"Avengers: Infinity War" Movie Review

I took an extra couple days from my first thoughts video (which you can see here), before I wrote this. I wanted to let this set in, so I could think about it, & really get into it, still without delivering any spoilers. This is probably one of the most spoiler heavy movies I've ever seen. As long as it was, I still don't know how they've crammed so much into this film. That's one of things you get going into Avengers: Infinity War . You get this sense immediately of how big this film is. Not just in cast, but in scale. From the time it starts, you can feel this is different from anything Marvel's done. Taking place directly after the end credit scene of Thor: Ragnarok , there's an essence of grandeur right from the beginning. This is almost immediately followed by a setting of the stakes. They want you to know that nothing is off limits, no punches are being pulled, & this is the beginning of the end. Or at least the end of the Marvel universe as we know it. Everything was leading up to this. All roads were leading to Thanos, & from the time he appears he makes it known that he is a force to be reckoned with. It doesn't take long at all to realize why we need the Avengers, the Guardians, & anything else we can throw at him. Thanos is not just an awesome display of power though. He is perfectly brought to life by Josh Brolin. A man who is starting to look like is incapable of not delivering some of the best performances we've ever seen. He brings so many layers to the Mad Titan, you almost start to empathize with him. That's a hard feat for a guy that wants to gather all the Infinity Stones to wipe out half the life in the galaxy. Thanos definitely steals the show when it comes to this film. Totally making it his film. That's not selling anyone else short either. All the heroes came to play as well. We're just at the point now where most of them ARE their respective characters now. It's hard to not see Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, or Chris Hemsworth as Iron Man, Cap, & Thor. The same goes for the whole Guardians cast. Even the newcomers in Tom Holland as Spiderman, & Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther have not just taken these roles, but own them. This is even the first time I really cared about Olsen & Bethany as Scarlet Witch & the Vision. The evolution of the whole Hulk story takes an unexpected turn in as this as well. Remember he's been gone through all of Civil War , so he don't even know about the split yet. Banner has a big role to play in times to come. The reunion between him an Widow was something I was really waiting for too. This film also has propelled Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange as one of my favorite Avengers. He keeps proving he was the only person for this role. Finally, on the side of good there were the Guardians of the Galaxy. This was one of the two most curious things for me going into this movie. The Guardians films have a certain distinct feel to them, different from the rest of the Marvel universe in a major way. I was wondering how seamlessly those styles could mesh, or if one would just have to borrow the others? They meshed perfectly. I couldn't believe how perfect. Some of the best parts of this film where in how perfectly these characters interacted, & it was their differences that made that so. The other curiosity I had going in, by the way, was the use of the Guantlet. If your not in the know on this one the Guantlet with the Infinity Stones allows the wielder power over everything. The mind, time, space, reality, the wielder has the powers of a God. This is a tricky thing to display in comics, much less film. I was glad to see them once again defy odds, & pull it off without flaw. Thanos uses every aspect of the Guantlet, & each effect is spectacular. Thanos isn't alone by the way. He brings his children into the fray as well. None shining more for me than Ebony Maw. Going up against Doctor Strange, this guy was every bit the stuff of nightmares. I wasn't really 100% invested in the others, but every action film needs cannon fodder. And action this film definitely delivers, while I've mentioned it. This movie opens fast & hard, & doesn't stop going at that pace until the credits role. The isn't a rollercoaster, it's a drop from a friggin elevator. In the third quarter this thing starts bouncing back & forth between an epic sci-fi battle, & an all out Lord of the Rings/Braveheart battle. Only for all of that to get totally overshadowed by a fourth quarter slobberknocker falling right on top of it all. This film has quickly moved to the number 1 spot on my personal Marvel list. From beginning to end & all the little surprises in between, I loved this movie. Might not choose the Fan Event next time though, as my only regret is I didn't see it in IMAX. This movie deserves to be seen as big as it can possibly be. They have their work cut out for them if they're going to top this in Avengers 4 , whatever it's SECRET name winds up being. Keep em comin Kevin Feige. Don't ever leave us. Anyway, that's my full thoughts, I'd really like to know yours as well. Put it in the comments, like, & share.

