Spoilers
I was never a
fan of Joss Whedon’s run and I’ve read the comic book more than once since the 90s. For those who have read before seeing, making comparisons is a bad unavoidable reflex. Excitement and
anticipation becomes a tall order.
After seeing the movie, let’s just say, I didn't get time to think; maybe not even breathe if that could be true.
After seeing the movie, let’s just say, I didn't get time to think; maybe not even breathe if that could be true.
Joe and Anthony Russo are still running hot. There's a reason why they have been assigned to this flagship movie. Avengers:Infinity War is an event. It's the best, the most exhilarating ride of all the Avengers movies.
It is a gamble though. The story design is similar to the Return of the King in
that it presumes the moviegoer has watched all or a least a significant portion
of 18 preceding movies. Characters cut (most of) the chit chat and just
battled it out for most of 2 hours and 30 minutes, ending in a culling Peter Dinklage would only see in his day job.
Star Struck
Typical Marvel,
humor was used as a gelling agent to mold the biggest ensemble ever seen in MCU
into some cohesion. If you’re a comic fan, if you have seen all 18 movies, it
works.
It’s like an NBA
All-Star game. Seeing favorite ball players together gets the blood flowing
although the game is inconsequential and All-Stars are playing half (or not
entirely) as serious. Then again half as serious is a problem considering
heroic characters and end-of-the-world stakes.
via GIPHY
A Lot of Fighting...
True to the 'war' in the title, the movie feels like it moved only from one fight to another.
Although the fight feels like everything the Russo’s have mixed it well
enough. In between are enough moments of rest – character moments – until the
next battle.
Regardless, watching superheroes on full power is so much fun.
Regardless, watching superheroes on full power is so much fun.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is the big
standout which Ragnarok had set up. If he was able do that in the first Avengers
movie, they’d have had no problems with the centipede ships. Same can be said of
Iron Man.
No update has ever been implied in the War Machine (Don Cheadle) armor in previous movies but in Infinity War it looks like he’s playing with a few more toys in the arsenal.
No update has ever been implied in the War Machine (Don Cheadle) armor in previous movies but in Infinity War it looks like he’s playing with a few more toys in the arsenal.
The “magicians” are the next best thing. Scarlet Witch is now more than just dancing hands, making
her fight scenes in Civil War comedic by comparison.
via GIPHY
Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), who had more of a logistical and intelligence role in the comics, gets to have a fight. The psychedelic looking battle with Kaecilius had its own particular beauty but in Infinity War the Master of the Mystic Arts is clearly at war.
Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), who had more of a logistical and intelligence role in the comics, gets to have a fight. The psychedelic looking battle with Kaecilius had its own particular beauty but in Infinity War the Master of the Mystic Arts is clearly at war.
Infinity War
also contains the best team attack ever seen in an MCU movie, the one against Thanos (Josh Brolin). It oozed power, strategy, and teamwork. Truly, the Russo brothers can do action.
Compare it to the Age of Ultron’s idea of a team attack. In the final battle for that movie, all the power of the Avengers was contained defending an area of a small building, maybe an area the size of a basketball court. How the hell could they all fight in a small space?
When it became the turn of big baddie it took three Avengers with energy weapons and the Hulk against the supposed to be vibranium skinned Ultron. Combined it couldn't be more than 2 shots; the three Avengers took their one, together, and Hulk smashed.
Infinity War has more than 2 shots against Thanos and a coordination from over 7 heroes so definitely an improvement.
Compare it to the Age of Ultron’s idea of a team attack. In the final battle for that movie, all the power of the Avengers was contained defending an area of a small building, maybe an area the size of a basketball court. How the hell could they all fight in a small space?
When it became the turn of big baddie it took three Avengers with energy weapons and the Hulk against the supposed to be vibranium skinned Ultron. Combined it couldn't be more than 2 shots; the three Avengers took their one, together, and Hulk smashed.
Infinity War has more than 2 shots against Thanos and a coordination from over 7 heroes so definitely an improvement.
