Ignoring the plot (because “Thanos Demands Your Silence” and I, for one, do not intend to stand against Thanos), Avengers: Infinity War could be a bit jarring as it jumps between clusters of heroes almost at will, just like comics books tend to do during large crossover events.
Of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe that has been building towards this singular point in time, this is perhaps the most faithful adaptation of panel to screen, despite borrowing plotlines from several different inspirations.
Thanos Demands Your Silence
It is also not to be mistaken as a standalone movie as it was originally supposed to be a two-parter and still is despite the lack of “Part 1” within the title.
And insofar as it is a culmination of 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with Iron Man’s 2008 release on May 2nd of that year, we’ve basically hit the anniversary with a week to spare.
It remains a great achievement for Marvel and a mountain for Warner Brothers (the captain of the ship for DC Comics) to reach towards because this film (as I slightly lamented with Captain America: Civil War) does not stand on its own.
It literally stands on the shoulders of every single Marvel Cinematic Universe film that precedes it. Perhaps you could have skipped a film or two but I believe, and I could be wrong after only one viewing, that Infinity War does indeed seem to reference most of the films that have come before.
It’s hard to imagine that rising from the post-credits quote of Nick Fury from 2008’s Iron Man, “‘I am Iron Man.’ You think you’re the only superhero in the world? Mr. Stark, you’ve become part of a bigger universe. You just don’t know it yet.” that a decade from Fury’s words would come to an epic genre-defining film called Avengers: Infinity War, the 19th film and culmination of three separate Phases within that “bigger universe.”
None of us could have imagined that even with the success of 2008’s Iron Man, that the MCU would become a 15 billion dollar juggernaut at the box office, with blockbuster after blockbuster dominating the globe almost twice a year like clockwork.
It may have been hard to imagine then, but it’s a reality now, and one that is worth celebrating for all of us proto-geeks. We’ve not only taken over the real world but the pop culture world as well. Now, some of that credit belongs to the resurgence of our beloved Star Wars, but Marvel’s contribution is by and large the most influential over the course of the past decade.
There is not much more to say about this film without spoiling this MARVELous cinematic spectacle. All I can say, as is often my refrain, is go and see the film for yourself. It’s been worth the wait, because “it’s all connected.”
Read the Secret File of technical information and quotes from Avengers: Infinity War.