{"id":136179,"date":"2018-04-29T19:53:30","date_gmt":"2018-04-30T01:53:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/?p=136179"},"modified":"2018-04-30T00:18:46","modified_gmt":"2018-04-30T06:18:46","slug":"my-initial-no-spoiler-review-of-avengers-infinity-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2018\/04\/29\/my-initial-no-spoiler-review-of-avengers-infinity-war.html","title":{"rendered":"My Initial No-Spoiler Review of “Avengers: Infinity War”"},"content":{"rendered":"

So no spoilers to anyone who has seen or heard anything about the new Avengers film (e.g., beyond that it involves the Avengers and Infinity Stones and a purple dude named Thanos). I can’t speak for the comments, but please exercise a bit of discretion.<\/p>\n

General Notes<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

1. Marvel’s long game plays off, as a huge cast is able to come together, do stuff, and we don’t spend half the movie on origin stories and relationship building and screwing around.<\/p>\n

2. Banter! So much banter!<\/p>\n

3. This movie is rated PG-13. Please bear that in mind before you bring your cute 6-year-old tot wearing their favorite Marvel super-hero t-shirt. Really.<\/p>\n

4. There’s enough super-hero fighting that goes on in an epic fashion to make the final battle, in quicker shots, both reasonable and neatly done.<\/p>\n

5. The MCU, though, really does have a bunch of egotistical jerks in it (looking at you, Iron Man \/ Dr Strange \/ Starlord). That said, this is used to fine effect.<\/p>\n

6. The Infinity Stones (the various McGuffins we’ve been plaing with most of the MCU Universe) finally get some useful explainations \/ applications.<\/p>\n

7. Is this the best super-hero movie ever? For a variety of reasons I need to demur on that. But it’s one of the most ambitious, and really nicely done.<\/p>\n

Obligatory (if non-spoilery) criticisms<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

1. I am so over the “Hey, here’s one group fighting another group and they immediately gender segregates so that the women are fighting each other” trope. Which crops up here multiple times.<\/p>\n

2. Thanos undergoes a change in motivation from the comics that I think makes him less effective as a villain. The attempts to make him relatable are mixed in impact. I’m also a bit sorry to see him drop his full armor after the first few scenes. That said, he’s pretty bad-ass.<\/p>\n

3. Some supporting characters disappear way too quickly. It’s good to have seen them, but …<\/p>\n

4. One of the major players should be showing a lot more PTSD than they are. This is touched on, briefly and lightly, but just doesn’t ring true as it plays out.<\/p>\n

5. The use of the Infinity Gems is irregular enough in application of their abilities as to feel like weak writing vs. psychological limitation.<\/p>\n

6. One of the major characters ends up getting something of the Gimli treatment.<\/p>\n

Summary<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

I’m gonna give this one a \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606, at least after first watch.<\/p>\n

It’s certainly an epic, and human as well. They manage to juggle a ton of characters and still give everyone their moment or three in the sun (again, one of the strengths of the MCU), and the movie ends on some serious gut punches.<\/p>\n

I’m definitely<\/i> ready for the next one, a year from now (opening 3 May 2019).<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

