The status quo has changed : Avengers - Infinity War | Review

The last movie to be able to make a statement this phenomenal despite its gargantuan star-cast was the Lord of The Rings: Return Of The King. And let’s be fair, they had made 2 similarly scaled films previously for swinging practice. Marvel has finally brought us to the 10-year and 19-movie milestone of the journey they started us on with Iron Man (2008) that will mark the near end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we recognize it, and helm some expansion that you will come to grasp in the post-credits scene (shuddering already?)

This is simply a review, and no plot points will be discussed. Spoiler review will come a week later! 

In a nutshell that most will obviously be well-versed with – Thanos, a megalomaniacal despot from the planet Titan is out to collect the Infinity Stones so that he can be the ultimate power in the universe and “rebalance it” as he sees fit. The Avengers, who disbanded after a Civil War between 2 factions led by Iron Man and Captain America, must join hands with Doctor Strange, Spider-man, the Wakandans, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor to thwart Thanos and his Dark Order’s plans and protect the Universe.

The complete Avengers roster with Thanos in the background

Talking about Infinity War is tough. THERE IS SO MUCH TO COVER! This film would make a great book, probably titled “How to make a comic-book film that is 149 minutes long, comprises over 25 superheroes, and still packs enough story to appeal to nerds and serious film-goers alike!” 

(Scratch that title. Death sentences are shorter than that title. But you get my drift.)

For this review, let's just stick to the principal new entry in this film – Thanos (played by Josh Brolin.) Marvel has always been on the receiving end of praises for the character development of its villains (for the most part.) Last evidence of that was Erik Killmonger. Strangely, I was quite skeptical originally about Thanos, based upon his trivial appearance in Guardians Of The Galaxy. But here, we get to see a seemingly grounded, complex villain who seems to be OCD about balance in everything, and does a challenging discourse about the extent of and the moral compass directing our stereotypical hero’s views about helping people and the world/universe at large. Thanos is a great matter-of-fact villain who believes more in the scale and fulfilment of his purpose than the talk and pomp and show around it (okay, maybe he’s a little pompous? I suppose that much is complimentary), compared to the previous villains like Loki and Ultron. 

The highlight of the film is the relationship between Thanos and his adoptive daughter Gamora (Zoe Saldana) the green skinned assassin and a Guardian of the Galaxy. We get a glimpse into Thanos' more human side which gives weight to emotional attachments too beside his plans of galactic destruction. 

Avengers - Infinity War isn't a perfect film, and probably not close in terms of coherence to many of its predecessors, but with a film of this scale, they manage to touchdown above and beyond expectations. The movie has quite a few plot holes and instances where things happen too fast and merely to allow plot convenience. But where this movie succeeds is the ample screen time and nearly equal share of the spotlight that it gives to nearly ALL its characters. Another thing it succeeds in an extensive lineup of neatly edited action sequences which are well-spaced out and precise in length. The faults that still remain, are fortunately not too major to effectively affect the storyline, even though they might invite some strong questions on repeat viewing. And then, there is this permanent problem that I have with Marvel regarding its persistent overinsertion of childish humour in serious transitional moments in their films, but Infinity War witnesses a polarization, with the story taking extremely emotional strides towards the continuity of its story, which might make you require a drink after. I kid you not.

VERDICT – 3  and 1/2 out of 5 toots of the Bugle 

No-can-do bruh. Sorry.

If any of you out there have been getting too used to the MCU as you know it, brace yourselves for this new big bang in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which signals a sordid turn towards the beginning of the end, and a road to new beginnings.

  

Ragnarok could be worse, and Thor: Ragnarok could be better

I also want an adrenaline sequence all my own with the ‘Immigrant Song’ playing in the background! <So badass>

Before we proceed further, heartiest congratulations to director and madcap enthusiast Taika Watiti for reclaiming the phrase “Guilty pleasure” and painting Thor Ragnarok with it; body and innards.

Yep. That's him. Taika Watiti. The director. 

It’s indeed rare when one is faced with such a conundrum while watching a film – whether to stand up and marvel at this marvellous visual spectacle by Marvel, or to shout out cries of utter disappointment? This film, in an interestingly distinctive manner affords us both these opportunities. Such guilty-pleasure-abound it is.

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                           ... This is the funniest, most rib-tickling product by the Marvel banner yet, with often-misplaced moments of comedy that had me going, “Why is this being done? This is weird. I really don’t want to laugh at this. But it’s so funny!!” ...

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Thor: Ragnarok continues after the destruction of Sokovia in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has become a ‘lone wolf’ of sorts, and has been bumbling about the Nine Realms investigating about the Infinity Stones cropping up every here and now, when certain circumstances require him to face Hela, the Asgardian Goddess of Death (Cate Blanchett) and prevent Ragnarok i.e. Asgardian apocalypse. He and adoptive brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) almost join forces against her before they accidently land up on a garbage planet Sakaar ruled by a flamboyant being called Grandmaster(Jeff Goldblum), in whose gladiator pits he comes across ol’ green Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) who seems to have developed a limited baby vocabulary of his own. Rest of the film is about him forming a team and getting back to Asgard to? Prevent Ragnarok, of course.

Thor: Ragnarok is exceedingly predictable, literally all except the climax, and that’s despite the fact that it doesn’t really follow the comic but that’s not the problem with it; it is a comic book movie after all. The colour palette and action choreography is absolutely spectacular, with particular scenes (especially the opening sequence) being so close to comic book art, it’s astounding. And that’s definitely and obviously not the problem with it.

