Avengers: Infinity War is the accumulation of a decade-long build-up that satisfies on almost every level

I CAN’T remember a film as big as this. I don’t mean in stature or anticipation – The Force Awakens takes some beating – but I mean in sheer, unadulterated scale.

The result of the Marvel Comics Universe’s ten years’ hard work is in this two-parted behemoth.

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Its cast list reads like a who’s who of . . . well, Marvel movies over the past ten years actually.

Prior to its release,  the press conferences looked like the entire west stand at Old Trafford and the poster credits alone generated more think pieces than the whole of Justice League put together.

There are, at the last count, 28 Avengers — all vying for a piece of the action. Apart from Hawkeye and Ant-Man, who are faffing around somewhere else apparently.

We smell blood.  What we don’t know at this stage is how much and who it belongs to.

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We know this part of Infinity War (Part 2 is due out in 2019) is based two years after the Avengers pretty much imploded at the end of Captain America: Civil War.

It is based around villain Thanos (Josh Brolin), the massive fella we encountered in the first Avengers, and his hunt for the remaining Infinity Stones.

One of them is in Vision’s forehead, another in Dr Strange’s locket, Loki grabbed one from Asgard and Starlord found another.

If he finds all six (there are two others knocking around), his desire to save the universe from over- population by destroying half of its inhabitants with the click of a finger could come very true indeed.

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Aside from all that, what I was most intrigued about was the ability of directors Joe and Anthony Russo to fit nearly 30 A-list stars into an extremely ambitious and complex story that needs to somehow, reshape the Marvel Universe for the next ten years.

It’s already likely to break box-office records, but will it do it in style or with sheer brute force?

The answer is style, deft, heart and emotional wallop. Infinity War is the accumulation of a decade-long build-up that satisfies on almost every level.

If you thought Black Panther was as good as it got . . . Bitch, please.

This is a spoiler-free review, which means I’ll have to keep it light on plot.

We begin about an hour after Thor: Ragnarok’s mid-credit scene ends and it’s largely the story we expected — the joining of the Avengers with the Guardians (and a few more for good measure) and their quest to thwart Thanos’s genocidal plan.

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This isn’t one for Marvel newbies — if you don’t know your Groot from your Loki, I’d go back about 18 films and do some homework.

The beauty of this film is the delight we take in witnessing our heroes interacting for the first time.

Seeing Dr Strange meet Iron Man and Thor meet the Guardians is extremely pleasing.

The posturing and willy-waving runs throughout the film and never tires — Starlord’s continually crushed ego is Chris Pratt at his best.

There is so much to get through, so many people to gather together, it’s no wonder this is just over two and a half hours long.

But the Russo brothers’ timing is impeccable. Nothing hangs around longer than it needs to.

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Josh Brolin plays Thanos with real pathos. There’s little gleeful murder from him, and while you never quite reach sympathy, as he goes about his travels there’s definitely a sense of compassion.

There are two glaring plot points which are necessary to drive the story forward but blindingly out of character for those involved.

But as I left, they melted away — such was the climax.

The last ten minutes will (and I apologise for sounding like a 16-year-old Instagram influencer), have you feeling ALL the feels.

We end up on Wakanda in a battle reminiscent of Helm’s Deep or the Battle Of The Bastards, but with the stakes dialled up to 11.

Yes, we say goodbye to some old friends, yes, it’s lip-wobbling, yes, it’s awesome, yes, we’re left wanting more and yes, the post-credit scene finishes you off completely.

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This is an incredible film. It achieves what many thought impossible with dexterity and style.

There were at least four moments and surprises when the entire 1,000-seater cinema audibly gasped and punched the air.

If you thought Marvel was flagging after ten years of relentless action, Infinity War Part 1 suggests they haven’t even got started.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (12A) 107mins ★★★★★