Yes, many of our expectations are satisfied, but at the same time there are curveballs thrown that will keep viewers guessing. Then again, much of Infinity War dwells in the murky area between what it has promised, and what it wants to surprise us with. That the origin story of Gamora, and Thanos to a certain degree, have such a prominent role in a movie called “Avengers” is a refreshing surprise, and getting a glimpse at what Gamora endured as a child is a fairly remarkable moment as we witness the insidious power of Thanos at his twisted worst. Zoe Saldana’s Gamora and Karen Gillan’s Nebula play a larger part in this film than one might’ve expected. If we can’t empathize with his reasoning for wanting to wipe out half of the universe’s inhabitants – the highest stakes ever for the Avengers, which are effectively established throughout the movie – we can at least understand his perspective and believe his pain when he must make true sacrifices to achieve his ultimate goal. The big purple CGI villain (played by Josh Brolin in a mo-cap performance) commands perhaps the strongest arc of the film. No one is safe in this film.Īs promised, Avengers: Infinity War is very much a Thanos movie. It wastes no time establishing real stakes – though there’s always an unavoidable question of permanence in Marvel movies – with Thanos delivering a gut punch right out of the gate that won’t soon be forgotten. Infinity War also delivers by refusing to pull its punches. For every effective Peter Parker/Tony Stark scene, there’s a “wait, these two characters didn’t even meet up this time” moment of realization. Though that said, many of the familiar pairings of this universe (to comics fans, at least) just don’t happen here. Funny how Tony and Steve can be so alike and yet so often at odds with one another. And Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers is Captain America no more, yet still strives to do the right thing at all times. Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark continues to struggle with balancing a more normal life spent with Pepper Potts with being a superhero. Thor is a chief example, as his fear and grief in the wake of Thor: Ragnarok is convincingly conveyed (to Rocket Raccoon, no less!). Yes, War Machine fans, there’s even something here for you.Ĭontinuity of character abounds, and mostly effectively. No one is relegated to stock player, no matter how small their role. That each of these heroes’ defining characteristics remain fully developed in an epic story that takes place across multiple planets and with an ensemble that numbers in the dozens is perhaps the most satisfying aspect of Infinity War. The integral aspects of the characters we’ve been following for a decade are clearly drawn here, from Tony Stark to Steve Rogers to Thor and beyond. Over the course of its nearly three-hour running time, Infinity War largely makes good on the promises Marvel has implicitly made to its audience since before we even knew there would be an Infinity War. That it does this while also being fun, thrilling, and emotional is perhaps something that not even Fury himself could have hoped for. Making good on Nick Fury’s promise from 10 years ago in a manner that was nigh-unimaginable at the time, Avengers: Infinity War doesn’t just assemble Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, it brings together the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Black Panther… and Thanos, who now must be ranked among the best villains of the MCU alongside Loki and Killmonger. For more on the Avengers, check out our theories on what Avengers 4 might have in store for fans.
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