Well, I sure am late to this game. Everyone in the world seems to have seen The Avengers: Infinity War in theatres, while I was sitting and whittling in beautiful cottage country which is an unfortunate distance from any theatre. The film came and went, and I just had to wait. That wait has come to an end, and I have to say that many key aspects to what I consider great popcorn fare are present in this behemoth of a film.
The second Avengers film was alright, but the first one was a proper event. I had figured that the rest of the franchise would see diminishing returns, but I hadn't expected the plans that Disney/Marvel had. The latest team up was coming right on the back of two of the most unique, exciting, and distinct films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thor: Ragnarok, under the direction of the amazing Taika Waititi, reversed the fortunes of the Thor standalone films, and presented a Led Zeppelin infused fun fest that included a giant wolf getting suplexed. After that was Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, a film that carried the powerful emotional heft that Coogler is known for. These films, as far as I'm concerned, with their director-driven voice provided a powerful excitement for Infinity War that even a Disney marketing campaign couldn't match.
And, with Infinity War, we once again get shown what makes Disney the kings of the cinematic universe, and that's having a movie that completely feels like it came right from it's directors, the Russo brothers (who already showed they could manage lots of key characters in Captain America: Civil War, a movie that I liked a lot more than Avengers: Age of Ultron). I'm not specifically aiming to bash DC, but they were lost with Zach Snyder's guidance, and it looks like their upcoming films will be very unique and more director driven. It is this sense of the director's personality in the movies that elevates the material, as it has a more cohesive feel than something being constructed with too many cooks in the kitchen. This is one key aspect of good popcorn fare.
The plot of the film? Well, a CGIed purple baddy named Thanos is looking to kill half of all life in the universe. He is driven by a belief that a purge needs to happen to keep societies alive, and he is the only one with the courage to do what's needed. While I was not into the animation of him and thinking that it was one of the weaker parts of the film, the artistic team did what was needed and made sure his face conveyed the pain and determination within. Voicing Thanos is Josh Brolin in what is one of his most precise performances. Thanos isn't someone just written as being evil, he is someone who believes he is doing what's right. Sure, he is a bad ass, but there are some very quiet moments with him, and we see just how far he is willing to go to complete his mission. A villain with backstory, motivation, and depth propels a film to bigger heights. That was exactly what we got in Black Panther, giving us two back to back Marvel movies with standout antagonists. Well, three. Cate Blanchette rocked as Hela in Thor: Ragnarok. A menacing, properly motivated villain that seems impossible to beat is a second key aspect.
Another is needing to have stakes. Having a wonderfully complex and devastating villain does nothing to a film if they are not able to affect their potency on anyone. This happens way too often. The villain is dangerous because we are told they are, not because of what they do and how that effects the film. Most villains only ever kill red shirts. I will be honest, and some may consider this a bit of a spoiler, but some familiar faces from the MCU meet their doom. Not only that, but some of this happens in the very first scene. It's not like letting Superman die when we already see Henry Cavill's name listed on IMDB for the next film. This is the very end for some, and killing people off holds so much power in films. It keeps us from being able to predict the outcome easily, because, if they have killed characters once, they could do it again. No one in Infinity War is safe by the final action sequences, and that makes the plight of the heroes so much more. I get that some people don't like seeing recurring characters getting offed in films, but the power of this technique is undeniable when used properly.
Having stakes is great, and so is having a solid villain, but without heroes that we can get behind they mean nothing. The Russo brothers have worked previously on television shows Arrested Development and Community. Both of those rely on stories to be told while highlighting a large cast of very unique characters, all of them getting proper shine and story lines. Their ability to nail this is what makes The Avengers: Infinity War succeed. Those who have seen the preceding MCU movies will appreciate the fact that there is a really good balance on display here. On top of that, and something that I really like, is that the hierarchy of the previous Avengers movies is thrown off. After the arrival of Dr. Strange, it would have made little sense if his crazy powers didn't make him one of the most powerful, if not most powerful, heroes. Things in the universe have changed, other people have crazy powers, and that is all taken into account. I enjoy that the natural order is thrown off a bit, and it leads to some good fun. In this movie, we have a blending of many characters, all with their backgrounds taken into consideration, with their own motivations, and the fact that this is able to happen in the movie with the most ambitious cast of all time (move over, Movie 43!!) keeps us pulled into the story.
Popcorn fare doesn't necessarily need to have humour in there, but it doesn't hurt. While cold, grey, steely, and dismal may be what some people rely on, it cannot be forgotten that we are going to the theatres to have a good time. Across all of the different MCU films, including the brilliant cooperation between Disney and Sony (a collaboration that's a win-win, and something that I wish more studios would do) to include Spider-Man, we have come to know well constructed characters, all of whom are different, some of whom are funny, and others of whom end up being funny when their personalities grind against someone else's. While I thought the idea of former professional wrestler Dave Bautista acting in Guardians of the Galaxy was ill conceived, this is someone with a knack for stealing every scene he is in. Young Peter Parker is on fire, Thor thinks a racoon is a rabbit, and Star-Lord's manliness is tested by the arrival of a one-eyed Norse god. The humour hits well, and the Russo's know to taper it off as the movie progresses, keeping it applied sparingly by the end as the stakes of the film really start to become known.
Lastly, (although I could add other things like special effects, sound, and all sorts of things that would make this a five thousand word piece on the state of modern mainstream tentpole movies, I will look to wrap things up) the summer blockbuster needs to have a very human story. The simple concept of a damsel in distress may have been good enough for The Legend of Tarzan, but such simplistic writing does little to enhance a film. Throughout Infinity War, different characters repeatedly face decisions that will possibly have huge consequences. It isn't just that they have to fight the bad guy, but they have to decide where their priorities lie. The film constantly asked the famous Wrath of Khan question of if the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. The nature of Thanos and his perverse mission causes our heroes to face more than just physical battles.
Well, I may not have reviewed this film in a traditional way. However, while watching Infinity War, all I could think about was how this movie checked all of the boxes for delightful summer blockbusters. There's plenty of emotional moments, a tear may be shed, and that's thanks to the writing of the characters, and the performances (which were great, but for some reason I didn't mention). At the heart of it, The Avengers still don't want civilians hurt, something that Zach Snyder was completely tone deaf to. They don't see eye to eye, but throughout the film they all show their willingness to sacrifice everything to protect others. There are many skirmishes, a huge battle at the gorgeous location of Wakanda, and people pushed to their limits. The villain is dynamic, and that leads to some very emotional moments, where our super heroes are forced to simply be human. Yep, I liked Black Panther more, but off course that was going to be the case. Still, I would rank this as my favourite Avenger movie, and one of the very best Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
Rating - 3.5 out of 4 stars
