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AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War poster

CAST
DAVE BAUTISTA
PAUL BETTANY
CHADWICK BOSEMAN
JOSH BROLIN
DON CHEADLE
BRADLEY COOPER (VOICE OF)
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
VIN DIESEL (VOICE OF)
ROBERY DOWNEY JR.
CHRIS EVANS
KAREN GILLAN
CHRIS HEMSWORTH
TOM HIDDLESTON
TOM HOLLAND
SCARLETT JOHANSSON
ANTHONY MACKIE
ELIZABETH OLSEN
CHRIS PRATT
MARK RUFFALO
ZOE SALDANA
SEBASTIAN STAN

BASED ON THE MARVEL COMICS BY
JACK KIRBY
STAN LEE

SCREENPLAY BY
CHRISTOPHER MARKUS
STEPHEN McFEELY

PRODUCED BY
KEVIN FEIGE

DIRECTED BY
ANTHONY RUSSO
JOE RUSSO

GENRE
ACTION
ADVENTURE
SCIENCE FICTION

RATED
AUS:M
UK:12A
USA:PG-13

RUNNING TIME
149 MIN

 

 

Avengers: Infinity War image

A momentous cinematic event of high stakes and impressive blockbuster filmmaking, Avengers: Infinity War lives up to gigantic expectations in its delivery of a superhero spectacular that shocks and wows with equal measure.

10 years ago, when Marvel Studios released Iron Man, no one knew what to expect. The track record for movies based on Marvel Comic properties was shaky at best, and the idea of having a twice fallen bad-boy of Hollywood in Robert Downey Jr. lead the charge as Iron Man had risk written all over it. One decade, 18 films, and billions in box-office dollars later, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe is not only a success, it has become an industry that changed the way blockbuster cinema is made.

Enter Avengers: Infinity War. For comic-book fans, they know that this chapter in the vast Marvel Comics cannon is pivotal. This is because it centres on the evil ambition of the terrifying intergalactic tyrant, Thanos (Josh Brolin). His mission is to possess the six infinity stones that represent the power and fabric of the universe, in order to achieve his goal of restoring balance in the universe by erasing half of existence.

It is this most gravest of threats that brings together Avengers torn apart by a civil war Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr); master of the mystic arts Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch); friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man (Tom Holland); newly crowned king Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman); titans of war looking for their identity Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo); and Guardians of the Galaxy (Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and the rest of the crew), to combat Thanos and his powerful army.  

With these many characters (and more), Avengers: Infinity War could have turned into a cluttered mess. Yet with a 149 minute runtime to play with, and Marvel Studio veterans the Russo Brothers (Captain America: Civil War) at the helm, Avengers: Infinity War succeeds as a multi-layered, multi-character and emotionally resounding superhero opera.

From the gobsmacking scale of this galaxy expanding movie, to the superb visual effects and action sequences, the Russo Brothers along with screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely provide the exact tone and pace needed to sustain the right control over the films various structures and the personalities found within. Whether it be Star-Lord’s quick wit heroics, or Captain America’s noble bravado, each character is given time to shine resulting in what must be one of the finest assemblage of talent in a genre movie.

Best of all is the beast himself, Thanos. As portrayed by Josh Brolin, this monster of a supervillain is the breakout star in this star-packed extravaganza. Marvel has long succeeded in presenting memorable and feared villains (Loki, Killmonger, etc). Thanos provides a different element as an all powerful being not only of evil intent, but surprisingly commanding emotional resonance. He is an emotional being, but one with a moral compass so incredibly distorted, that he values life with the same weight as sand running through fingers.

Earths mightiest heroes are the drawcard for Avengers: Infinity War. But it is Thanos that audiences worldwide will remember after the credits role.

 

****

RELATED CONTENT
Captain America: Civil War image The Avengers image

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