Infinity War is a well crafted movie - but is it really good?

Rating: 8/10 (20 May 2018)

I can reveal my answer to the title of the review directly here and now: I don't know.
Infinity War is a grand scale movie - and I usually don't like that. I don't think, that the "end of the world" should be taken lightly in a movie (if it is not a "end-of-the-world-movie"). I have to say, while it is not as "apparent felt" as in other super-hero movies, the "scaling of the individual powers" are ridiculous. Captain America can hold back the hand of Thanos, who can even "pull a moon" with his powers? Yeah - right. Thor is as strong, that he can move a neutron star? But isn't able to even successfully fight one of the generals of Thanos? WTF. These are the details, which souring my "super-hero experience". Superheroes are based on science fiction - and when the science becomes pathetic the movie (for me) falls apart.
However... Infinity War as movie is so well crafted and there are so many different scenes, which are all happening parallel - yet fit together so well, that you don't have time to think much about the "scaling". The consistent progression of the movie just keeps you on the edge of your seat and it becomes never boring or annoying.
Let's talk about the big guy: Thanos. He is brilliant. Honestly, he is portrayed very well - and the success of the movie is due to his set up. His agenda is comprehendible... killing randomly half of the (intelligent?) lifeforms of the galaxy to ensure a balance? In a way it makes sense. Especially because he has accept a personal loss to gain the ability to let half of the galaxy perish...
It has been a long time, that a movie super villain has had such a grand agenda, which has been portrait in a way, that you could understand his/her motivation. I loved it.
I would have loved to get a bit more exposition of the generals of Thanos. But I guess, you cannot get it all...
At the end, it is a good movie. Unlike Deadpool 2, it isn't an example of a movie, in which other movies in future should progress. While the formula works in Infinity War, the chances are, that the same formula would cripple other movies. But for the time being, I have to admit, that I really enjoyed the movie, the suspense - even the ending (spoilers: Thanos get his will).
Unfortunately for the genre and for the "main-Marvel-universe", Infinity War is poison. Every character has basically "god-like" abilities, which makes no more sense. Unfortunately you also cannot turn the time back (at least not with the portrayed powers). Hence it seems that the Marvel universe is a dying star, which is not in its hottest state.
My final verdict is: enjoy it - the success and fun won't last...