By Travis Trombley | |
After the most intense opening weekend of any film in history, fans around the globe are discussing Marvels latest opus: Infinity War. If you'd like to delve into the meatier philosophies and themes of the movie, check out our article on how Thanos brings together the MCU's themes of moral calculus and fatherhood. However, if you prefer a lighter read, here’s a list of talking points to consider. Far from exhaustive, here’s a breakdown of five things we dig about the movie and five criticisms.
What We Liked
#1 - The character mashups
With 10 years of establishing unique characters under the Marvel's belt, Infinity War gave fans the gift of seeing all those personalities come together. This intertextuality constitutes a significant chunk of the film’s appeal in much the same way the original Avengers felt special just for uniting four (I’m counting SHIELD as the 4th, not Hulk) previously independent character franchises. Yes, many favorites get shortchanged here, but that doesn’t detract from the sheer fun of watching the egos of Doctor Strange and Tony Stark clash, nor the added shenanigans that comes from the goofy Thor meeting up with the Guardians. It really feels like the Marvel Cinematic Universe earning the title. (Still looking forward to the MCTU, though - Marvel Cinematic and Television Universe)
#2 - Stark, Spidey, and" the wizards” fight off Thanos’ goons in New York
After a brutal prologue and some Infinity Stone exposition, Infinity War kicks into gear by pitting Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Wong, and a Hulk-challenged Bruce Banner against two of Thanos’s cronies: off-brand Voldemort and Thorlk (get it? Cause he's Hulk, but with a hammer...). Spider-Man joins in later. Benefiting from the added flavor of an attitude duel between Strange and Stark, the early fight, thanks to its limited scale, features some of the most memorable “moves” of the whole film, including the sorcerers’ use of a portal trick to redirect some spikes and Spider-Man’s web work against Thorlk. It’s a great introductory scene that establishes Thanos’ minions as a threat while allowing us to reacquaint ourselves with some of our favorite heroes. And Stark saying, “He’s from space, and he came here to steal a necklace from a wizard,” is easily one of the film’s best lines.
#3 - The one-liners
Speaking of laugh lines. Despite its apocalyptic plot, Infinity War maintains a chipper sense of humor from beginning to sobering end thanks largely to one-off character jokes. The tonal shifts would feel out of place in any other context, given the dour circumstances, but the spats of levity fit perfectly in the established MCU paradigm, which trades in laughs as much as it does explosions. Here are handful of our favorites:
- “Dude, you’re embarrassing me in front of the wizards.”
- “Why is Gamora?”
- “I am Steve Rogers”