REVIEW: AVENGERS-INFINITY WAR

4/5

Avenge This.

149 Mins. Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Saldana, Chadwick Boseman, Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Benedict Wong, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Peter Dinklage & Josh Brolin. Directors: Anthony & Joe Russo.

Assembling almost every superhero in the Marvel universe with avengance (Fantastic Four and X-Men too little, too Disney deal late aside), cape fear not. Superhero mash-ups are a lay-up for the Russo brothers. A milk run. They could do this all day. And as a decade and 18 films conclude with the new beginning of Phase 4, this dynamic duo and family of franchise films are with you 'till the end of the line...let alone the post-credits. 'Civil War' reaches 'Infinity'. As the directors who made 'The Winter Soldier' the greatest M.C.U. movie to arguably this day (take away the suit (which they do for a big part of the movie) and the powers and you have a classic spy thriller candidate for 'Manchurian' (remember the reference) on your hands) up the toys in the sandbox ante. Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Doctor Strange (oh we're using our made-up names), Spider-Man, the Black Panther and those Guardian of the Galaxy a-holes. They're all here...plus many more. But we won't tell. Even the ones you speculate from street level to out of this galaxy. Because in this age of spoiler alerts or Twitter trends that should have been deleted and blocked like anyone trying to comment that way on 'Guardians' guardian James Gunn's (who scripts his teams dialogue with redefinition here) Instagram posts, it's better that you go in with less eyes than Thor. But mystic arts trick or not you're in for a treat. As this Marvel Cinematic Universe holds much more than just six stones and a gauntlet of gigantic action that seems to never run out of punches like trying to hit infinity. What more could you expect, or want like the most classic Stan Lee cameo yet from the biggest and best blockbuster of the year? Which should have no problem even clawing away at 'Black Panther's box-office record that even sunk the 'Titanic'. Thanks in part to the King T'Challa himself, who after his own, outstanding revolutionary movie does for 'Avengers 3' what last summers biggest superhero standout 'Wonder Woman' tried to do for D.C.'s 'Justice League' (sorry Supes and Bats need we say anymore?). In some ways this years blockbuster beginning 'Black Panther' is deeper and means so much more. Making it in some ways just as big as 'Infinity' but when it all comes down to it. After the original 'Avengers' assemble and the 'Age Of Ultron' that lasted a shade under three hours. Time, mind, space, reality, power and soul. Nothing is as epic as this.

'08 'till 'Infinity'. 10 years ago when Christian Bale's 'The Dark Knight' was the only superhero running the show with the late, great Heath Ledger's Joker holding all the cards and the last laugh, Marvel looked like what D.C. does now. Forcing to sell off it's Fantastic assets and mutations to other companies with little hope to buy them back like they have now. They couldn't even catch a spider. But after all the 'Amazing' ones later look at the uncanny, superior Tom Holland's 'Homecoming'. This kid has the metal to give the Iron Spider more legs. And it's all thanks to 'Iron Man'. Yes Tony Stark and Robert Downey Jr.'s ego doesn't need the all over massage. But Happy Hogan himself Jon Favreau began all this too. From the nuts and bolts of a terrific trilogy to these two wars that see R.D.J. at his best since his original 'Iron Man' and M.C.U. shot of redemption. Seeing him keep love alive with Gwyneth Paltrow's always on the right side (even with less and less screen time) Pepper Potts, or reunite with science bro Bruce, Mark Ruffalo (who's 'Ragnarok' ravaged Hulk has his own busting out anger issues) is only bested by the prescription banter with Benedict Cumberbatch's stepped up to the magic spinning plate, Doctor Strange. And from Baker Street to a Bleeker Street sanctuary in the Sanctum Sanctorum, it's a treat to see two Sherlock's, old and new, modern and traditional go at each other my dear. Elementary. And after Cumberbatch's cosmic cinematic debut and classic crossover cameo in 'Thor 3', this sorcerer reigns supreme here with the brilliant Benedict Wong by his wizarding world side. Two Benedict's for your benefit. It's as joy inducing as seeing his ego meet the one of Ego the (not so now Kurt) Living Planet's son Star-Lord. Played with lord of the galaxy confidence by Chris Pratt, in what should be his summer, with this and the 'Fallen Kingdom' of 'Jurassic World' too. His vocal back and forth with a bawdy and 'Ragnarok' refreshed (thanks Korg...hope you're still alive out there) Thor who is really thunderous here (thanks to a new tool to bear from 'Game Of Thrones' standout Peter Dinklage. Who channeling his Josh Brolin crossover, already made his Marvel debut in the 'Days Of Future Past' with the X-Men) making this the funniest Marvel film yet. Yep...you bet! But in a trilogy of handsome Chris'. Pratt, Hemsworth and Evans, we just hope for a make friends, make friends, never, never break friends reunion with the ripped stars and stripes of Chris Evans' nomadic Captain America. Who bearded and battered is given two of the best introductions here and still has that striving sense of hope running through that long hair, don't care, "done taking orders" new rules.

