Greg Gioia

I fully expected to hate this film. I felt there was nearly zero chance I would enjoy it even a little bit. I've always felt at least some excitement about a new MCU film, some more than others, but this one I almost dreaded, as I imagined it would be by far the worst of the bunch. Nothing I heard about it going into it excited me, and the best I could muster was curiosity about it being an "art house" hero film that would take a different approach to a familiar genre. To put it into perspective, I've seen nearly every MCU film at a Thursday night opening showing, but I waited until Monday morning to see this one, and I went reluctantly. At first, the film lived up to my expectations. I was not into it at all, but I wasn't hating it. Just not really caring. It wasn't until the group arrived in South Dakota that the film began to slowly turn, and I began to understand the need for the less-than-stellar opening act. The film had to establish 7,000 years of history and backstory, and in retrospect it did so in about as quick and graceful a way as possible without sacrificing anything. From South Dakota onward, the film kept gaining momentum, and by the end I was fully enrapt. The stakes were high, there seemed to be no solution, and it wasn't even clear anymore who to root for or against. More than any MCU film to date, this one mirrors the realities of life. It covers a vast amount of ground-- it's life, love, betrayal, loyalty, honor, friendship, death, and so much more. It is friends split into factions, enemies who may be friends, and more than I can put into words right now. It isn't the best superhero film, or the best MCU film, but it's an incredible piece of cinema, and certainly the most thought-provoking film yet from the MCU. I nearly cried near the end. I felt like I was being steadily drawn into the film as it played, which is something I nearly never experience with an action film/blockbuster. The interpersonal dynamics among the team, and the factions that sprang up, and interwove, was breathtaking at times. The first segment, leading up to Ajak's house, was uneven, though I'm curious what I'll make of it on a second viewing. In retrospect it felt necessary, because it laid emotional groundwork, and gave the latter scenes in the film a gravitas and payoff they'd have otherwise lacked. I understand the mixed reviews. This is a thinking person's film, and it's a film for someone with emotional depth. Neither is a knock on the film's detractors. Some people want action, others want feelings. This film delivers both, in a perfect balance. Anyone expecting a superhero action movie, full and jokes and CGI set pieces, will leave the theater disappointed.