My problem with the movie is the very reason I or anyone else would love to sit through it again and again: the comedy. Thor Ragnarok is exceedingly comic. Taika Watiti had made it quite clear beforehand that the movie is being made a comedy, but there is no single comical device that has been left out and that’s what makes those very funny moments (a little) nauseating at times. It crams in elements of teen comedy, buddy comedy, madcap and more than often slapstick comedy. There’s bit of toilet humour too (You have no idea how literal I am being there).

Bad comic timing is a problem apparently characteristic to Marvel films, though the magnitude was significantly lower before. Ragnarok’s real plot, with its beloved characters and certain new ones, becomes a sideshow attraction, merely in place as a structure for a fundamentally comedy feature to stand upon.

Principal character descriptions have been muddled tremendously.

Loki (Tom Hiddleston)

• Loki’s suaveness has been shorn off him and in its place, we find a lowly person scrambling about to ensure a spoilt, flamboyant life for himself, amidst all manner of contempt and abuse; he’s basically turned from the God who almost destroyed NYC in the Avengers into a cosmic cockroach. 

• Wasn’t Hulk ALWAYS angry? I mean, that was THE thing that makes him what he is. If he isn’t angry, he’s not in Hulk mode anymore. But here he fights, then he has a hot bath, full VERBAL arguments, after which he cracks jokes, and if he has time left he even throws childish tantrums. He even allows Valkyrie to play with him! One is forced to ask - Banner had to hide out in Calcutta, to contain THIS guy? He’s basically turned into a gladiator cum mollycoddle. 

Hulk and Bruce Banner(Mark Ruffalo)

• Bruce Banner finds himself on an alien planet unable to produce any account of events post Sokovia, and he behaves like a child in a fanfare. Everyone in this film, including the notoriously introverted Bruce Banner is a wisecracking clown.

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        ... The scripting of the film appears to have been done by some Vine maker rather than mega-budget filmmakers ...

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The scripting of the film appears to have been done by some Vine maker rather than mega-budget filmmakers, with all lines other than those spoken by Odin culminating into some wisecrack.  Even Antman was a comedy essentially, but the plot wasn’t being carried by it’s laughs, unlike Thor: Ragnarok. Plus, Antman isn’t as essential and imperative a character as Thor, which allowed quite a decent amount of wiggle room in terms of setting the tone of the movie. Even a laugh riot like Guardians of the Galaxy had a pivotal emotional edge to it. Though Waititi ignores this idea, and though it works if one considers Ragnarok a standalone film, it does injustice to the continuity that Marvel has established with regard to the character arc and story arc for Thor, even though Ragnarok fares better in enjoyability over Thor 1 and 2, any day of the week.

Cate Blanchett as Hela

Coming to the new additions to the cast, Cate Blanchett looks stunning and makes a welcome entrance as Hela. Her intro sequence had promise for the character in terms of how intimidating she could be and the extent of her powers that eclipsed even Thor’s. That was it. For the remainder of the film, all her appearances seem to be a fleeting indication that, “Guys it’s good you’re having a laugh, but don’t forget about Hela. She’s gonna cause Ragnarok; you know, as in the name of this movie” – that’s about all the importance this film invests in her.

3 new characters steal quite a chunk of the show - Valkyrie, Korg and Grandmaster.

From L-R: Valkyrie (Thompson), Korg(Waititi) & Grandmaster (Goldblum)

If Wonder Woman became the princess of female representation, Valkyrie is nothing short of a knight. Tessa Thompson plays the part of the rugged, hard-drinking and unquestionably kickass Asgardian warrior with seemingly absolute ease, and every time she steps onto the screen, she brings an expectation of extreme action, the likes of which few female superheroes have been able to showcase. Korg is a stony gladiator who Thor befriends on Sakaar. Played by Waititi, Korg is easily the most hilarious element in the entire film. Talkative and relatively mild-voiced, he not-too-quietly owns every scene he’s present in. Jeff Goldblum pulls a Goldblum as Grandmaster, meaning he does nothing but enjoy his time as himself, and we enjoy that, thoroughly.

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                             FUN FACT: Unlike as in the comics, Waititi didn't let Grandmaster's face be painted completely blue, so that Goldblum needn't detract from his personality by concealing his appearance.

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Thor (Chris Hemsworth)

Coming to the star attraction, the belle of the ball - Chris Hemsworth! 

Hemsworth had shown us previously in Thor 1 that the character had some comic potential, which was suppressed to promote a more ‘mighty’ persona. Thor Ragnarok helps him turn the tables, and help restructure the God of thunder in a much lighter and jovial spirit. In an attempt to restructure Thor’s arc from the previous films, Waititi made a film that helps Hemsworth make Thor one of THE most likeable characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, competing with even Iron Man. One gets to see many radical changes – the haircut just being one among them.

Keep eyes and ears open for some really wild cameos. 

Verdict: 2 and a 1/2 ()out of 5 toots of the bugle

Everything in this film works, but it would have been deemed more appropriate had it been a film without the burden of following after 4 prequels and leading up to an impending universal war. Thor Ragnarok stands out in the MCU like that rebellious cousin of the family who is a genuine fun time but also kind of a delinquent outcast your parents tell you to stay away from.