Avengers: Infinity War is a decade culmination of strategic cinematic building with triumphant results.

Rating: 8/10 (26 April 2018)

10 years since 'Iron Man' commenced the cinematic universe. 10 years. Just let that sink in. Now, the superhero soap opera draws closer to its conclusion and the stakes are higher than ever. The Avengers, Guardians and a myriad of supporting heroes encounter the wrath of the villainous Thanos. They must unite and prevent him from harnessing all six infinity stones, because if he does...we all know what will happen. Total universal annihilation! With each chapter, the MCU becomes more and more predicable as the narrative follows the exact same three act structure. Whilst there is a tiny sense of predictability here, the sheer boldness of the Russo brothers' execution has made for an excitingly tense blockbuster that I'm sure will leave many in awe with what they just witnessed. The colossal enormity of this chapter, the raging pressure for the directors, the astronomical expectation from the fans, all immeasurable factors that somehow have been measured and implemented to create heroic entertainment. The intricate balance of all the superheroes felt like an impossible task, however each member received enough screen time to validate their presence within the story. All the actors performed with sincerity, particularly during the more emotional moments. Finally we are presented with a multi-dimensional antagonist who's motives, may unquestionably be evil, are nonetheless relatable. You see his perspective. The inclusion of Thanos' backstory and the focus on the ferocious power of the Infinity Gauntlet cements him as the strongest adversary within the MCU. Impressive visual effects and memorable action set pieces ensures the thrills are consistently imaginative throughout. It's certainly a behemoth, where the narrative's pacing is slightly inconsistent during the first half and the humour misses more than it hits, but with such confident direction they have made an impossible chapter possible. Geeks, fans and film lovers, rejoice! However that ending though, left me speechless...