AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR – A Review by John Strange
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is not Disneyland. We have been brought into a universe with amazing heroes but the universe tends to seek balance. To reach that balance we also have terrible evil, horrible villains. The first eighteen films in this series have been amazing but each set us up for the next in the series of sagas. Our villains have ranged from WWII Nazi's to space aliens and Norse Gods (Loki).
Now we have a villain who ties all of the storylines together. Thanos (Josh Brolin), the villain that the heroes who became the Guardians of the Galaxy came together to fight. In his search for the Infinity Stones he will do anything to get his hands on them, including ending the life of anyone who gets in his way
As the action builds, and our heroes throw themselves into the fray to save the universe, I could not help but notice that the soundtrack to this film is becomes darker and darker culminating with the music during the credits. It is a reflection of the task our heroes face. Never before have they encountered a foe like this one.
The action in Avengers: Infinity War is some of the most intense we have seen to date. Watching the Avengers, Doctor Strange, and the Guardians of the Galaxy give the task everything they have is inspiring and at the same time frightening.
At this point, to tell you more would require giving away plot points we have been asked not to share (and I agree)! All I can say to that point is that while this film is the darkest of the dark, at no time do we ever hear any of our heroes say that all is lost. Those heroes have never lost, only suffered setbacks. As frightening as this film makes the future look in the MCU, I can't help but feel that all is not lost… yet. While even one of our heroes remains alive, there will always be hope.
As with nearly all of the films in this series, there is a scene at the end of the credits to set us up for a future film. Many, if not most, of the clues in past scenes have been very obvious. The clues in this one are more subtle. Will any of you catch them?
This film, perhaps more than any of its predecessors, will be generating hours of speculation as we eagerly await the next chapter in the MCU saga.
Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Cast: Karen Gillan, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Elizabeth Olsen, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Josh Brolin, Chris Hemsworth, Sebastian Stan, Zoe Saldana, Linda Cardellini, Pom Klementieff, Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba, Chris Pratt, Paul Rudd, Chadwick Boseman, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Jeremy Renner, Danai Gurira, Benicio Del Toro, Kerry Condon, Paul Bettany, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Favreau, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Dinklage, Angela Bassett, Winston Duke, Sean Gunn, Benedict Wong, Don Cheadle, Anthony Mackie, Jacob Batalon, Florence Kasumba
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, language and some crude references)
Selig Rating: A
Runtime: 160 Min.
Movie Site: marvel.com/avengers
The Selig Rating Scale:
A – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
B – Good movie
C – OK movie
D – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
F – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn't paid for it.
