Phoenix Productions
I have waited a month to write this review specifically so that people could witness this spectacle. I have made my position on this film no secret on my social media platforms. So I won't beat around the bush with it...
Avengers: Infinity War is an absolute masterpiece, the magnum opus of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is not a film that can be reviewed without first noting the rest of the MCU. This is a film that has been built up to over 10 years and 18 other films. After four screenings of Infinity War, I can safely say that this film earns its score through sheer power of the payoff from this journey. But what makes this film so spectacular, against the two Legendary films that released in April (Ready Player One and A Quiet Place)? Execution. This film executes on every fundamental level with flying colors. The cinematography is spot-on. The score is absolutely mesmerizing to listen to. The protagonist cast is as polished as ever, with standouts being Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Zoe Saldana, and Chris Hemsworth. Josh Brolin, however, is undeniably the star of the show. His portrayal of Thanos is, without a doubt, the best villain the MCU has offered, and might be among the best on-screen villains of all time. His motives are changed from the comics, but they make him relatable on a level that no other MCU villain has attained. He is wickedly intelligent, strong-willed, and brutal in his efforts to destroy half of all life in the universe. Risk-taking. This film takes risks that no other Marvel film would even dare to take. This film has stakes on a cosmic level. Characters die. Big names die. A lot of them. Most of all, the villain wins. Thanos completes the Infinity Gauntlet and, even in the face of death through Thor's superpowered new weapon Stormbreaker, fulfills his destiny and Snaps half of the universe out of existence. Fallen heroes in this film prior to the Snap include Heimdall, Loki, Gamora, and Vision. Each of these deaths held significant emotional weight: Heimdall, because of his continuous arc throughout the Thor films and his personal friendship with the God of Thunder; Loki, because of his redemption arc throughout the Thor and Avengers films, which culminated in Thor: Ragnarok; Gamora, because of her relationships with Peter Quill and Thanos himself, and how much Thanos truly loved her and was forced to sacrifice her in order to retrieve the Soul Stone; and Vision, because of his relationships with Tony Stark and Scarlet Witch, and his double death because of the Time Stone. Once Thanos Snaps, the following characters are vaporized: Bucky Barnes, Black Panther, Teen Groot, Falcon, Mantis, Drax, Peter Quill, Peter Parker (the most emotional death in the entire film, even more impressive because that scene was improvised by Tom Holland), Maria Hill, and Nick Fury. Half of the protagonists, gone. Just like that. The implications for the future of the MCU are clear from here on out: the Multiverse is to be invoked if the franchise is to continue. And personally, I think this is a brilliant move. Epic Moments. This film's epic moments are above and beyond anything else in the MCU, similar to how the epic moments of Star Wars: The Last Jedi raised that film head and shoulders above the rest of its franchise. Thor's entrance in the Battle of Wakanda, Doctor Strange's Magic Onslaught on Titan, Iron Man's Last Stand, and the Snap itself all solidify themselves in my mind as the standout scenes of the film. Bottom line: This film is a masterpiece in the superhero genre. It has taken its place as one of my top 10 favorite films of all time, and the verdict has just been solidified more and more on each of my four screenings. In a Month of Legends (Ready Player One, A Quiet Place films, God of War video game), this one makes its mark and stands among the stars with no questions asked. Side note: If you watch Season 5 of Agents of SHIELD, it will further enhance the experience. FINAL VERDICT: LEGENDARY
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