Avengers: Infinity War
This does put a smile on our faces…
Ever since Thanos first appeared in the MCU in a cameo at the end of The Avengers, the threat of the purple-hued mad Titan has loomed over Earth’s defenders like the Sword Of Damocles. The most impressive thing about Infinity War is that, for once, it feels like the sword could really drop.
Thanos is so effective as a villain (his mission: to complete the Infinity Gauntlet and wipe out half the universe with a click of his fingers) because he’s Infinity War’s de facto main character. Mo-capped by Josh Brolin, and flawlessly realised by VFX wizards, there’s a twisted logic to Thanos’ actions, and real emotion behind those pixellated peepers. He’s the best villain the MCU has produced to date.
The Thanos show it may be, but everyone gets their moments to shine, from First Avengers Captain America and Iron Man to new kids on the block Spider-Man and the Guardians Of The Galaxy, often in gleefully unexpected combinations. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo never drop the ball, effortlessly balancing scope and intimacy, humour and apocalyptic stakes. Remarkably, Infinity War delivers on 18 films’ worth of universe building.
But therein lies the rub. The more you’ve invested in the MCU, the more you’ll get out of Infinity War. And despite the bravura ending, there’s no getting round the fact this is only half the story. But if you’re one of the many who religiously watch each new instalment in the MCU, Infinity War is the film you’ve waited a decade for, and then some. Jordan Farley