By JASON GUYER
iRate
The Russo brothers have made entertainment perfection with “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Last weekend, to the delight of the box office, Marvel released the first part of its magnum opus.
“Avengers: Infinity War” is smashing box office records quicker than Thanos dismantled what was left of Asgard.
“Avengers: Infinity War” is the culmination of Marvel movies over the past 10 years. That is a lot of hype to live up to.
But the movie lives up to it and then some.
Following many Marvel universe characters such as Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Captain America, Black Panther and the rest of the Avengers,
“Avengers: Infinity War” unites them to battle their most powerful enemy yet — the evil Thanos, who is on a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones and use them for his own version of population control for the universe.
With the planet, universe and existence in peril, the Avengers fight to save everyone and everything.
A superhero movie is a different animal than most and the above synopsis sounds like a perfect superhero film.
In 2018, it is nearly impossible to fail at super hero films, unless you’re DC. There is a formula and as long as you do not stray too far from it, the film will be a success.
“Avengers: Infinity War” is and always was going to be a different animal and that was always a worry with the movie.
The biggest question was, “How do you make a good film with so many characters to handle and give screen time?”
“Avengers: Infinity War” had to handle this one aspect better than it would have to handle any other.
It always has been hard for filmmakers to make a good or great film with too many characters. It inevitably takes away from the story itself or you have a five-hour movie.
“Avengers: Infinity War” and the Russo Brothers could not have handled it any better. I was astounded at how well every character’s story arc blended with the overarching story of the film.
Main characters who have no point in films, who are just there to be there and add nothing to the story, can kill films.
The Russo brothers turned characters into groups and treated each group as their own characters and all three groups had their own storyline.
The storylines are interwoven with each other and each holding or being apart of key aspects of the plot — each propelling the plot to its climax and eventually to its conclusion.
The Russos put on a filmmaking master class of character inclusion with “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Over the past week, though, I have heard some gripes about “Avengers: Infinity War” but to be honest very few are about the film.
The majority of gripes, even though they are coming from viewers, isn’t as much about he movie as it is about the viewers themselves.
One of the biggest I have heard is that they do not “introduce” the characters and some people were lost because they had not seen the other films with that character.
Character introduction is “Filmmaking 101” and a staple of nearly every film.
You have to introduce characters and get people to know them and like them.
Except the Russos and Marvel ignore this and it is genius and perfect for “Avengers: Infinity War.”
The only character that gets an introduction is Thanos.
It is assumed you know the rest and, to be fair, you should.
Do not go into “Avengers: Infinity War” without having seen at the very least all the introductory/origin films for the superheroes.
Now it is not necessary to any of the story or plot points in “Avengers: Infinity War” to see any other film but “Avengers: Infinity War.”
It is not a must but if you do not know the characters and know this is something you as a viewer would not like or will complain about, then it is on you and you should see the other films.
This should not be put on Marvel or the Russo brothers, who made a fantastic and entertaining film.
That is and what Marvel films have always been, entertainment.
They are not deep films. They are not artistic films. They are not films with social, satirical or political points. They are not films that are going to make you think introspectively or existentially.
“Avengers: Infinity War” and the other Marvel films are simply and amazingly entertaining.
You don’t want more and you shouldn’t ask for more, go see “Avengers: Infinity War” and be entertained.
“Avengers: Infinity War.”is the swiftest 2 hours and 40 minutes you will ever have in a theater chair.
“Avengers: Infinity War.” from opening credits to ending credits is pure action-packed entertainment.
There is only one truly bad part or experience you will have through the entirety of the film and that is the ending.
Now, even though I did dislike ending on such a blunt note and on a moment of defeat and not on a moment of strength, it grows on you after a few viewings and you can see why the Russos went that direction.
Ultimately, “Avengers: Infinity War” ends even though you do not want to, and when you get up to leave you and that tingly skin, raised hair and goosebumps subside, it hits you.
You have a whole year to wait.
May 03, 2019.
IRATE SCORE: 4.5/5
Jason Guyer is an avid moviegoer and works in the Graphics Department at the Eagle Times. For questions or comments he can be emailed at [email protected]
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