AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (Blu-ray + Digital)
Release Date: August 14, 2018
Studio: Marvel Studios Home Entertainment
Video: 2.39:1 1080p Widescreen
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, English DVS 2.0
THE RATINGS
The Movie Itself - ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
Video Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
Audio Quality - ★ ★ ★ ★ ½
Special Features - ★ ★ ½ ✰ ✰
Overall - ★ ★ ★ ★ ✰
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THE FILM ITSELF Our Reviewer's Take
It all comes full circle...
It all comes full circle...
Reviewed by Gavin King
Note: This review contains spoilers, some major and some minor. Those who have yet to see the film and/or would wish to avoid spoiler territory should immediately scroll to the "Video Quality" section below. You have been warned.
A Marvel film is just about always an event, and Avengers: Infinity War is just that with a bolded exclamation point and months among months of unflappable anticipation. Sure the die-hard fanatics have standalone tentpoles to grow excited over like Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor, but it really shouldn't come as much of a shocker that the fans' real reward comes into play in the form of Earth's mightiest heroes banding together to put an end to the villainy that plagues the planet. It's why 2012's The Avengers did so well - critically and financially - as well as its follow-up in 2015, Age of Ultron, which may have not soared as high as its predecessor but still left enough of an impact to satisfy audiences all across the globe. Now comes the culmination of all of this mayhem with Infinity War, and to say that it's all about to go down would be an understatement. Emotions will be swirling, strengths will be tested, and the fate of the universe is guaranteed to be at stake.
From the opening moments of Infinity War it's already abundantly clear that Thanos (Josh Brolin) means business. He demands the Tesseract, beats down a bulky Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and chokes Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to his death. I mean, have you ever seen such a demanding villain? Sure, our heroes have dealt with foes of cynical motivations, but Thanos... don't you dare get on his bad side. You run up and attempt to throw him a punch, he'll turn you into slop. It's stuff like this that makes him, arguably, the absolute best villain in the MCU, and one of the best onscreen villains, period. Rarely has the silver screen been pulsated with a foe that makes viewers' blood boil so furiously, and that all adds so much to the pleasurable viewing experience.
The sense of consequence, too, is elevated outlandishly. It's most prominently seen beforehand with a battered and weakened Bruce Banner floating from space to Earth. He warns our heroes, "He's coming... Thanos is coming." Darn right. No more games, no more teasing. This is the real deal. This is the moment where everyone's gotta give it all they've got, sacrifice everything in their disposals, and above all band together in ways inconceivable in previous one-on-ones. A fair bit of good humor is thrown in to not make the entire watch string vibes of a Zack Snyder fest (hint-hint Batman vs. Superman), and that's certainly a good thing. There's no doubt that this the moment where all superhero - and super-villain, for that matter - hell is going to break entirely loose, but kudos to lovable characters like Spider-Man (the absolutely wonderful Tom Holland) and of course the cockeyed Guardians of the Galaxy for making the entire tussle a palatable, yet no less armrest-grasping, ride.
As the film progresses toward its second act, it's more or less a reunion of familiar faces, but this isn't simply fanservice. Everyone gets their place in the spotlight (excluding a small few such as Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye, in which some humorous fanatics believe he was too busy playing a game of tag with his pals - stay tuned for a Blu-ray review of that film soon), more than enough of a reason why audiences should be cheering along, rooting for all of their favorite heroes as their screen time is introduced. But this isn't just a hodgepodge of throwing fans' favorite MCU characters together and letting them go to battle. Each character means something to the plot. Even more so, it takes an army to defeat the monstrous hunk that is the mighty Thanos. We've loved these heroes for so long in their standalone features - Black Panther, Captain America, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, you name it - and now it's time for them to, as I keep reiterating, give their all. It's not only hugely entertaining in its buildup but packs a surprisingly emotional punch as things come to a culmination.
The film's shocking ending is nothing short of an on-point cliffhanger to part two in 2019, which I personally am very highly anticipating. Most viewers like me are probably still in a state of anxiety as to what in the world happened to characters like Strange, Spider-Man, and so on... it's certainly debatable, but this viewer has a large doubt that any of them truly bit the dust (...I'm so sorry.) It definitely has to mean something. Guess we're gonna have to wait it out until May 2019 to figure it all out. In the meantime, what we have is an excellent setup. As far as the technical hullabaloo goes, there's not a single digital stone unturned. Effects look great and Thanos looks particularly impressive, mostly thanks to the spot-on motion-capture work perfected by the great Josh Brolin.
