Left Speechless with Looming Questions

Rating: 8/10 (30 April 2018)

One can say that for ten years running the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to amaze and their latest installment 'Avengers: Infinity War' is a constant reminder that these characters have leapt out of their comic book pages and onto the big screen. With an all-star cast of familiar names and faces gracing the screen like Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson, and many others, I couldn't fathom how much they went through to finally come together in one movie. Director Joss Whedon helped kick off two Avengers films in 2012 and 2015, but thanks to brothers Joe and Anthony Russo (Captain America: Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War) they've pushed it further with these established characters and have a story worth telling.
With the Mad Titan Thanos (Josh Brolin) unleashing destruction in his wake to gather all the Infinity Stones that the heroes have kept safe in the past, it's up to the Avengers to join forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy to stop him at all cost.
The Russo Bros. did an excellent job in directing and gathering all these actors who not only gave splendid performances, but had its audience immerse themselves into a whirlwind of triumph and tragedy. Compared to a few past MCU titles, 'Infinity War' had the right balance of both witty humor and drama blended well into the action that it didn't derail the story itself. It kept me intrigued and curious to see what its mythos and pathos can do. When the movie ended, it had me left speechless and with so many questions looming over what lies ahead. I've heard some complaints from some people I've met saying they didn't like it because it didn't flesh out all the characters properly, missing other notable heroes, or lacked depth in the film's story, but I beg to differ. Since this is only the first half, surely its second half will bring this story to a decent close. My only nitpick was indeed that a few other heroes didn't show, but that's okay since they could likely be saved for its follow-up. Compared to past MCU villains, I was intrigued with the directors' approach in making Thanos being more than just a typical power-hungry villain, but somewhat sympathetic as well. Music composer Alan Silvestri's underscore is a brilliant accompaniment to the most pivotal scenes too. To close, this movie is, by far, a culmination of Marvel's wide assortment of heroes raising the bar in their shared universe. Only time will tell on what more can Marvel dish out from here beyond this Phase Three.
The works of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Joe Simon are now more than just drawings on comic book pages, they are embodiments who've made their mark in cinema.