...and not much Talk
When Thanos watched the sunset (a now popular scene in my country) I felt a little
emptiness. It was spurred by that eerie silence that marked his success. I can’t remember cries of mourning or dramatic music but the silence was
almost as loud as ‘what the fuck?’
Getting cut off like that was both beautiful and annoying at the same time but admittedly a great touch.
Getting cut off like that was both beautiful and annoying at the same time but admittedly a great touch.
After picking my mouth off the floor, all I can do was
look back. Do I have meat to sink my teeth into if I cut
out the fight?
New York is once
again attacked by aliens, a similar ship also seen across the United Kingdom,
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is gone; and I don’t know how the world feels. Sekovia had civilians
at least.
Secretary of State Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt) who should have been representative of the government could only think about the fugitives.
You can argue Ross acted to link the story with Civil War – which he is doing – but in another light it also says that the 4th in the US line of succession, a former General no less, his mind is not in the moment. Perhaps no one has a problem with alien ships?
Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) did not ask for a situation report when he linked up with War Machine and Banner, not even a question of has anyone managed to reach Tony Stark.
Secretary of State Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt) who should have been representative of the government could only think about the fugitives.
You can argue Ross acted to link the story with Civil War – which he is doing – but in another light it also says that the 4th in the US line of succession, a former General no less, his mind is not in the moment. Perhaps no one has a problem with alien ships?
Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) did not ask for a situation report when he linked up with War Machine and Banner, not even a question of has anyone managed to reach Tony Stark.
Hell not even T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) got a briefing even after bringing the bull’s-eye into his home, at least not on camera. Situational talk of strategy and tactics were so understated that for all the formation seen in trailers of the Wakandan Army, T’Challa never did act as a general.
It was more a brawl than a battle between armies. Steve
Rogers and T’Challa were running speedily out of formation, albeit forward into
danger. A few Avengers movies ago, even with teammates having more powers than
he did, Steve had stressed team than anyone going solo.
I can understand
the directorial motivations behind avoiding lengthy exposition, any dialogue
that would slow the movement of the story by making the briefing and planning
stages implied instead of playing it out on camera.
It’s just that I was desperate to keep my high so I look back and all I remember is the fighting.
It’s just that I was desperate to keep my high so I look back and all I remember is the fighting.
The seeming lack of dialogue is the gamble with a 10 year and 18 movies worth of setup. It works for me even with some reservations. I have already seen the movie twice and still loved seeing my heroes go. Warner Brothers should take
notes.
The question that’s left is that years from now when I’m old, could I repeat the movie with the same emotional connection; feel like a new layer can be uncovered.
Or, will it be just – they fought.
The question that’s left is that years from now when I’m old, could I repeat the movie with the same emotional connection; feel like a new layer can be uncovered.
Or, will it be just – they fought.
Heartfelt Moments
While there are
less moments to feel the team or the danger to Earth, Infinity War does have moments that speak to the
heart. The best one which had a romantic slant is that of Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany).
I bought into them being a pair, even feeling a little broken when the story harvested tragedy out of the obvious setup. Vision has always ended high on expected casualty list before the movie was out.
I bought into them being a pair, even feeling a little broken when the story harvested tragedy out of the obvious setup. Vision has always ended high on expected casualty list before the movie was out.
Infinity War was also trying to give a more human motivation to Thanos, in fact the spotlight was all on him. His desire taking out half
the universe was more his own belief than in the comics which had Mistress Death as the inspiration.
via GIPHY
Thanos' home planet of Titan is the back story on how it made him and his crusade. Gamora (Zoe Saldana) was meant to symbolize vulnerability in the sense that amid his crusade of mass murder, he raised a child.
Thanos' home planet of Titan is the back story on how it made him and his crusade. Gamora (Zoe Saldana) was meant to symbolize vulnerability in the sense that amid his crusade of mass murder, he raised a child.