A Marvel film is just about always an event, and Avengers: Infinity War is just that with a bolded exclamation point and months among months of unflappable anticipation. Sure the die-hard fanatics have standalone tentpoles to grow excited over like Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor, but it really shouldn't come as much of a shocker that the fans' real reward comes into play in the form of Earth's mightiest heroes banding together to put an end to the villainy that plagues the planet. It's why 2012's The Avengers did so well - critically and financially - as well as its follow-up in 2015, Age of Ultron, which may have not soared as high as its predecessor but still left enough of an impact to satisfy audiences all across the globe. Now comes the culmination of all of this mayhem with Infinity War, and to say that it's all about to go down would be an understatement. Emotions will be swirling, strengths will be tested, and the fate of the universe is guaranteed to be at stake.
Come again?
From the opening moments of Infinity War it's already abundantly clear that Thanos (Josh Brolin) means business. He demands the Tesseract, beats down a bulky Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and chokes Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to his death. I mean, have you ever seen such a demanding villain? Sure, our heroes have dealt with foes of cynical motivations, but Thanos... don't you dare get on his bad side. You run up and attempt to throw him a punch, he'll turn you into slop. It's stuff like this that makes him, arguably, the absolute best villain in the MCU, and one of the best onscreen villains, period. Rarely has the silver screen been pulsated with a foe that makes viewers' blood boil so furiously, and that all adds so much to the pleasurable viewing experience.
The sense of consequence, too, is elevated outlandishly. It's most prominently seen beforehand with a battered and weakened Bruce Banner floating from space to Earth. He warns our heroes, "He's coming... Thanos is coming." Darn right. No more games, no more teasing. This is the real deal. This is the moment where everyone's gotta give it all they've got, sacrifice everything in their disposals, and above all band together in ways inconceivable in previous one-on-ones. A fair bit of good humor is thrown in to not make the entire watch string vibes of a Zack Snyder fest (hint-hint Batman vs. Superman), and that's certainly a good thing. There's no doubt that this the moment where all superhero - and super-villain, for that matter - hell is going to break entirely loose, but kudos to lovable characters like Spider-Man (the absolutely wonderful Tom Holland) and of course the cockeyed Guardians of the Galaxy for making the entire tussle a palatable, yet no less armrest-grasping, ride.
Here to save the day - and the universe.
As the film progresses toward its second act, it's more or less a reunion of familiar faces, but this isn't simply fanservice. Everyone gets their place in the spotlight (excluding a small few such as Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye, in which some humorous fanatics believe he was too busy playing a game of tag with his pals - stay tuned for a Blu-ray review of that film soon), more than enough of a reason why audiences should be cheering along, rooting for all of their favorite heroes as their screen time is introduced. But this isn't just a hodgepodge of throwing fans' favorite MCU characters together and letting them go to battle. Each character means something to the plot. Even more so, it takes an army to defeat the monstrous hunk that is the mighty Thanos. We've loved these heroes for so long in their standalone features - Black Panther, Captain America, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, you name it - and now it's time for them to, as I keep reiterating, give their all. It's not only hugely entertaining in its buildup but packs a surprisingly emotional punch as things come to a culmination.
The film's shocking ending is nothing short of an on-point cliffhanger to part two in 2019, which I personally am very highly anticipating. Most viewers like me are probably still in a state of anxiety as to what in the world happened to characters like Strange, Spider-Man, and so on... it's certainly debatable, but this viewer has a large doubt that any of them truly bit the dust (...I'm so sorry.) It definitely has to mean something. Guess we're gonna have to wait it out until May 2019 to figure it all out. In the meantime, what we have is an excellent setup. As far as the technical hullabaloo goes, there's not a single digital stone unturned. Effects look great and Thanos looks particularly impressive, mostly thanks to the spot-on motion-capture work perfected by the great Josh Brolin.
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Blu-ray - Video Quality
Infinity War is a fairly bleak looking film, more or less to correspond to the consequential nature of the plot but also in keeping with Marvel's noticeably less-than-punchy color palette that's spread across most of their films. The 1080p Blu-ray presentation is a faithful representation of just that. As mentioned, colors aren't exceedingly vibrant. There's the occasional bright orange explosion, green forest, and trademark city hue, but this an image that's often caked in dark splashes and/or dim, dank settings. That's most certainly not a bad thing. As it is, such scenes present with the intended appearance that directors Anthony and Joe Russo had in mind. Details do pulse through. Thanos' skin is wonderfully complex, revealing almost every pore, wrinkle, and such with unmatched intricacy. (I say almost because the UHD companion exists.) Rubble in the city, superhero costumes, and snowy exteriors are a few other well-detailed examples scattered throughout. Black levels are steady throughout. There's one shot towards the 20:18 mark that fell a little flat for me. Details lack true-rooted sharpness, slight paleness is somewhat clear, and to my eyes it looks like a shot that seems limited by the 2.39:1 letterbox framing, whereas in its native IMAX framing (the film was reportedly shot with IMAX digital cameras) it would seem fuller and have more room to breathe. Nonetheless, the rest of the presentation trumps all, and die-hard fanatics of the film will be very pleased with the Blu-ray's video presentation results.
