A 10-Year Investment Well Worth the Wait
Avengers: Infinity War is not just a movie; it's a cinematic event.
By M.T. Bates
When you invest your time or money into anything, you eventually want to see a return on that investment. Back in 2008, fans alike all made an investment that they didn’t even know they were making at the time. An investment into a universe of characters that would take 10 years to fully mature before they would see a return on their initial deposit. Last night, fans got to collect.
It’s hard to describe the feelings you get when watching this film if you are a comic book fan. When you stop to realize that this is not only a culmination of 10 years of world building, but also a cinematic event we may never get again, you begin to feel flustered, as if you almost aren’t deserving of what you are receiving. Realizing and fleshing out 10 years of films into a 150-minute part one of a finale is not something most filmmakers would ever consider trying to undertake, but the Russo brothers did.
Marvel fans will weep at how emotional and real this movie feels. Non Marvel fans will respect the gravitas this film puts forward and how bold and massive it is. Viewers who are not comic book fans will watch it and appreciate that effort put forth to make something so unreal come to life. This is a cinematic event that must be experienced by all movie fans.
Avengers: Infinity War was an emotional whirlwind if you are invested in any character from this universe. There is no way to put it lightly. You may go from laughing to gasping in shock and awe in a matter of minutes. The stakes have never been higher for Earth’s mightiest heroes, and you will feel that inside your chest… multiple times. If you go into this event expecting the unexpected, you still won’t be prepared. Fans of the original comic arcs from the 1990s will be surprised by what they see on screen (especially the end scene).
The emotional baggage is heavy because each character has a time to shine, and there are many characters. Ones who you would think shouldn’t be that important turn out to play key roles throughout the film, so do not brush anyone off. Thor & Rocket and Stark & Strange have wonderful chemistry throughout the film and they will make you smile whenever you see them together. Character balance was a key to making this movie work and the filmmakers nailed it, but what is a hero without a villain?
The Black Order was mostly forgettable throwaways, except for Ebony Maw. I love it when someone you don’t expect to stand out blows you away. Tom Vaughan-Lawlor portrays Ebony Maw, a radically powerful member of the Black Order, as his telekinesis powers are second to none. However, it is his mannerisms, ego, and way with words that sets him apart from nearly every other character.
Imagine if you will, Lord Voldemort, Emperor Palpatine, and some of the regality and calculated madness associated with the Kingpin from the Netflix series Daredevil, and you combine them all to form one deliciously evil and breakout villain, you will have the Ebony Maw in a nutshell. Surely you must be wondering though, what of the Mad Titan himself?
Thanos is complicated, tortured, tragic, and perhaps misguided through the eyes of some, while the rest see him as unadulterated evil. When a movie makes you second guess your feelings on a villain, you know they did something right. Thanos has a plan and a vision that, when laid out, isn’t as ridiculous as it first seems. There is merit behind his vision, as mad as that sounds.
Make no doubts about it, though, you will come to fear and respect Thanos. Like all villains of immense power, they do have weaknesses. When your strengths outweigh your weaknesses, that weakness essentially becomes moot. We learn a bit of backstory to Thanos and to why he is on this quest, which helps give this character more depth.
Thanos has an immediate effect and relationship of sorts with whoever he comes in contact with and he is far from void of emotion or emotional attachment. This is a villain done right and he truly dethrones all who have come before him. The might of Thanos is real.
Humor has always played a large role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and this movie is no different, but it is peppered in and works as a softener. What I mean by that is that it lulls you into a false sense of security before drop-kicking you into a bed of scorpions… repeatedly. The humor is mild and comes from characters you would expect such as Drax, Rocket, Tony, Quill, and Peter. Thor has his moments as well, but his character is destined for greater heights.
Most were aware going into this film that deaths were coming. Well, this was no lie. Deaths do indeed occur, some more vicious and impactful than others, but you will feel each one regardless. I’d rather not dive any deeper into this topic for the sake of keeping this review spoiler-free.
It’s not a Marvel movie if there is no post-credits scene and we indeed get one. It’s a setup scene with some familiar faces that should make you squeal in joy despite the scene merely confirming what we have already known. This was the only such scene and shows up at the very end.
So what can we expect from the next Avengers film? Emotions on a level of incalculable measures for one thing. New characters will be required to handle a threat no one should be able to handle and the ending of one chapter will be the beginning of another.
No movie of this scale should have been able to accomplish what Avengers: Infinity War has accomplished. Cherish this moment and enjoy this event inside a movie theater before you miss out. Hopefully you will have an audience that will cheer, laugh, and weep alongside you as this movie invokes every emotion a human has at their disposal.
The Good
The character balance and humor is kept in check as to not to diminish the severity of the threat at hand, while the character chemistry keeps you engaged. Thor is a stand-out hero, Ebony Maw is the stand-out villain, and Thanos is a villain for all-time.
The Not-So-Good
The movie is long, but once the hour mark hits it flies. You are left emotionally drained afterwards and are forced to wait one year until we get the conclusion.
10/10
Avengers: Infinity War may not be the best movie I have ever seen, but it certainly is the most ambitious and best cinematic event and experience I have ever witnessed. Leaving a movie theater wanting to cry and cheer at the same time is something that has never happened to me. Congratulations to Marvel, Kevin Feige, and the Russo Brothers. You guys delivered on the hype… and then some. SEE. THIS. MOVIE.
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