Movie Review: Avengers: Infinity War

The latest movie in the Marvel Cinematic universe honestly left me with more questions than answers. It took me four days before I finally watched the movie, and somehow I managed to avoid spoilers so my friend and I were left in total shock and awe. I think my head is still wrapping around what I saw. As this is still in theaters at the date of this blog I am going to be as careful as possible, but just in case spoiler alert. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

After nearly six years Thanos (Josh Brolin) has finally emerged to collect the six Infinity stones (power, space, reality, soul, time and mind). However if he thinks it is going to be easy he has a big fight ahead of him. In his way are members of the broken up Avengers: in New York the recently engaged to Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Robert Downy Jr.), Bruce Banner aka the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) after he crash landed on Earth, Peter Parker aka Spider-Man (Tom Holland) and Stephan Strange aka Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), along with his assistant Wong (Benedict Wong). They end up taking their fight with some of Thanos’s children into space, expect for Banner who manages to contact a few friends: Steve Rogers aka Captain America (Chris Evans), Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Sam Wilson aka Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olson) and Vision (Paul Bettany). After they realize what Thanos is after and one of the stones happens to be in Vision’s head this section of the Avengers, along with James “Rhodey” Rhodes aka War Machine (Don Cheadle) travels to the nation of Wakanda to find a way to safely remove and destroy the stone. They get some help with King T’Challa aka Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Shuri (Letitia White) M’Baku (Winston Duke) and Bucky Barnes aka Winter Soldier/White Wolf (Sebastian Stan). Meanwhile out in space Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Loki (Tom Hiddelston) and Heimdall (Idris Elba) have an encounter with Thanos that leaves many dead, but help soon arrives in the form of The Guardians of the Galaxy: Peter Quill aka Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel), Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff). About as far as I should go without spoiling the movie, but as always stay until the very end.

Infinity War is a very good superhero movie. Everyone is at their absolute best in this movie, the writing and special effects were so good and overall this is an absolute must watch if you are a superhero fan. Obviously there are a few films you have to watch before you get to this film, but this is something I had to remind myself at the end of the movie: this is only part 1, part 2 is coming out next year. I know a story came out from the producers saying that nothing is going to get fixed, but I am almost positive they are just teasing. I promise you guys will love Infinity Wars.

Movie Review: Iron Man

While this was not the first Marvel film released it was the first in what we now call the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Released in 2008 and directed by Jon Favreau, Iron Man help launch not only a very successful franchise (I know understatement of the century), but it also help revitalize an actors career. In case you haven’t seen this movie, spoiler alert. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is many things (in his own words from another movie: genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist) heads to Afghanistan along with his best friend Lieutenant Colonial James Rhodes aka Rhodey (Terrence Howard) to showcase the latest weapon by Stark Industries, which Tony inherited from his father, called the Jericho missile. Shortly after the demonstration Tony’s car is ambushed, troops killed and he is captured as well as wounded by a terrorist group known as The Ten Rings led by Raza (Faran Tahir). Much to Tony’s horror he saw the group using his own weapons involved in the capture. He would have died if not for fellow captive Yinsen (Shaun Toub) implanting an electromagnet inside Tony’s chest preventing the shards from going into his heart. Raza wants both of them to build a Jericho missile promising to let them go, however Tony and Yinsen know he will not keep his word and plot to escape. They build an electric generator calling it arch reactor to power a suit, but are discovered. Yinsen sacrifices himself for Tony to complete the suit and Tony avenges his death by blowing up the compound of weapons. Tony finds his way to Rhodey and they get back home where Tony makes a public announcement that Stark industries will no longer sell weapons despite his father’s partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) protests that it will ruin the company. Tony makes a new sleek suit with a more powerful reactor in his chest, along with the help of his assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), but insists on keeping the work for himself. Tony soon discovers Stane has been selling weapons behind his back for years and wants to replace him as the CEO of Stark industries. Tony, along with Rhodey, Pepper, his personal AI system J.A.R.V.I.S (Paul Bettany) and an agent from S.H.I.E.L.D Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) are not gonna let him get away with that plan. While I probably should not say anymore in case of spoilers the last scene with Tony stating “I am Iron Man” is one of my favorite moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as the special after credit scene with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).

Just like that one of the biggest franchises kicked off and I could not think of a better movie to do it. While Robert Downy Jr. had many successful films after he become sober, he hadn’t really achieved blockbuster status until Iron Man. I had heard of others up for the part of Tony Stark, but watching the movie it is hard to picture anyone other than Downey Jr. playing that character. I enjoyed Terrence Howard as Rhodey and was somewhat disappointed he had a falling out with Marvel (however I have no problem with Don Cheadle for the rest of the franchise). I love Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts the woman who basically ran Tony’s life, the chemistry between Paltrow and Downey Jr.is awesome. Bridges is not the most memorable villain in the Marvel universe, but I thought he did a great job as the psychotic Stane. I also became a fan of Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson, although if you had told me just how big this character would become I may not have believed you. The writing and action were fantastic, and I know there were special effects but it was almost hard to tell where the effects were. I am so thankful the movie did well otherwise we would not have so many of the hottest stars and movies out there today. If you are interested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe you have to start with Iron Man.