Movie Discussion: Avengers: Infinity War

Scott Hardie | April 29, 2018
Random thoughts:

In possession of all infinity gems, Thanos would have omnipotence, right? Then isn't his problem lack of imagination? He wants to solve overpopulation, but all he can think of to accomplish that is killing half of the universe's population. He can do literally anything else: Make extra planets and redistribute people there. Make planets larger. Make resources renew themselves infinitely. Make populations intuitively adjust their own birth rates until statis is achieved. These are just off the top of my head; there are probably much better ways to go. As compelling as the movie version of Thanos was, due in large part to Josh Brolin's performance, there's still a disappointing simplicity to his plan.

Was it me or was it very obvious when Doctor Strange handed over the green stone that he knew that it would lead to the 1-out-of-14-million scenario?

I really liked some of the specific callbacks to earlier films: Kevin Bacon, "we have a Hulk," the flip-phone that Steve sent Tony, "that really old movie," Quill's dance-off, the surprise guest appearance by a long-dead villain. And I loved that Rocket finally found a good use for the body parts that he keeps stealing via pranks.

I also liked the distinction drawn around sacrificing friends and loved ones. Quill was unwilling to shoot Gamora, Wanda was unwilling to kill Vision (for most of the movie), Gamora was unwilling to let Nebula be tortured to death, and Strange was unwilling to let Tony die, and yet any of them could have prevented the massacre if they had just done it. The only character in the movie willing to sacrifice their loved one was the villain, and that's why he won. That's a very well considered idea in the screenplay.

Their appearance here would have been even less probable than in Civil War's big airport fight scene, but I'm still disappointed that Netflix's Defenders did not show up in an MCU film. We could have had a shot of one of them reacting to another turning to dust, or a scene mid-credits that reveals why they can't help the cause. I continue to hope that they show up in the next film. It just feels pointless to have them be part of the MCU if they never ever interact with it. Groot playing a "Defenders" video game is not sufficient.

Evie Totty | April 29, 2018
I agree with the lack of imagination there. I didn't think of it - but yeah. There are many more ways than just culling.

The time stone: ok when Strange said he viewed the upcoming conflict, I thought he meant theirs on Titan - not the whole thing. But given the very end - it does seem that way now. But we know we win.

Killing friends and loved ones. I don't know what I'd do. I sit here armchair quarterbacking it and saying that I'd be able to make the 'needs of the many outnumber the needs of the few' ... but who can say really? I do remember nodding 'yes' when Chris Evans' character made that decision in Snowpiercer.

I didn't even think of the Defenders honestly. But it seems that if Spidey could get there while on his way to MOMA that The Defenders would also make their way there to see WTF was going on.

My takeaways: I mentioned in my review - but the screenplay was very well done. Little quips here and there that were totally in character, the separation of each 'lead' hero into his (for now) type of style. (Iron Man et al, Guardians, Captain America's team, Thor). I felt the film was very well put together. On my third viewing, I was a little antsy ... but that's what I get for seeing it three times in four days. I loved all the little 'inside' nods (as mentioned above in Scott's)

And given my obsession with Captain America/Chris Evans, I will say that I noticed that there was NO story that revolved around Captain America. He was around, yes but he was not central to anything. So that tells me that he will likely be the focus of A4 (well - along with Thor and Captain Marvel). I wonder when they'll release the title? Two weeks? A month? Six months?

The people I saw it with are NOT happy. They were devastated by the losses and were upset that it was a two-parter and they didn't know that it was. I had to assure them multiple times 'they wouldn't kill Spider-Man permanently - he has a movie coming up' etc. I will say I was pretty sad that they eliminated all but one Guardian. :'(

Scott Hardie | April 30, 2018
I understand that the choices of who died at the end were driven by who needs to be present for the sequel (which I expect to feature Ant-Man, Wasp, and Hawkeye, but damn it probably not the Defenders), but it still felt like the filmmakers were laying it on kind of thick to kill characters who will star in already-announced sequels (Spider-Man and the Guardians) and widely-assumed sequels (Doctor Strange). I except Black Panther from that because they didn't know his movie would be such a hit when they made this one. Anyway, their deaths all but guarantee that there will have to be some kind of reset in the next movie that undoes the deaths. That may be true to the comics, but choosing different characters might have kept the audience in more suspense, wondering if it will be permanent.

Speaking of Spider-Man, won't the early marketing for his next movie (July 2019) give away that his death is undone in the next Avengers movie (May 2019)? I guess they could play loose with the timeline and have it take place before Infinity War, but that could be awfully confusing.

Any predictions for the title of the next Avengers movie? Marvel said it would spoil the ending of this if it was revealed too early. I predict Infinity Watch, but without much confidence that I'm right. Whether Adam Warlock will be in it is the biggest question.

Evie Totty | April 30, 2018