I didn’t buy
into the father and daughter mix as much as Scarlet Witch and Vision because Gamora was playing off lines
with a CGI character. Something was just off or perhaps it could have used more
time in previous Guardians movies than playing it out on Infinity War itself. But story wise the setup was
decent.
Rocket and
Teenage Groot suffer the same level of difficulty selling the drama more so
because Groot always has the same 3 words which only a few understand.
I feel for Rocket when Groot faded away if only because I understood Rocket’s vulnerable side in Guardians Vol. 2. Recently James Gunn has tweeted Groot's last words were Dad. A nice thought, but who can buy it as a scene since the line is always ‘I am Groot’.
I feel for Rocket when Groot faded away if only because I understood Rocket’s vulnerable side in Guardians Vol. 2. Recently James Gunn has tweeted Groot's last words were Dad. A nice thought, but who can buy it as a scene since the line is always ‘I am Groot’.
Everyone’s favorite death while effectively done by Tom Holland didn’t hit me as much as
the lovers did. Maybe if there was more than one Spider-man movie. And, while
he’s taking a liking to Parker, Tony never strikes me as father figure.
Heroes could
have won but... That was the point of the scene which had Star Lord (Chris Pratt) in the
middle; Tony Stark and Spider-man were on one side, Thanos and the missing
Gamora whom he symbolizes on the other.
I hated this
crucial and emotional scene because the choices are played out too loud. The
agony of choice is that it is often done alone. Star Lord’s motivations are
understandable, and I would have understood him losing his shit had he been
left to his own devices.
The plan to
immobilized Thanos is his. Working out details should have increased his stake
in seeing it through to the end since he had to argue with Tony Stark on who
makes the plan. Plus Tony is actually loudly shouting at his ear to keep to it.
It’s just so conveniently stupid. Also it's out of character to the way he always thought of approaching Thanos up to that point.
It’s just so conveniently stupid. Also it's out of character to the way he always thought of approaching Thanos up to that point.
Perhaps it’s
just my bias as a comic book reader first, that I was resigned to Thanos going
all the way. I could care less if the heroes had a chance to stop the
completion of the Gauntlet because in the comics Thanos fought them all with it
complete.
via GIPHY
Thoughts for Avengers 4
After almost an
entire movie of ‘they fight’, what pacing could Avengers 4 have? Surely, it has
to slow down or would that kill the momentum from Infinity War.
Civil War has broken up the Avengers so it should take more than jokes to heal everything. That and someone actually has to flesh out a plan against a god.
Civil War has broken up the Avengers so it should take more than jokes to heal everything. That and someone actually has to flesh out a plan against a god.
Avengers:
Infinity War has been true to the spirit of the comics, at least for round 1. Beings
in the class of Ego, the Watchers, and the Celestial have all had an appearance
in an MCU movie with Eternity and the Living Tribunal mentioned in passing. Will
round 2 use cosmic beings like in the comics?
If Mistress
Death is unused does that mean no other entities will be? Adam Warlock who has
been the general in the comics against Thanos won’t appear until a Guardians 3.
As far as schedule MCU movie goes, Captain Marvel should bring a hell of a big gun into the fight. But what about Ant-Man? That sequel of the size changing duo (Ant-Man and the Wasp) could be Marvel’s first flop if everyone is so hung up on Infinity War.
As far as schedule MCU movie goes, Captain Marvel should bring a hell of a big gun into the fight. But what about Ant-Man? That sequel of the size changing duo (Ant-Man and the Wasp) could be Marvel’s first flop if everyone is so hung up on Infinity War.
What’s on everyone’s
mind, including me, is of course cameos. I’ve read the comics and I have a good
guess of what the solution is.
So what I would really be interested in is seeing any of Netflix and especially the formerly known Fox properties joining the fray. That would complete my experience seeing a book from childhood, my sole surviving comic book, come to life.
So what I would really be interested in is seeing any of Netflix and especially the formerly known Fox properties joining the fray. That would complete my experience seeing a book from childhood, my sole surviving comic book, come to life.
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