The Avengers: Infinity War: A Review
I saw The Avengers: Infinity War a month ago with Phil Kopp at the Regal 14 Cinemas in Moline.
In this installment, the Avengers get the call to fight against Thanos. Finally, there is a common enemy that can bring the team back together.
I remember I gave Captain America: Civil War a 3 and 1/4th star review in 2016. I didn't love the fact that the team could be so torn over how to respond to the Winter Soldier and his history. I could completely see through the situation from the eyes of Tony Stark, having lost his father to the HYDRA muttation that was formerly our friend Bucky Barnes. I could see through it from the POV of Steve Rogers. After Steve Rogers' funeral, Bucky Barnes notoriously told his friend "I'm with you until the end of the line." Rogers owed him that back. So in a way, I thought of Katniss trying to protect Peeta in Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2. Even if he wasn't himself, Katniss was going to be Peeta for Peeta.
Infinity War waits to reunite Steve Rogers and Tony Stark.
First, we have to take care of that pesky Thanos.
Thanos wants to wipe out half of humanity. And by humanity I mean all living things in the universe as we know it. All he needs to do is collect the six Infinity Stones and stick them into his glove. That's the short hand.
The much longer-hand is that all of the stand-alone Avenger superhero movies have been intricately leading up to this moment. Thanos rises to power because humanity at large cannot agree upon a common goal or purpose. As of Captain America: Civil War, the Avengers can't agree upon a common purpose. Are they fighting for the states that govern the people, or are they fighting for the people themselves? They're torn. And Thanos feels himself to be the Wyatt Earp, there to clean up humanity by way of mass slaughter. Let only the strong survive.
As for the Avengers, we've always admired them precisely because they stand up for those who can't defend themselves... Wait a minute, that's a quote from Charles Xavier in the superb 2016 film X-Men Apocalypse.
The first time we see Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr), he is walking in the park with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Palthrow). We hear that he has decided he wants to have a baby.
Of course he also gets the emergency call that the Avengers are called back into service.
Tony Stark takes to the skies. Against the objections of his fianceé.
Taking down Thanos will also require the help of Spiderman (Tom Holland), Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, real life hero for rescuing a bike messenger from thugs in London), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) The Incredible Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), The Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), even Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan).... and who am I forgetting?
Oh yeah, The Guardians of the Galaxy.
If ever there was a shot in the arm the Avengers needed after Age of Ultron, it was the Guardians of the Galaxy. They absolutely stole Infinity War and ran away with it.While Tony Stark has often proven himself to be the surprising heart and soul of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the heart and sould of this particular film was largely and often shared with Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), Gamora (Zoë Saldana), Teenage Groot (Vin Diesel), and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista).
See, they have the closest connection to Thanos (Josh Brolin). Gamora was his adopted daughter. And the film's portrayal of Thanos as a creature capable of love is closest realized at the point whence Gamora reunites with him. I think it brings him no pleasure when he comes to a point where he has to throw her over a precipice.
Moreover, it brings Peter Quill absolutely no pleasure when Gamora begs Peter to deal her a mercy death if it's between that and perishing at the hands of the evil Thanos, spilling secrets of all kinds about the whereabouts of the Infinity stones and its protectors en route to the proverbial plank.
What we see in Avengers Infinity War, between Peter Quill and Gamora, is as exciting as it gets. It is the type of Agape-unconditional-sacrificial-do-anything-to-ensure-their-health-or-at-least-well- being love that I remember witnessing between Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in Catching Fire, 2013's third best film.
I loved that Quill was able to look through the issue from her side, knowing that Gamora's fought so hard, and his cooperation with her plans is the highest realest form of love. This is what Guardians of the Galaxy Volumes 1 and 2 were leading towards... that Sam and Diane from Cheers moment. Where they would have to come to the bittersweet moment of reckoning, that they loved each other and had to bid each other a "have a nice life" adieu yet.
Of course, Thanos is always thinking one step ahead of the Avengers. So he needs his subject alive for as long as possible. Peter's arms and munitions are not a match for Thanos.
I haven't mentioned the interesting banter in the film yet.
I loved that Spiderman teams up with Iron Man, and both of them team up with Dr. Strange. Industrial Engineer Ego. Gifted Surgeon-Time-Space Continuum breaching ego. Teenager with more to contribute than he's allowed to contribute ego. All have limitations. All have boundaries. All have demonstrated the potential to sidestep, undermine and run afoul of authority, be it HYDRA, HYDRA-infected SHIELD, the ULTRON program, or the United States government itself, committed to remanding the Avengers to for all intents and purposes community service that prevents a war against the likes of Thanos from ever happening.
One thing Stark, Parker, Strange and the rest of the Avengers team have in common are plans to upend the limitations of their circumstance.
I know I've been purposefully vague about the specifics of the film's plot. Ultimately, there is a showdown between Thanos and all of the Avengers. Not necessarily all as a team for one against him. Though that would be cool. I'll hold up hopes for the next one to see something like that.
But we do get the juicy character development borne of having one on one vs. Thanos fights. It's personal for Gamora. It's noble for Steve Rogers. It's a victory in realizing his place and finding himself among humans for Vision (Paul Bettany).
