression of each character throughout a long period of time, and how they have naturally changed.
There are "stunned silence" moments, "laugh out loud" moments, and a couple of "eureka!" moments. Some questions are answered with satisfying results; some are left shrouded in secrecy for a grand reveal next year. Thanos makes the ultimate villain, filling those special (size 69?!) shoes with pride and unwavering cohesion, joining the ranks of such other great villains as Davy Jones from the Pirates of the Carribean. He really makes the movie, in my opinion, and I'm so glad to see so much of him, and to realise that he's a solid character with depth. He is indeed, the ultimate villain of the Marvel universe.
The music is a bit sub-par, although the couple of times that the Avengers theme breaks through is really strong, musically and emotionally. I was amazed, watching this movie and thinking of the mind-numbing 3-4 hundred million spent on this blockbuster of blockbusters, so to speak. There must be tens of thousands of effects in a movie like this. I can't wait to see what monster opening it conjures up. I'm excited for part two, as Infinity War does very much beg a sequel - and not a sequel in a year or so - right now! This movie will have the whole fanbase in an uproar (a more favourable uproar than The Last Jedi caused, I presume), and for a reason.
One trouble I have with the film is simply that everyone is so overpowered. I know it's sort of necessary and certainly expected, but something I can't stand in modern cinema, is the idea that any character can be brought back from the dead. That isn't how real life works. If a character dies and I expect him/her to return soon enough, I'm hardly going to actually mourn his/her death. I can't say for certain, but I have a suspicion that Marvel MIGHT do that... and I'm going to stop there, because I don't want to spoil the movie. Enjoy - it's one crazy ride.