I've said this before a gazillion times these first reaction reviews can't really been described as "reviews". I'm in the business of delivering movie reviews but I am definitely not in the business of ruining them.
So, yes, this is spoiler-free - but to enjoy Avengers: Infinity War, you shouldn't be reading reviews at all!
If you're a fan and you've invested the last 10 years of your life into one, two and now almost three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the myriad characters within, then you bought your ticket to Infinity War weeks ago.
So, all I'm here to do is lay any latent worries you may harbour to rest. Are there simply too many awesome Marvel characters for one movie? Well, yes and no.
There are actually two movies after all, so bearing that in mind, my answer really is just no.
Well then, surely there simply isn't enough screen time to justify each and every one? Somehow, the answer is just yes, yes there is.
Somehow, despite the fact this narrative bulges at the seams, I still didn't feel bereft of my most beloved characters.
By crikey we get through it and at a breakneck pace, barrelling from the dark into the light and back again, with humour where it counts, action where we need it and emotion when we least expect it.
This is Captain America: Civil War on steroids. Lots of steroids.
And this is the Marvel Cinematic UNIVERSE, so be prepared for space. Lots of space.
That's where Thanos lives after all, and when it comes to bad guys the further out in space we can keep him the better.
But you know who else lives in space? Oh yeah, the Guardians do. And the one special thing which for me just glues this whole package together is the Avengers, and the Guardians, making sweet sweet music together. It's a beautiful thing.
So yes, the stakes are high. With 10 years of Marvel coming to a head, it can feel at times like really, really big things come to pass with an almost whatevs kind of feel to them; but not enough to take much of the shine off though. It all adds to the rich tapestry that all grand finales must weave.
Come and get your love, Marvel fans - four-and-a-half stars.
PS: As usual, stay until after the final credits roll.
Newshub.
