Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - A Guest Review by Chad Dixon

I saw this for only the second time recently as it played for the first time on UK Terrestrial TV over the last weekend. (Still a shame Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok hasn't been on terrestrial TV yet as it's the direct prequel in the MCU's Infinity Stones saga.) Some may be having Superhero film fatigue and wouldn't look twice at something like this, but while it's available on the BBC's iPlayer for a limited time, I think it's definitely worth another look - as there's a lot here to unpack.

Since the dawn of time, six special stones with their own unique powers were created in the Big Bang and legends say that whomever wields all six could complete any wish with just a snap of their fingers. Following the lore of the Marvel comics, throughout millennia, the Infinity Stones have now found their way to the Milky Way Galaxy. In the previous 18 films, the MCU has been following their journeys as various characters have possessed them individually for periods of time. The Avengers have been part of these journeys and have been aware of what their arch enemy, the mighty Thanos' was planning. With the help of his specially created gauntlet, he is to claim all the Infinity Stones and complete his chosen quest to save this Universe of limited resources by culling half of its entire population of living things.

I think we are virtually at peak MCU here and there's nothing that's been released in the last few years that comes close to how much is packed into this 2 hour 29 minute epic. Just about every Earthbound superhero and all of the Guardians of the Galaxy are involved in this story. The very well choreographed action sequences are nicely paced near the start, containing handfuls of protagonists in a few, around the Galaxy locations. All those threads come together nicely as they build to a final all-out battle scene back on Earth on Wakandan soil.

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, they do a brilliant job of keeping the myriad aspects and threads that make up this gripping story together. The effects are top-notch. With multiple space scenes, spaceships, alien planets and countless CGI and motion-capture characters all seamlessly intermingled with the real actors. The well written script is concise so neither exposition nor action outstay their welcome on-screen.

One particular performance stands out as almost Shakespearian in delivery and that's Josh Brolin as Thanos. Hidden entirely behind his seven and a half foot purple-skinned motion-captured facade throughout, he totally brings all of his thespian powers to the role - and even though he is the main antagonist, you sort of can't wait till he's on-screen again. Everyone else does a stirling job and keeps you focused on the multi-stringed plot - but there's far too many to mention by name here. You can easy look them all up on IMDb. If you have a decent-sized TV at home with a good sound system, or even if you don't, go and get that bucket of your favourite popcorn and enjoy a cinematic spectacle!