3.5/4

Avengers: Infinity War [2018] ★★★½

It’s finally here: the biggest, best superhero gathering of all time, and fans couldn’t ask for a better result. “Infinity War” is an epic in every sense of the word, a feast for the eyes and the senses, an exhilarating ride from start to finish. You name it. So much in fact that I had to stay in my seat for a few minutes to take it all in. If you’ve followed every Marvel film since 2008’s “Iron Man”, then you probably know that it all leads to this very moment. So kudos to every single person who worked on making this the best possible reunion I could possibly ask for. It’s a triumph on every level from writing, directing, pacing, special effects to you name it. Sure, it can get overwhelming with all the superheroes involved. Want me to name them all? It could take a whole day. But get this: The Russo Brothers, who’ve done wonders with the Captain America films, give everyone a proper chance to shine (yes, even the Guardians of the Galaxy are here). Having been burned just a little bit with “Age of Ultron”, “Infinity War” finally gives us the film that people will talk about for years to come. In terms of plot, I’ll only say this: our heroes are about to face their deadliest threat yet, the powerful Thanos (a terrific Josh Brolin), who plans on destroying the whole universe. Sounds generic? He actually means it. And for 150 minutes, the movie doesn’t pull its punches, from a terrific opening sequence to a pulse-pounding climax, “Infinity War” is a knockout. The cast couldn’t be better; In fact, I’ve never rooted for the Avengers as much as I did here. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is still as funny as ever, but the stakes are higher here, and the film goes darker and deeper into the bruised psyches of these superheroes. And the results feel revolutionary. It’s difficult to say more without spilling the film’s many surprises, which I refuse to do. But I’ll say that The Russo Brothers have raised movie escapism very near the level of art. “Infinity War” is blockbuster entertainment at its best, a fantastic achievement that will stand for years to come.

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