View on Google+<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So no spoilers to anyone who has seen or heard anything about the new Avengers film (e.g., beyond that it involves the Avengers and Infinity Stones and a purple dude named Thanos). I can’t speak for the comments, but please exercise a bit of discretion. General Notes 1. Marvel’s long game plays off, as a … Continue reading “My Initial No-Spoiler Review of “Avengers: Infinity War””<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":136180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[106,525,41],"tags":[477,1532,1234],"class_list":["post-136179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-plusposts","category-marvel-cinematic-universe","category-media-movies","tag-avengers","tag-infinity-war","tag-mcu"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/avengers-infinity-war5B15D.jpgimgmax=660.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":135465,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2017\/11\/29\/avengers-infinity-war-trailer-drops.html","url_meta":{"origin":136179,"position":0},"title":"The “Avengers: Infinity War” trailer drops","author":"***Dave","date":"Wed 29-Nov-17 7:48am","format":false,"excerpt":"And a million fans go \"Squee!\" Yes, really, I'm excited about this. There's a lot of clear payoff of all sorts of stuff that's been brewing in the MCU for a long time. The whole intricate planning process around the Marvel movie line is finally coming to fruition. Those who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "~PlusPosts"","block_context":{"text":"~PlusPosts","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/blogging\/plusposts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/MV5BNDAwMTdmYzAtMTBhZC00MjllLWFmY2ItZWRlODU4Y2Y5ZjE3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjg2NjQwMDQ%40._V1_CR25101419798_AL_UY268_CR840477268_AL_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":136486,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2018\/05\/18\/the-deep-philosophical-dilemma-in-avengers-the-infinity-war.html","url_meta":{"origin":136179,"position":1},"title":"The deep philosophical dilemma in “Avengers: The Infinity War”","author":"***Dave","date":"Fri 18-May-18 12:30am","format":false,"excerpt":"The argument that pops multiple times can be summed up in ... a Star Trek reference: do \"the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one\" ... or vice-versa? Or, as Cap puts it: \u201cWe don\u2019t trade lives.\u201d The article suggests that, by highlighting that moral conflict, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "~PlusPosts"","block_context":{"text":"~PlusPosts","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/blogging\/plusposts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thanos-infinity-war.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":138574,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2019\/04\/08\/what-do-you-need-to-watch-before-avengers-endgame.html","url_meta":{"origin":136179,"position":2},"title":"What do you need to watch before “Avengers: Endgame”?","author":"***Dave","date":"Mon 8-Apr-19 7:00pm","format":false,"excerpt":"What's the minimum MCU watch list for a total noob?","rel":"","context":"In "Comics & Comic Books"","block_context":{"text":"Comics & Comic Books","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/media\/media-comics"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/avengers-endgame-poster.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/avengers-endgame-poster.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/avengers-endgame-poster.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/avengers-endgame-poster.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/avengers-endgame-poster.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":160895,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2026\/01\/05\/impending-doomsday.html","url_meta":{"origin":136179,"position":3},"title":"Impending “Doomsday”","author":"***Dave","date":"Mon 5-Jan-26 5:25pm","format":false,"excerpt":"It's been six years since the last Avengers flick. Can Marvel bring back that magic?","rel":"","context":"In "Comics & Comic Books"","block_context":{"text":"Comics & Comic Books","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/media\/media-comics"},"img":{"alt_text":"Avengers Doomsday logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Avengers-Doomsday-card.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Avengers-Doomsday-card.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Avengers-Doomsday-card.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Avengers-Doomsday-card.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Avengers-Doomsday-card.webp?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Avengers-Doomsday-card.webp?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":136161,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2018\/04\/27\/the-marvel-bunch.html","url_meta":{"origin":136179,"position":4},"title":"“The Marvel Bunch”","author":"***Dave","date":"Fri 27-Apr-18 10:56pm","format":false,"excerpt":"Absolutely no spoilers. Absolutely hysterical. View on Google+","rel":"","context":"In "~PlusPosts"","block_context":{"text":"~PlusPosts","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/blogging\/plusposts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/the-marvel-bunch1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/the-marvel-bunch1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/the-marvel-bunch1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/the-marvel-bunch1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":136291,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2018\/05\/07\/a-useful-death.html","url_meta":{"origin":136179,"position":5},"title":"A Useful Death","author":"***Dave","date":"Mon 7-May-18 11:06am","format":false,"excerpt":"It's nice to have been a part of something bigger than myself. http:\/\/www.didthanoskill.me\/ (For the three people out there who might be confused, this is a funnyish thing, based on the new Avengers movie. Don't worry about it.) View on Google+","rel":"","context":"In "~PlusPosts"","block_context":{"text":"~PlusPosts","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/blogging\/plusposts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thanos%2Bkilled%2Bme.PNGimgmax%3D660.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thanos%2Bkilled%2Bme.PNGimgmax%3D660.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thanos%2Bkilled%2Bme.PNGimgmax%3D660.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136179"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":136188,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136179\/revisions\/136188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/136180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=136179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=136179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}