Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - A masterclass in subverting expectations!

With Disney releasing the IMAX enhanced editions of their MARVEL movies on Disney +, it felt right to go back and look at the first film in that series that was entirely shot with IMAX cameras. I remember watching this film on opening night, and being left completely floored by what the production team had put together. So much so that I went back to rewatch it in cinemas multiple times. But now we've had time to let the hype settle, as well as having the second half to this story released, how well does this ensemble action film hold up?...

The first thing that really sticks out is the film's visual design, which is by far the best MARVEL Studios reached at this point in time. For a long time, the films in this series suffered from a poor use of colour in it's cinematography and colour grading, often looking flat and dull. But here, the colours pop off the screen with crystal clarity. The picture quality is exceptional, and the extra detail present in the IMAX presentation is a real treat to behold. From extra damage in action scenes to expanding the world the characters live in, it's clear that the team really benefited from having the taller image than usual. The black values in the film's colour pallet helps the colours stand out from one another, and really helps sell the more dark and drab scenes.

The CG effects look awe inspiring, and really stand out in the sea of digital effects in this popular series. The all CG characters in particular are a magnificent achievement in digital character creation. Josh Brolin's Thanos is a key highlight, selling the journey that our protagonist takes. Yes, you heard me right, the villain in this film is our protagonist. It's simple though, it's his journey that is the main focus of the story, and whether you like it or not, it's his goals that we see get achieved in this narrative. The level of detail in his design is a spectacle to behold, right down to the pores in his skin, something that people don't notice, yet it truly helps sell this character as being real and blending in superbly with the rest of the characters and the world being brought to life around them.

This film also stands out for being the moment of dread and fear that all good finales need. Like films such as The Empire Strikes Back and Deathly Hallows Part 1, this film gives us what appears to be a traditional MARVEL action film, only for the writers, actors and directors to perfectly pull off a shocking subversion of audience expectations. By this point, audiences were use to the idea of the heroes always coming out on top, with little to no collateral damage, but instead, the film plays the audience very well by still subtly establishing the impending doom that cements this film as a classic in the superhero genre. You get everything you expect to see, with the two final battles being cut together really well, and giving the audience a wider variety of character team ups. I do slightly prefer to the less choppy way the action on Titan is put together, but the action in Wakanda is still a thrilling part of the film's final act. The Titan battle however does contain some of the most eye popping visual effects sequences, truly showing off the powers of Brolin's Thanos, as well as Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange.

The ending in particular leaves a gut wrenching pain for those who don't know about the events that followed in 2019's Endgame. I remember being left completely speechless for 15 minutes after the credits began to roll, with the audience around being in the same state of shock as the final 10 minutes unfolded, which shows the incredible ways in which the team behind this series got us invested in these characters. Even if you could see things being resolved after this cliffhanger, it still leaves you emotionally invested by how beautifully the sequence plays out. Huge credit to the cast for conveying the dread and devastation so well. Some of the best performers include the previously mentioned Josh Brolin, as well as Elizabeth Olsen, who has probably the most tragic moment in the entire film, and really sells it alongside Paul Bettany. We also have the incredible talents of Zoe Saldana, who conveys so much conflict within her character, while still being able to move from between emotions with the snap of a finger.

This film also holds a special place in this series for the return of composer, Alan Silvestri for this finale. Having pulled off an incredible score for the first Avengers film, he was sorely missed in their second outing. But here, he returns to provide the best soundtrack out of all the MARVEL films, giving heart pounding action pieces, as well as heart breaking moments when all hope is lost, and we see characters we love face moments of loss and devastation. Silvestri remains one of the best composers to be associated with this series, giving us music that sticks around and can be associated with characters and scenes so easily. While other composers appear to focus solely on creating forgettable background music. I'll never be able to forget the ferociously victorious themes Silvestri composed for this series of films.

While Avengers: Endgame relies on this film to be a complete story, it's easier to sit through this film, and enjoy it on it's own merits. This film does everything a superhero film is meant to do to such a high standard, while still leaving it's audience floored by it's shocking twists and turns. The cast have really sunk into their roles, and the new additions just add to the incredible performances on screen. The film ends on a very down beat note, but that just makes the film stand out more as one of the best superhero films ever made, giving the audiences a story that nobody at the time thought MARVEL would be brave enough to bring to the cinema screens. Alas, here we are, and Avengers: Infinity War is all the better for it!

SCORES

Story - 5/5

Characters - 5/5

Production - 5/5

Acting - 5/5

Music - 5/5

TOTAL - 10/10