In this massive comic-book spectacle, the new villain is Titan’s gigantic galactic warlord Thanos (Josh Brolin), who decimates Asgard on his path towards cosmic genocide, a task he can only accomplish by stealing six Infinity Stones. When the stones are combined in a Gauntlet, Thanos will be able to control time, space, and energy, altering the laws of physics and reality. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has the blue Space stone; Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), the green Time stone; The Collector (Benicio Del Toro), the red Reality stone; Vision (Paul Bettany), the yellow Mind stone (embedded in his forehead); and Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) and his Guardians of the Galaxy (including scene-stealing Groot), the purple Power stone. And then there’s the elusive, sacrifice-demanding Soul Stone. So it’s up to 20-plus Marvel superheroes to maintain order in the universe under the leadership of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who is still minus an eye (and a hammer). There’s Wakanda’s Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Captain America (Chris Evans), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), and the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Even so, Thanos, clutching his “adoptive” daughters Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Nebula (Karen Gillan), isn’t about to give up easily. Not surprisingly, it all ends with a cliffhanger, setting up for a 2019 sequel. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo move these crossover superheroes around like chess pieces, adding a few new characters (the most memorable played by Peter Dinklage) in this fun entry in the popular series. Recommended. [Note: Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by directors Joe and Anthony Russo and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, “Beyond the Battle” featurettes on “Wakanda” (11 min.) and “Titan” (10 min.), deleted scenes (10 min.), the behind-the-scenes featurettes “The Mad Titan” (7 min.) and “Strange Alchemy” (5 min.), a gag reel (2 min.), and a bonus digital copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an entertaining superhero spectacle.] (S. Granger)
Avengers: Infinity War
Disney, 149 min., PG-13, DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $39.99 Volume 33, Issue 5
Avengers: Infinity War
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