AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR is a jaw dropping action drama. It is definitely a game changer and one can see why Marvel Studios is holding off on announcing future films until the next AVENGERS movie comes out next May. It is a film I will be careful not to spoil too much in this review as the movie is like a seismic shift and you want to experience it more than reading a bunch of spoilers in a review.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR brings to a head several characters and elements form several Marvel movies from a ten year span and it is inspired by the 1990s Infinity Gauntlet mini-series from Marvel Comics. Thanos (Josh Brolin) is out to collect all six Infinity Stones to power the Infinity Gauntlet because he believes the universe will be better off if half of the population was gone. He and his minions (the Black Hand) will stop at nothing to acquire the stones even if it means killing and laying forth massive destruction. The movie opens with the Asgard refugee ship lying in ruins in space (from an attack by Thanos and the Black Hand). The end result of the confrontation has Bruce Banner beamed to earth to warn of the coming of Thanos and the Guardians of the Galaxy rescuing Thor from deep space. Battles erupt in New York City, Scotland, and Wakanda in addition to battles on other worlds as the Avengers, Dr. Strange, Spider-Man, the Black Panther, and the Guardians set out to stop Thanos from getting all six stones.

This AVENGERS movie was first announced as a two part movie, but Marvel Studios and the directing combo of the Russo Brothers have backed off from that as they left AVENGERS 4 as untitled while they say the title will scare fans. The title of the next AVENGERS movie sounds like smoke and mirrors as they are trying to hype up the excitement for the next movie. Marvel has been quiet on announcing releases dates for the next Marvel movie beyond the next AVENGERS and SPIDER-MAN movie since they don't want to spoil what is happening in the next movie and the vision for the Marvel Cinematic universe beyond AVENGERS 4. I think it would be safe to schedule the BLACK WIDOW movie and announce a date for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. I loved how this movie is a very dramatic movie and how multiple characters are handled throughout the movie. It has real emotional heft and I want to see how everything will be resolved with the next AVENGERS movie next May as the ending will leave people and fans hanging for what comes next. It manages to really flesh out the character of Thanos and the twisted logic he has for doing what he believes is right by going on a quest to eliminate half of the universe with a snap of a finger. The Russo Brothers have redeemed the AVENGERS movie series after the studio interference on AVENGERS; AGE OF ULTRON which caused Joss Whedon to walk away from Marvel Studios after his contract was up. Watch it again if you have seen already and watch it soon if you haven't to avoid the spoilers floating out there after the opening weekend.

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