Infinity Scores !

Rating: 9/10 (30 April 2018)

Thanos is coming. That's about all I can write for a plot synopsis without delving into the many potential spoilers that "Avengers: Infinity War" contains. Obviously, Earth's mightiest heroes will stand against him, joined by the various other characters that the MCU have introduced in the decade of success we've enjoyed since "Iron Man".
"Infinity War" is one of the rare films that, for me, lives up to the gargantuan hype that has revolved around it, since is announcement. Tonally, it's spot on. The moments of levity releasing a tension that caused by the honest belief that this is going to be the end for some of the characters we've spent that happy decade with. Somehow, despite the history with the previous 18 movies, that the heroes will win in the end, there's a sense of purveying dread throughout "Infinity War", that any encounter with Thanos is going to be the last time we see that character and if it's even possible to stop him, the cost is going to be astronomical.
Marvel are often accused of having a problem with their Villains, but that is not the case here. It really is Thanos' film, he's in virtually every scene and even when absent he's the focus of discussion from the other characters. It's testament to Josh Brolin and the writing and animation teams that Thanos is not simply some genocidal madman, he believes in the justification of what he's doing and the price he's had to pay to do it.
One of the initial concerns I had was how they would balance the 50 odd named characters without making them token. My concerns were unfounded - the writing team do a masterful job of explaining why each hero is where they are and their justifications for staying or travelling to where they do. It's full of little hero moments, that make your heart beat a little faster and as I say above, the comedy is spot on. Doctor Strange is much more compelling here, than he was in his solo film - the sorcerer supreme at the height of his powers, his dialogue, event he early comedy is much better written than before. The heaviest work from a hero point of view is probably done by Thor, who continues to show the character development across his films arc, and the humour that Chris Hemsworth is becoming so adept at.
The ending (No spoilers here) is perhaps the only real blot on the copybook. Despite the immediate shock of it, you realise fairly quickly that it's . . . not going to stick, I guess is the best way to describe it and that next year's Avengers film will be about sorting out the situation that they are left in. But this is a relatively minor quibble, soon routed by the realisation that we're actually only half way through an epic story of loss and redemption.
One year to wait until Avengers 4, I will be counting the days.