It’s 2 am and I just got home from Avengers: Infinity War. Is it a masterclass in filmmaking? Yes. Is it worth a watch? Of course. Is it a Marvel movie? Hell no!
Now, you’ve probably already booked your tickets (if you haven’t, come on man, do it already) and I don’t want this review to influence your decision whether to watch this movie or not. So, before you read any further, if you haven’t already, book your damn tickets!
With so many people to satisfy, Avengers: Infinity War was in danger of becoming a movie that tried pleasing too many people while ending up pleasing none. Luckily, it ended up pleasing us in the most dastardly way possible.
Okay now, in terms of what to expect. Just like you would from any Marvel movie, you want some main characters, a few sub plots here and there and a bad guy with an evil plan. But no, Marvel fan! That’s not what you’re getting here. While every Marvel movie to date has been made to, sort of, pander to the audience, Avengers: Infinity War doesn’t. Not one bit. In fact, you will walk out of the cinema hall wondering if the movie you just saw was indeed a Marvel movie.
There’s no easy way of putting this folks, Marvel just ripped everyone off. They didn’t deliver what was expected of them. I didn’t walk out with a huge smile plastered on my face. I didn’t feel the rush of adrenaline. Where was it? Did I do something wrong? What’s missing? And then it hit me. Hope.
Yeah, the one word I can use to describe everything that’s wrong with Avengers: Infinity War is, hope. How do you know a movie is a huge success? When it earns a billion dollars? No, it’s when it breaks free from the monotonous happy ending we are accustomed to getting at the end and offers something much darker instead. A world where there is no hope.
When was the last time you watched a brilliant movie yet felt absolutely nothing at the end of it? I can’t think of an emotion that could aptly describe the way I feel right now. No, I don’t hate Marvel. This is a brilliant movie. But, I guess that’s its biggest flaw too.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. I cried tears of joy when I watched the final trailer for the movie. But, I didn’t shed a single tear throughout the movie. Didn’t even come close. Was it because not enough characters die? Was it because no on consequential dies? Was it because we’re too detached from the plot to care? No. It’s simply because we were sent so deep down the rabbit hole we ended up face to face with the sad truth, everything is finite. All good things must, eventually, come to an end.
Yes, Marvel fan. They may be talking about a Phase IV and all the cool stuff that they’re going to be doing over the next few years. But, if this is any indication of what’s to come, get ready for a universe where happy endings are as scarce as the hair on Homer Simpson’s head.
There’s no need to start questioning whether booking those tickets was a mistake. Avengers: Infinity War is a must watch for any person who has invested the last 10 years of their life into this series. Hell, you may even have a totally different opinion about it.
Am I going to watch every other Marvel movie ever made? Of course. Will I rewatch Avengers: Infinity War? Yeah, I’m going on Saturday. Is it the greatest crossover event in history? Yup. But, and I ask this question again, is it a Marvel movie? No.
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