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Blu-ray - Audio Quality
Infinity War's standard Blu-ray release offers a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 multichannel track, while the companion UHD offering serves up an enhanced Dolby Atmos track. When Disney will allow Blu-ray users to have the key to an Atmos track is anyone's guess, but the included 7.1 track is mostly impressive. It's a bit timid at reference volume, but cranking the volume up a few -dB's does the trick. Listeners will feel immersed in just about every scene. Big or small, the track takes good advantage of its multichannel arrangement, and this being a big-name superhero movie, there's no shortage of aural entertainment to be had. Gunfire, laser blasts, explosions, punches... you name it, it's there, and with power and prowess. It doesn't matter if it's the opening showoff in the city or the climactic battle in Wakanda - again, the track nails immersing listeners in the cacophonous mayhem, with plenty of excellent positioning and surround activity to spare. Perhaps bass could be a tad more prominent in a handful of sequences, but no harm; the net effect, much like the video quality, takes over all. Alan Silvestri's trademark musical score its ever-present in the stage, too, and it's here where the subwoofer struts its sonic stuff best. Dialogue doesn't run into any problems. This isn't the absolute pinnacle of surround sound excellence, but truth be told this is a very enjoyable track on its own merits.
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Blu-ray - Special Features
- Featurettes includes the following:
Strange Alchemy (1080p, 5:08) Looks at combining each of the characters of the MCU in this film and how the filmmakers made the crossover as seamless and entertaining as possible.
The Mad Titan (1080p, 6:34) A closer look into the titular villain Thanos, his motivations, Josh Brolin's performance, and more.
Beyond the Battle: Titan (1080p, 9:36) This piece offers insight into the hugely climactic battle on Thanos. It talks on filming locations, visual effects, performances, etc.
Beyond the Battle: Wakanda (1080p, 10:55) A behind-the-scenes look at Wakanda's battle sequence, which covers much of the same topics settled in Titan.
- Deleted Scenes (1080p, 10:13 total) include the following: Happy Knows Best, Hunt for the Mind Stone, The Guardians Get Their Groove Back, and A Father's Choice.
- Gag Reel (1080p, 2:05) Because a Marvel Blu-ray without a gag reel just isn't a Marvel Blu-ray!
- Audio Commentary Directors Anthony and Joe Russo and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely narrate this excellent commentary track. It's an exceptionally well-spoken key into the secrets of the film, its characters, and more.
- Featurettes includes the following:
Strange Alchemy (1080p, 5:08) Looks at combining each of the characters of the MCU in this film and how the filmmakers made the crossover as seamless and entertaining as possible.
The Mad Titan (1080p, 6:34) A closer look into the titular villain Thanos, his motivations, Josh Brolin's performance, and more.
Beyond the Battle: Titan (1080p, 9:36) This piece offers insight into the hugely climactic battle on Thanos. It talks on filming locations, visual effects, performances, etc.
Beyond the Battle: Wakanda (1080p, 10:55) A behind-the-scenes look at Wakanda's battle sequence, which covers much of the same topics settled in Titan.
- Deleted Scenes (1080p, 10:13 total) include the following: Happy Knows Best, Hunt for the Mind Stone, The Guardians Get Their Groove Back, and A Father's Choice.
- Gag Reel (1080p, 2:05) Because a Marvel Blu-ray without a gag reel just isn't a Marvel Blu-ray!
- Audio Commentary Directors Anthony and Joe Russo and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely narrate this excellent commentary track. It's an exceptionally well-spoken key into the secrets of the film, its characters, and more.
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Blu-ray - Overall Recommendation
Infinity War isn't just a groundbreaking spectacle movie. It's an emotionally resonant experience that makes its viewers feel all sorts of emotions, whether they be in the form of excitement, anxiety, distrust, anger, and so on. It's one thing to rejoice in seeing all of our favorite characters up on the big screen together once again, but it's another - and even more rewarding sort of thing - when the stakes feel higher, and the audience in turn can feel that too. Mark my words when I say that this is going to be a film that goes down in history for not simply its record-breaking box office numbers and such but also for its impact that so few superhero movies can pull of (think Logan) all while remaining hugely entertaining. The Blu-ray is well put-together, too, as the audio and video are very strong, although I personally would have preferred a little more supplemental material. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this Blu-ray.
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