Spoilers ahoy! Turn away now if you don’t want spoiled on Infinity War. You have been warned.
Right: Every Character Had their Time to Shine
5 Things Infinity War Did So Right, and 3 Questions Still Left Unanswered
One of the main worries we had going into Infinity War was whether or not it would be able to fit everyone in. With 19 movies and countless characters at this point, it seemed unlikely that every major character would get their dues, with it more likely that the movie would focus on a core group of heroes. We’re happy to report that not only does Infinity War manage to fit everyone in, it gives everyone their own little moment to shine.
The obvious main characters of Iron Man, Thor and the Guardians are given the most screen-time but even relatively small characters like Nebula and Shuri are well utilized. There’s more Spider-Man than we could ever have hoped for, and even Guardians 2’s Mantis is given a vital role in the fight against Thanos. The movie does a great job at splitting its huge cast of characters into small groups, each given their own objectives and story arc. It’s a masterclass in story-telling and puts to bed any fears that comic book crossover stories can’t work well on the big screen.
Right: Thanos
5 Things Infinity War Did So Right, and 3 Questions Still Left Unanswered
CGI villains almost never work in movies, just look at Steppenwolf from Justice League if you want proof. This was a huge concern going into the movie as so much of it was riding on its purple-headed big bad Thanos. He had to be scary, powerful and determined but also interesting and understandable. In the first five minutes the movie establishes all of these things. By having him hand Hulk his own butt in a fight, then killing Loki, he cemented himself as the most formidable villain the MCU has ever seen.
It’s not just strength that sets Thanos aside from other villains though, it’s his emotional struggle with the task he’s set out to accomplish. Over the course of the movie you see him grieve for his daughter, sacrificing everything he has for a cause that he genuinely believes to be just. No one could have expected it, but Infinity War is very much Thanos’ movie, with the Mad Titan stealing absolutely every scene he’s in.
Right: Surprises
5 Things Infinity War Did So Right, and 3 Questions Still Left Unanswered
Marvel movies are always fun but rarely unpredictable. The stakes are often low, with main characters pretty much guaranteed to make it out of every predicament alive. And while we knew that Infinity War was going to be different, we could never have predicted just how dark it ended up being. The movie was filled with genuine surprises from start to finish, from Loki’s death to Red Skull showing up on some remote planet. The Hulk was a no-show for the majority of the movie and Spider-Man, oh poor Spider-Man.
A big budget blockbuster genuinely surprising its audience in this way is so rare to see. And whether or not it will all get reversed in Avengers 4 is kind of a moot point. Seeing characters that we’ve grown to love after the last decade fall in battle, some in truly upsetting ways (I’m looking at you Gamora), was incredible, and I doubt that anyone left the theater feeling like they knew exactly what was going to happen.
Right: Action
5 Things Infinity War Did So Right, and 3 Questions Still Left Unanswered
The MCU has seen its fair share of awesome action set-pieces. From the airport scene to Thor slaying Draugr while Led Zeppelin blasted over the speakers, Marvel clearly knows how to string a fight together. Infinity War is no exception, offering up more amazing set-pieces than you can shake a Groot at. It doesn’t just rely on characters we know can kick butt, instead combining everyone together in interesting ways. There’s a great moment where Doctor Strange creates small platforms for Star Lord to run across, or the part where Falcon and War Machine team-up to take down a huge spinning death-machine.
The action in Infinity War is both thrilling and refreshing. The scenes in Wakanda feel more grounded, with more hand-to-hand combat going on, a stark contrast to the magic and blaster battles that take place in Space. It all fits seamlessly, with the icing on the cake being Thanos using his new Infinity powers in weird and wonderful ways.
Right: Pacing
5 Things Infinity War Did So Right, and 3 Questions Still Left Unanswered
Avengers: Infinity War clocks in at a hefty 160 minutes long. The extra time is definitely appreciated, given just how much the movie has to fit in, but it’s interesting just how short the movie feels when you’re watching it. It rarely stands still, moving from big set-piece to even bigger set-piece, something which no doubt factors in to how quickly it seems to go by. There are quieter moments don’t get me wrong, but by keeping Thanos as an ever-present danger, the movie has a real sense of urgency.
That can’t be said for many movies of this length, so it’s a testament to how well it is put together.
Question: Is Everyone Really Dead Though?
5 Things Infinity War Did So Right, and 3 Questions Still Left Unanswered
Infinity War ends in a heartbreaking sequence in which half of the universe is wiped out of existence by Thanos. We see so many beloved characters die, from Spider-Man to Doctor Strange, and while it definitely hit hard, there’s the nagging feeling that it will all just be reversed in the next movie. There are a couple of reasons for this. Number one, there are sequels planned for Spider-Man and Guardians, which seriously casts doubt on whether those characters really are dead. Number two, we’ve seen Thanos and Doctor Strange rewind time before, so surely there’s a way to do so again.
Even so, the ending definitely had a big impact. And it seems that none other than Captain Marvel herself is the key to saving the day (more on that later). What remains unclear is whether or not everyone can be saved. Gamora and Loki both died before Thanos wiped out the universe, so surely they’re gone for good? We’ll have to wait until Avengers 4 to know for certain.
Question: Why Captain Marvel?
5 Things Infinity War Did So Right, and 3 Questions Still Left Unanswered
After what must have been the longest credits sequence in film-history, patient Marvel fans were treated to a scene involving Nick Fury as he sent a distress call out to Captain Marvel. The question is then, why her? In the comics, Captain Marvel has experience with the Quantum Realm which could, in theory, be used to turn back time. We know that her standalone movie is set in the ’90s so is unlikely to tie into Infinity War in any meaningful way, but who knows? She’s traveled through time before.
There’s also the question as to where exactly Captain Marvel is during the events of Infinity War, though many have suggested that Nick Fury actually sent his distress signal back through time to reach her.
Question: Where Were Ant-Man, The Wasp and Hawkeye?
5 Things Infinity War Did So Right, and 3 Questions Still Left Unanswered
The most notable characters who were missing from Infinity War were Ant-Man, The Wasp and Hawkeye. The two boys were alluded to in the movie, with Ant-Man on house arrest and Hawkeye wiped from government records. It’s likely that we will get an answer in Ant-Man and The Wasp, which debuts later this year. It has been suggested that the movie will play around with the Quantum Realm, as well as end with the heroes suiting up after the events of Infinity War.
How much Hawkeye can add to the equation remains to be seen, though I suspect that at least one of his family members got hit by the Thanos purge, so maybe he’ll be joining the fight soon after.
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