Pop Culture Corner: Spoiler-Free Infinity War Review
At the time that I’m writing this, the newest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been out for just over a week. Avengers: Infinity War is, well, a doozy. Don’t worry, this article won’t contain any spoilers in case you’re one of the few people that hasn’t seen it yet, but boy howdy do I have some strong feelings about this movie. For starters, the cinematography and special effects are absolutely nuts. The movie is beautifully shot, the fight scenes have dynamic choreography, and the chemistry between the cast is captivating to watch. There are snarky one-liners, new planets, and a whole lot of backstory you definitely need to know before you go see the film. So, you know, a classic Marvel movie.
All of this almost makes up for the fact that the film ripped out my heart, curb stomped it, and threw it off a cliff. I have yet to recover from the emotional trauma of it all.
(Fun Fact: Tom Holland (Spiderman) completely improvised that scene. You know the one.) Infinity War may have been an all-out slaughterfest, but not only does it overcome Marvel’s villain problem, it also breaks what has been criticized as the studio’s pattern of predictable and formulaic superhero movies. Josh Brolin delivers an entrancingly charismatic performance as the seemingly unbeatable titan Thanos, and neither he nor the screenwriters pull any punches. Unlike previous Marvel movies (or superhero movies in general), Infinity War doesn’t go the way you think it’s gonna go. It slips sideways at the last second, in a turn of events that shocked even the most hardened of comic book fans. When the house lights came up the first time I watched it, half the theatre was sniffling and sobbing, and the other half sat stupefied in their seats. What did we just watch? Do we like it? Was it worth it? I’m still trying to figure out the answers myself.
If you’re not a Marvel superfan, or you’re still debating whether or not to see it, I say go (provided you’ve caught up on the goings on of the MCU beforehand). This sucker’s pushing three hours, so make sure you get comfortable in that theatre, and use the restroom before it starts. It’s a long movie, but it’s over in a snap. If you know what I mean.