"Thor: Ragnarok" Movie Review

Before I start I want to take a couple moments to mention a couple things. First, we've been trying to attend the AMC Fan Events for every opening as of late. I haven't been mentioning it as of late, but they're awesome. You usually get a small gift & a "backstage" looking lanyard. This time around we got a Thor: Ragnarok coin & they through in a large popcorn for every ticket purchased. The real treat to these however, is the fact that these are the people you want to watch these movies with. It's so much fun being surrounded by the biggest of fans. Costumes, interactions, & just the overall excitement in the room throughout is worth the extra price. The second thing I want to mention was basically what I wanted to start off with. There was one thing I left out of my first thoughts review video (see here) that I wanted to make sure I mentioned in this. So we will start the review with the music of Thor: Ragnarok. The music selection was awesome. Not something I'm going to rush out & buy, like the soundtrack to Guardians of the Galaxy. It's not my thing, but for the film? It was amazing. Like Guardians, the use of the music was so on point to the tone, & used at the perfect moments. Speaking of the tone of this movie, it was surprisingly hilarious. I wasn't expecting to use that word describing a Thor film, but this one is definitely a comedy above all. The crazy thing is in the moments that you're not laughing, this thing gets at sometimes jaw droppingly  intense. It was almost like it kept you laughing just to take away how dark this film actually was underneath the surface. Dealing with not only some serious revelations, but having an aftermath that will be felt throughout the whole Marvel Universe. The characters were amazing. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) felt like the Thor we see in the comics who is so cocky that no matter how bad it gets, he's still having fun. Loki (Tom Hilddleston) was as Loki as Loki could be. I think I loved, hating, loving, Loki in this film more so any other time he's appeared in the Marvel universe. Grandmaster (Jeff Golblum) was great running the planet Sikar. I can't wait to see him come into contact with his brother The Collector (Benicio Del Toro). The best way to describe Sikar is bringing up them up again, it's a very Guardians-film looking planet. It's the setting for most of this film, & where we first run into a Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson). I make sure to say a Valkyrie because this is not the Valkyrie you're used to. It actually took me awhile to really accept this iteration, but by the end of the film I'm all in, she's great. Sikar is where we also see the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) join the fray, the highlight of the previews. Hulk was the second best part of this movie. This was comic book or cartoon Hulk. This is the Hulk as we've been waiting to see the Hulk. They've teased a three-part Hulk story that started here & runs though the Avengers: Infinity War & Avengers 4. I now can't wait for this to occur. This will be one of the highlights of these next films for me. Now we get to the best part of this movie, Hela (Cate Blanchett). First & foremost Cate Blanchett looked amazing, I don't think I've ever seen her look that good. And Hela? You've been wanting a villain? This villain was worthy of the attention of the whole Avengers team & more. Just in her introduction to Asgard there's more destruction involved than we've seen out of one person in the Marvel Universe so far. I absolutely hope we see more of her. How does one kill the Goddess of Death anyway? I know it feels like I'm leaving out Odin (Anthony Hopkins), but it's Anthony Hopkins you already know he's going to deliver. Overall, I loved this movie. I would go as far as to say it's the best Thor movie, but that's where I have to stop, because I just can't. For the same reason I couldn't call Civil War the best Captain America film. You have to see so many films other that Thor to make this movie work the original Thor wins best Thor film by default. That saddens me because I loved the first Thor, I think it's the first Marvel film designed for a movie audience. It really drew in some fans that otherwise would avoid comic movies. Even though I enjoyed myself more watching Ragnarok, it's because of a lot more than the Thor films. Kinda makes this more of a Marvel Universe film than a Thor film to me. That takes nothing away from this amazing film. It didn't steal a spot in my top five Marvel films, but if you change those ratings to rely only on pure enjoyment while watching, it would easily be in the top three. I had so much fun watching this, but I'd really like to know what y'all think too when you see it. Put it in the comments, like, & share.