Cap (do we still call him that?) has his own secret Avengers team with his loyal wingman Anthony Mackie's formidable Falcon and his 'Winter Soldier' alley Natasha Romanoff. As Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow has gone all Atomic Blonde in looks and kicks. But with so many heroes for hire here some of their back stories get lost in translation. Needless to say we need that Black Widow solo movie like we don't need the Russian 'Red Sparrow' (sorry Raven). Although one moment of all of Marvel's superheroine women of wonder taking on 'Gone Girl' Carrie Coon's villain is inspired influence. Armed with buckshot, best friend Bucky on the other hand we know-thanks to the greatest post-credit, cheer inducing scene in recent wait around for nothing hilarious sting-is in the Vibranium vibrant, wonderful world of Wakanda. As this White Wolf alongside Chadwick's now classic Black Panther game and genre changer and team of super smart sister Letitia Wright (a new generation phase, Marvel millennial class member gets to utter the "what are those" trending line too) , right hand woman Danai Gurira and howling Man-Ape Winston Duke keeps this lavish land, perfectly staged for a third-act set-piece conclusion running forever. There's more Avengers to account for however like fans looking under the microscope for Paul Rudd (you'll get to zoom in on sure summer smash 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' soon), or wondering why Hawkeye Jeremy Renner is missing from the trailers like he is the 'Fallout' of the latest 'Mission: Impossible'. Hey even the hardest working Avengers in Hollywood can't disappoint their kids. Colonel Rhodes, Don Cheadle's patriotic to his superfriends cause War Machine won't remain grounded, despite the crippling signature on the dotted line. And despite playing Bettany reality looking house beautifully, there is so much more to Paul's Vision and Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlett Witch than meets the eye of all the power they hold that could destroy or bring new life. And lets not forget about the rest of those Guardians in 'Avengers' Vol 3. Like brilliant Bradley Cooper's rabbit like, furry fury Rocket Racoon. Or Vin Diesel's young sapling Groot. No longer a scene stealing baby, but a teen going through puberty, video games and ferns where he didn't have ferns before. And Dave Bautista's Drax is literally as hilarious as he's ever been with Pom Klementieff's Mantis managing to evoke even more laughs like she does every emotion. But it's the sisterhood of sci-fi 'Avatar' blue queen Zoe Saldana's green geat Gamora and 'Jumanji' game player Karen Gillian's twisting and turning parts of Nebula that will really be tested and taken to the dramatic limits for a superhero franchise that brings as much cries of tears as it does laughter (y'all remember Yondo whistling in the wind?!). As these out of this world, killer talents are the daughter of Thanos. Definitly the biggest, baddest and best blockbuster Marvel villain yet. Rivalled only by this years watch the throne stealing Killmonger of Wakanda, Michael B. Jordan. The Coogler 'Creed' of he would be king. And Tom Hiddleston's former top billing bad reigining, Loki who just like in the original fight for New York is a key piece here. There's always more to Thor's trickster prince of mischief brother beyond what he really feels. Most actors are lucky to have two big movies a year. But 'Sicario' star (wait for another reunion) Josh Brolin has that in a month and probably the biggest paycheck signed 'Marvel'. As with this and the 'Deadpool' fourth fall and Fox franchise breaking jokes we will surely see, the Cable guy is not pumping the hate breaks. Like 'Green Lantern', 'Jonah Hex' was a long time ago people. After all the years of post-credit teases he finally does it himself and gets off that damn chair (which even his own adopted family hates). Your times up you dumb f...wait, wrong movie! Brolin's brilliant mad titan in mo-cap C.G. is captured with nuance by the actor (sometimes you unfathomably forget he's not just standing there without Serkis hallmark white-dots) that even brings our sympathy and understanding for this big bads crazed cause. The lug does more than pack a wallop. Just like with Michael B.'s "what about us" Killmonger, Thanos has his own point...and he's willing to destroy half the universe with a click of the fingers just to prove it. And that's what makes all this culminations climax and ensuing emotional cliffhanger that will leave you biting your seat gripped nails so much more than just stake and fate. Destiny has arrived. No matter how much you've dreaded it. Now run to it like sold out theatres, because this is what we've all been waiting for. The only question that remains as you only have to wait another year is what's beyond 'Infinity'? Now that will be a real Marvel captain! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'The Avengers', 'Guardians Of The Galaxy', 'Captain America-Civil War'.