Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

The critic hails it as a genuine blockbuster that is funny, confident and thrilling, expertly juggling many characters while introducing a compelling villain. They single out Thanos's menace and the emotional stakes for praise.

The critic calls it an all-star extravaganza that delivers gasp-inducing reveals, laughs, rousing moments and shocking twists. They single out the epic scale of the battles and the Russo brothers' handling of the massive cast.

The critic praises the film's ambitious mosaic-like structure blending multiple Marvel tones and characters into an epic space opera. They single out the awe-inspiring cosmic vistas and clever character interplay for particular praise.

The film hangs together well as an operatic tragedy that leaves the heroes in a dark place, with strong work from Josh Brolin as Thanos. The direction lacks the panache and risk-taking of recent MCU entries like Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther.

Considered on its own the movie makes little sense and shouldn’t really be thought of as a movie at all, but as a chunk of the Marvel Cinematic Universe it works as the first half of a finale with intimations of grief and terror. The final act brings a chill, darkness and hush that feel new to this universe.

The all-star spectacle suffers from uneasy bonhomie and feels like listening to two and a half hours of Tin Machine, resulting in a heap of broken images rather than a coherent movie. The plot consists of bits of slugfests, bonding, weeping and jokey repartee.

The critic praises how the film miraculously exceeds sky-high expectations by delivering repeated shocks and bringing together a vast ensemble of characters in an effortless, operatic manner. Thanos is singled out as a compelling, committed villain whose actions drive the stakes.

The critic finds the film a supremely watchable and confident comic-book mash-up that revels in apocalyptic mayhem and spectacle while managing tone adroitly between tragedy and one-liners.

The critic finds the film a grand, epic juggling act that starts with jokes and banter among its many heroes but shifts remarkably to classical tragedy by the end. The standout element is the emotional depth given to Thanos and his relationship with Gamora.

The review calls the film bold, ballsy, satisfying and dramatic, noting it is well worth the wait as an enormous blockbuster event that retains scale, excitement and humour while going to places most tentpoles would not. Thanos is highlighted as a strong throughline and protagonist.

The film delivers on a decade of MCU buildup in a very big way and ranks among the best Marvel movies by finally raising the stakes with real loss and consequences. It singles out Thanos, portrayed with complexity and tragedy by Josh Brolin, as the standout element that solves the franchise's villain problem.

The film delivers fun crossovers and banter among the massive cast but feels hollow, lacking emotional depth or meaningful character arcs amid its epic scale. It singles out Thanos for praise as a credible and sympathetic villain despite his outlandish goals.

Infinity War is an entertaining, competently made blockbuster with strong set pieces and a compelling Thanos, but its stakes feel undermined by the certainty of future resurrections and the lack of finality. It singles out the meaningless consequences of death and sacrifice in a franchise built on continuity.

The critic finds it one of the best and most surprising Marvel movies, praising its ambitious mashup of characters, heavy themes on good vs. evil, and a sophisticated villain in Thanos.

The film is packed with characters, incident and fan service but functions mainly as setup for a sequel, with strong ensemble work and action offset by a somewhat bland Thanos.