Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

In this article, we will be looking at 2019’s book “1001 Movies to See Before You Die” and going through each film in a random order that I have chosen. We will be looking at what constitutes this film to be on the list and whether I think this film deserves to be here at all. I want to make perfectly clear that I won’t be revealing details from this book such as analyses by film reporters who have written about the film in question, so if you want the book itself you’ll have to buy it. But I will be covering the book’s suggestions on which films should be your top priority. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that everyone reading this article has probably watched many of these movies anyway. But we are just here to have a bit of fun. We’re going to not just look at whether it should be on this list but we’re also going to look at why the film has such a legacy at all. Remember, this is the 2019 version of the book and so, films like “Joker” will not be featured in this book and any film that came out in 2020 (and if we get there, in 2021). So strap in and if you have your own suggestions then don’t hesitate to email me using the address in my bio. Let’s get on with it then.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) dir. by Anthony and Joe Russo

An all-star cast including: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olson, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt, Idris Elba, Karen Gillan, Zoe Saldana, Gwyneth Paltrow, Benicio Del Toro, Cobie Smulders and many more. You know, just the usual cast. I cannot believe that they got this many A-Listers to star in one film.

The response on Rotten Tomatoes was generally favourable with the consensus reading the following:

"Avengers: Infinity War ably juggles a dizzying array of MCU heroes in the fight against their gravest threat yet, and the result is a thrilling, emotionally resonant blockbuster that (mostly) realises its gargantuan ambitions.”

Variety Magazine also praised the film’s use of ensemble cast stating that:

"Infinity War is a brashly entertaining jamboree, structured to show off each hero or heroine and give them just enough to do, and to update their mythologies without making it all feel like homework”

The Chicago Sun-Times stated that this film was Marvel’s "biggest and most ambitious movie yet", but concluded "it's certainly not the best. However, there's plenty of action, humour and heart—and some genuinely effective dramatic moments". It went on to praise the film's cast and Josh Brolin in particular, whom they called "the film's most interesting performance…”

Many critics though, had a problem with the pacing and tension of the film with the drama of the movie being criticised for its over-the-top nature. The New Yorker stated:

"The insubstantiality of the film isn't due to the infinite yet flimsy malleability of C.G.I. gimmickry but, instead, to the dispersion of its drama throughout the many cinematic installations set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe…”

TIME Magazine also stated:

“[It] isn't really a beginning, but more of a middle or an end with a new piece of yarn attached. You need to have seen and internalised every one of the previous 18 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies to fully get it…”

Whilst the Los Angeles Times was also critical of the film’s closure and tension timing. It is a very strange review, but I can see where they’re coming from. They called the film a:

"...brisk, propulsive, occasionally rousing and borderline-gutsy continuation of a saga that finally and sensibly seems to be drawing to a close", but called its ultimate bid for catharsis "unsuccessful" since the Marvel "assembly line [is not stopped] from chugging ahead with its signature polished, mechanised efficiency.”

So there are a bunch of different opinions on this film. Honestly, I would say that the film was pretty average. A nice watch for someone who grew up watching the Marvel Films in the cinemas since Iron Man 1 and well, it was a great effort to bring that all together in preparation for Avengers: Endgame.