Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Mini-Review— The Analytic Critic
The movie may not be prefect, but as the first part of an epic sendoff to all of the avengers, Infinity War is a delightful, yet foreboding and shocking, entry into the MCU. How so? Let’s take a look.
WRITING:
Thanos, the looming threat introduced early in the MCU’s history, is trying to acquire all six infinity stones to end famine and strife by decimating half of the universe’s population. He already has one stone.
The film, then, is about trying to prevent Thanos from acquiring the remaining stones. Only by working together can the Avengers possibly defeat him, his children, and stop half of the universe from dying out in the blink of an eye.
Compared to the rest of the MCU threats, the stakes have never been higher. It’s absolutely thrilling, to be honest. The action scenes are just a blast to watch, each feeling more dynamic than the last. And most of the characters generally get a decent amount of screentime.
That said, there are a few issues with the script. Captain America, the leader of the Avengers, doesn’t get much time to shine on the big screen. There’s also too many action scenes, even though they are really good. And unfortunately, a lack of character development exists; Thor, Thanos, and Tony Stark are the only ones who feel fleshed out.
But the major offenders here are the children of Thanos. None of them receive any development, and they tend to disappear almost as swiftly as they are introduced.
CAST:
The cast is far too large to cover everyone, but let me be clear: with only a few exceptions, the cast of Infinity War are quite excellent. Each of them is able to nail Marvel’s epic tone, including new additions with little Marvel experience such as Peter Dinklage.
The only bad casting choices are Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Zoe Saldaña, and Chris Pratt. Each felt lacking in comparison with the rest of the cast. This is because while each of them has their strengths, none of them are able to deliver believability here.
Similarly, Mark Ruffalo’s performance is off, too; in this film, Ruffalo overacts instead of keeping the audience engaged with the natural acting method he previously employed.
On the other hand, Chris Evans, Paul Bettany, and Elizabeth Olsen are amazing with the little material they are given, though I wish all three had more screentime.
If I had to choose actors who really stood out, it would have to be Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, and Josh Brolin. Yeah, their characters are definitely the most developed, but I believe that these men gave the best performances of their careers thus far in Infinity War and Endgame (that’s the next Avengers film). All three are marvelously captivating.
PRODUCTION:
With the Russo brothers behind Infinity War’s direction, it’s no surprise that the movie is visually spectacular. Every shot is economic and every hit is impactful. This is partially because of the stupendously accurate sound design and subtle — yet effective — soundtrack.
The abundance of different lighting situations, makeup and prosthetics, and sets designed were certainly an immersive challenge for the crew, yet they pulled it off. Everything is quite immersive, even down to the green/blue screens implemented.
The best thing about Infinity War, however, is the gorgeous CGI and visual effects that make up the majority of the film. While these will one day look dated, I’m sure, they certainly look awesome for now! Thanos in particular looks incredibly realistic, his facial animations encapsulating Brolin’s with pinpoint accuracy.
Perhaps the CGI and visual effects will be futureproof for many years to come.
SUMMARY:
Despite a handful of flaws, Infinity War is objectively a visual treat for comic book fans that strikes most of the right chords for Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. I can easily recommend it.
The Avengers: Infinity War gets a 7.5 out of 10.