I haven't gotten around to Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) yet. Longtime favorite Avenger of mine, we get to see him not so much hiding from his past as laying low until he can serve his country again. On the outs with Tony Stark over their torn views on Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes, we see him spend much of his time with Hulk, Black Widow, Black Panther, and of course, Bucky. Civil War wanted for a moment of redemption for Bucky. It almost seemed to strive for DC-level friction between its protagonists. I thought it wasn't better than Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. It was a "choose your side," "identify yourself by the Avenger that best reflects you" film. And I rebelled against that. I just wanted everyone to be happy. Rogers. Stark. Black Widow. Hawkeye. Spiderman. Antman. The 3 and 1/4th star performing under expectations but thought-provoking and competent submission to the Avengers cannon that was Captain America Civil War did its best work in setting things up for Infinity War as opposed to paying off. It's a relief to see Rogers come out swinging against Thanos, grabbing him by the fist upon his attack on the planet Earth, and holding him back as if he may just well be the most powerful of the Avengers yet.
And Captain America is poised to be one of the big heroes of the second half of Infinity War. At least he is better positioned to do so than about half of his comrades.
Without going into too much detail, Joe and Anthony Russo make good on their propensity to go for broke. They lay to waste and ruin a sizeable chunk of humanity. And how the Avengers can possibly reverse the havoc wreaked by this supervillain in this first installment, I'm interested to see.
But his... sorry their (Joe and Anthony's) willingness to go to such a dark and destitute place does give us a few wonderful moments where the Avengers can find each other. They've had a good run. They can't as humans or even superheroes prevail every time. And when they are backed against the wall by forces truly greater than them, they are willing to go down fighting together, and try to save every last man until being turned to dust might force them to a stop.
The Avengers Infinity War was followed by a visit to the Popeye's Chicken across the street from the Regal 14 with Phil. Some homestyle soul food. To celebrate a franchise that found its soul again.
Other good news that came out of the night: I got cast in Busybody at Richmond Hill Players in Geneseo. I get to play Goddard, a police constable. The message was waiting on my phone, which had been turned off as a courtesy for the film.
Infinity War was, at that point, in second place, and narrowly, behind A Quiet Place. More updates to come for the summer. But I feel like I got my Marvel Card back. I think that we can establish that maybe I am an outlying Marvel boy in spite of all of my past griping.
I forgot to add- the exchanges between Thor and Peter Quill make for some of the most enjoyable exchanges in any movie I have seen this year. They upstage the drama, they're so funny. That's not a complaint.
Three and 3/4th Stars.
In this installment, the Avengers get the call to fight against Thanos. Finally, there is a common enemy that can bring the team back together.
I remember I gave Captain America: Civil War a 3 and 1/4th star review in 2016. I didn't love the fact that the team could be so torn over how to respond to the Winter Soldier and his history. I could completely see through the situation from the eyes of Tony Stark, having lost his father to the HYDRA muttation that was formerly our friend Bucky Barnes. I could see through it from the POV of Steve Rogers. After Steve Rogers' funeral, Bucky Barnes notoriously told his friend "I'm with you until the end of the line." Rogers owed him that back. So in a way, I thought of Katniss trying to protect Peeta in Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2. Even if he wasn't himself, Katniss was going to be Peeta for Peeta.
Infinity War waits to reunite Steve Rogers and Tony Stark.
First, we have to take care of that pesky Thanos.
Thanos wants to wipe out half of humanity. And by humanity I mean all living things in the universe as we know it. All he needs to do is collect the six Infinity Stones and stick them into his glove. That's the short hand.
The much longer-hand is that all of the stand-alone Avenger superhero movies have been intricately leading up to this moment. Thanos rises to power because humanity at large cannot agree upon a common goal or purpose. As of Captain America: Civil War, the Avengers can't agree upon a common purpose. Are they fighting for the states that govern the people, or are they fighting for the people themselves? They're torn. And Thanos feels himself to be the Wyatt Earp, there to clean up humanity by way of mass slaughter. Let only the strong survive.
As for the Avengers, we've always admired them precisely because they stand up for those who can't defend themselves... Wait a minute, that's a quote from Charles Xavier in the superb 2016 film X-Men Apocalypse.
The first time we see Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr), he is walking in the park with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Palthrow). We hear that he has decided he wants to have a baby.
Of course he also gets the emergency call that the Avengers are called back into service.
Tony Stark takes to the skies. Against the objections of his fianceé.
Taking down Thanos will also require the help of Spiderman (Tom Holland), Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch, real life hero for rescuing a bike messenger from thugs in London), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) The Incredible Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), The Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), even Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan).... and who am I forgetting?
Oh yeah, The Guardians of the Galaxy.
If ever there was a shot in the arm the Avengers needed after Age of Ultron, it was the Guardians of the Galaxy. They absolutely stole Infinity War and ran away with it.While Tony Stark has often proven himself to be the surprising heart and soul of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the heart and sould of this particular film was largely and often shared with Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), Gamora (Zoë Saldana), Teenage Groot (Vin Diesel), and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista).
