Avengers Infinity War - Mobile Edition

Comics Movie Reviews
Avengers Infinity War
By Hervé St-Louis
April 28, 2018 - 11:48

Studios: Marvel Studios
Writer(s): Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt
Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Produced by: Kevin Feige, Mitchell Bell
Running Time: 149 minutes
Release Date: 27 April 2018
Rating: PG13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
Distributors: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Thanos, the mad Titan is gathering the Infinity stones so that he can wipe out half of life in the universe. Having stolen the space gem from Thor and the Asgardians, he sends his minions to Earth to retrieve the time gem from Doctor Strange and the mind gem from the Vision. The Guardians of the Galaxy get involved and attempt to stop him. But instead, he captures Gamora who has the knowledge of the soul gem. Will Thanos succeed in his plan or can the Avengers stop him?

This movie is the continuation of a ten-year journey in the Marvel cinematographic universe inspired by the classic Infinity Gauntlet mini-series created by Jim Starlin, George Pérez, and Ron Lim 27 years ago. Thanos’s quest to retrieve the gems has been the underlying storyline since the first Avengers’ movie but the individual Infinity Gems have been represented and hunted by many parties since Captain America: The First Avenger.

This movie is important because it is a culmination of many other films. A project on such a scale has never been attempted before in film. There are many other film franchises with long-running leads but very few with such a cohesive universe and ongoing story. To watch this film, you do not need to have seen all of the previous Marvel films, but it will help if you have.

If you have read the comics over the years, this film will be even more satisfying. The Infinity Gauntlet was a ground-breaking series in its days. It built on decades of stories written and drawn by Jim Starlin for Marvel Comics. This is why there is another Avengers’ movie next year where the story will continue. If you are familiar with Starlin’s work, you will know that there is more than meets the eye here. We have had many hints of this in both Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

Thanos is not the usual comic book villain without a personality. His love for his daughter Gamora is visible and real. The emotions he shows throughout the film make him as interesting as the many other leads. Surprisingly, there was enough room for all of these characters. The core Avengers were not the most important of all. I will say this. Many people die in this film.

This film was driven by Thanos’s quest which means it was one big fight after another. It does not matter. There were enough moments with all of the characters. Some of them include Spider-man crying over Iron-Man’s shoulder; the relationship between the Vision and the Scarlet Witch; Bruce Banner’s impotence; many scenes with Thor; Gamora’s fears and sorrow, and so on.

If you do see the movie early on, please do not spoil it. I fear that this movie will be spoiled easily because of its narrative structure. Watching it felt like the first time I saw the Matrix and marvelling at the fact that the movie makers had gone there. They did not hold back.

Visually, this movie is a gem. Thanos looked real. I’m not sure if Avengers Infinity will be the blockbuster of the summer but it is very satisfying. Remember, do not spoil the movie for anyone.

Rating: 10/10