See, they have the closest connection to Thanos (Josh Brolin). Gamora was his adopted daughter. And the film's portrayal of Thanos as a creature capable of love is closest realized at the point whence Gamora reunites with him. I think it brings him no pleasure when he comes to a point where he has to throw her over a precipice.
Moreover, it brings Peter Quill absolutely no pleasure when Gamora begs Peter to deal her a mercy death if it's between that and perishing at the hands of the evil Thanos, spilling secrets of all kinds about the whereabouts of the Infinity stones and its protectors en route to the proverbial plank.
What we see in Avengers Infinity War, between Peter Quill and Gamora, is as exciting as it gets. It is the type of Agape-unconditional-sacrificial-do-anything-to-ensure-their-health-or-at-least-well- being love that I remember witnessing between Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in Catching Fire, 2013's third best film.
I loved that Quill was able to look through the issue from her side, knowing that Gamora's fought so hard, and his cooperation with her plans is the highest realest form of love. This is what Guardians of the Galaxy Volumes 1 and 2 were leading towards... that Sam and Diane from Cheers moment. Where they would have to come to the bittersweet moment of reckoning, that they loved each other and had to bid each other a "have a nice life" adieu yet.
Of course, Thanos is always thinking one step ahead of the Avengers. So he needs his subject alive for as long as possible. Peter's arms and munitions are not a match for Thanos.
I haven't mentioned the interesting banter in the film yet.
I loved that Spiderman teams up with Iron Man, and both of them team up with Dr. Strange. Industrial Engineer Ego. Gifted Surgeon-Time-Space Continuum breaching ego. Teenager with more to contribute than he's allowed to contribute ego. All have limitations. All have boundaries. All have demonstrated the potential to sidestep, undermine and run afoul of authority, be it HYDRA, HYDRA-infected SHIELD, the ULTRON program, or the United States government itself, committed to remanding the Avengers to for all intents and purposes community service that prevents a war against the likes of Thanos from ever happening.
One thing Stark, Parker, Strange and the rest of the Avengers team have in common are plans to upend the limitations of their circumstance.
I know I've been purposefully vague about the specifics of the film's plot. Ultimately, there is a showdown between Thanos and all of the Avengers. Not necessarily all as a team for one against him. Though that would be cool. I'll hold up hopes for the next one to see something like that.
But we do get the juicy character development borne of having one on one vs. Thanos fights. It's personal for Gamora. It's noble for Steve Rogers. It's a victory in realizing his place and finding himself among humans for Vision (Paul Bettany).
I haven't gotten around to Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) yet. Longtime favorite Avenger of mine, we get to see him not so much hiding from his past as laying low until he can serve his country again. On the outs with Tony Stark over their torn views on Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes, we see him spend much of his time with Hulk, Black Widow, Black Panther, and of course, Bucky. Civil War wanted for a moment of redemption for Bucky. It almost seemed to strive for DC-level friction between its protagonists. I thought it wasn't better than Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. It was a "choose your side," "identify yourself by the Avenger that best reflects you" film. And I rebelled against that. I just wanted everyone to be happy. Rogers. Stark. Black Widow. Hawkeye. Spiderman. Antman. The 3 and 1/4th star performing under expectations but thought-provoking and competent submission to the Avengers cannon that was Captain America Civil War did its best work in setting things up for Infinity War as opposed to paying off. It's a relief to see Rogers come out swinging against Thanos, grabbing him by the fist upon his attack on the planet Earth, and holding him back as if he may just well be the most powerful of the Avengers yet.
And Captain America is poised to be one of the big heroes of the second half of Infinity War. At least he is better positioned to do so than about half of his comrades.
Without going into too much detail, Joe and Anthony Russo make good on their propensity to go for broke. They lay to waste and ruin a sizeable chunk of humanity. And how the Avengers can possibly reverse the havoc wreaked by this supervillain in this first installment, I'm interested to see.
But his... sorry their (Joe and Anthony's) willingness to go to such a dark and destitute place does give us a few wonderful moments where the Avengers can find each other. They've had a good run. They can't as humans or even superheroes prevail every time. And when they are backed against the wall by forces truly greater than them, they are willing to go down fighting together, and try to save every last man until being turned to dust might force them to a stop.
The Avengers Infinity War was followed by a visit to the Popeye's Chicken across the street from the Regal 14 with Phil. Some homestyle soul food. To celebrate a franchise that found its soul again.
Other good news that came out of the night: I got cast in Busybody at Richmond Hill Players in Geneseo. I get to play Goddard, a police constable. The message was waiting on my phone, which had been turned off as a courtesy for the film.
Infinity War was, at that point, in second place, and narrowly, behind A Quiet Place. More updates to come for the summer. But I feel like I got my Marvel Card back. I think that we can establish that maybe I am an outlying Marvel boy in spite of all of my past griping.
I forgot to add- the exchanges between Thor and Peter Quill make for some of the most enjoyable exchanges in any movie I have seen this year. They upstage the drama, they're so funny. That's not a complaint.
Three and 3/4th Stars.