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AVENGERS INFINITY WAR – THANKSFLICKING 2024

  • Posted by PETER A DELUCA AKAPD
  • On December 2, 2024
  • 2024, avengers, marvel, marvel cinematic universe, mcu, podcast, talk, thanksflicking, thanksflicking 2024

Avengers: Infinity War – Thanksflicking 2024

In this heartfelt Thanksflicking 2024 episode, Peter A. DeLuca (AKAPAD / The Film Buff) celebrates one of the most monumental cinematic events of the 21st century: Avengers: Infinity War. From the electric opening-day theater experience — packed crowds, pre-sale tickets, and that jaw-dropping Thanos vs. Hulk opener — to its status as the true triumphant climax of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Peter dives deep into why this film still hits differently.

Join the AKAPAD Army as we revisit the hype, the shattered expectations, the soul-crushing Snap, and why Infinity War remains a perfectly crafted, endlessly rewatchable masterpiece that may never be replicated.

Original Episode Desceiption
In today’s Thanksflicking episode, The Film Buff explores the unique experience of watching Avengers: Infinity War on opening day versus seeing it for the first time at home or later on. As one of the last truly monumental cinematic events of its kind, Infinity War holds a special place in movie history—one that may never be replicated again.

[00:00:01]
Introduction to Thanks Flicking 2024 and Episode Focus

  • The episode is part of the ThanksFlicking annual podcast event, occurring in November and possibly extending beyond, where the host and the AKA Pad Army discuss films they are thankful for.
  • This event is the second of three late-season podcasts, following “31 Days of Dread” and preceding “Cinus” in December.
  • The specific focus of this episode is Avengers: Infinity War, described as the true end and a triumphant moment for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

[00:00:39]
Initial Impressions and Context of Viewing Experience

  • The host emphasizes the significance of the shared theater experience: being physically present, securing good seats, organizing friends, and the collective anticipation.
  • The experience involved:
  • Pre-sale ticket purchases, sometimes spending hundreds of dollars for good seats.
  • Watching the movie in packed theaters, often during the day, with snacks like popcorn and Raisinets.
  • The communal excitement and hype before the movie began.
  • Early scenes, specifically the fight between Thanos and Hulk, set the tone for the movie’s impact.

[00:01:32]
Expectations vs Reality Around the Plot and Characters

  • At the time of release, audiences widely believed:
  • Thanos would only obtain half of the Infinity Stones in this film.
  • The sequel, titled Endgame, would cover the acquisition of the remaining stones and the aftermath.
  • Captain Marvel was anticipated to confront Thanos and possibly die, reflecting the comic book storyline “The Death of Captain Marvel,” which would trigger a thematic reflection for the MCU.
  • Contrary to expectations:
  • Thanos defeats Hulk, secures all six Infinity Stones, including the Soul Stone (sacrificing Gamora), and wipes out half of the Marvel Cinematic Universe population via the snap.
  • Captain Marvel’s anticipated confrontation and death do not occur in this movie.

[00:03:09]
Narrative and Artistic Significance of Infinity War

  • The movie is described as:
  • A giant, complex, and perfect cinematic experience that delivers a jaw-dropping impact.
  • The storylines and character arcs are of absolute significance, tightly woven into a single, coherent narrative.
  • It requires familiarity with previous MCU movies to fully appreciate the relationships and payoffs.
  • Compared to other Marvel films:
  • Endgame was fun but lacked lasting impression.
  • Captain Marvel did not live up to expectations.
  • The movie is praised for its clarity, pacing, and the depth of content delivered quickly yet effectively.

[00:04:04]
Technical and Artistic Merits

  • Design work and music are highlighted as some of the best elements of the film.
  • The host particularly praises the collector scene, showcasing the power of the Reality Stone with clear and understandable rules.
  • Thanos is considered the greatest cinematic villain of all time, evoking empathy alongside the audience’s feelings for other characters such as:
  • Star-Lord’s grief over Gamora’s death.
  • Spider-Man’s emotional death in Tony Stark’s arms.
  • The movie succeeds as both a deeply impactful story and a collective work of art, impressive in its scale and coherence despite the large cast.

[00:05:44]
Noteworthy Scenes and Character Elements

  • The Soul Stone sequence, involving the reappearance of the Red Skull, is a standout moment that connects back to Captain America: The First Avenger.
  • The Red Skull’s role adds a layer of historical depth and narrative complexity to the film, surprising audiences with his dialogue and reveal.
  • The Black Order characters are described as awesome and fantastic, with the host expressing regret about their deaths or removal from the story.

[00:06:24]
Personal Reflection and Comparative Analysis

  • The host, AKA Patters, expresses deep admiration for Infinity War, stating it is frequently re-watched and studied.
  • The film is placed among three modern movies the host regards as tentpole works in terms of special effects and storytelling:
    Movie Category Notes
    Tron: Legacy Modern Special Effects Praised for visual style and music
    Avengers: Infinity War Modern Special Effects Unique character work and scale
    Pacific Rim Modern Special Effects Equally adored for effects Infinity War stands out as a unique cinematic experience with no comparable film in its approach to characters and story complexity. [00:07:03] Conclusion and Final Thoughts
    • Despite being a worldwide blockbuster, the host urges viewers not to dismiss Infinity War as merely a commercial film.
    • It is a deeply meaningful and artistic achievement with lasting impact.
    • The host expresses gratitude for the experience of seeing the movie, sharing it with friends, and the communal excitement surrounding its release.
    • The episode closes with a nod of thanks to listeners and the community still engaged with the content.
    Key Insights
    • Avengers: Infinity War is considered the true triumphant conclusion of the MCU’s first major saga.
    • The film’s narrative is dense, impactful, and requires prior MCU knowledge for full appreciation.
    • Thanos is the most compelling villain in cinematic history, with motivations and character depth that evoke empathy.
    • The Soul Stone subplot and Red Skull’s involvement add narrative depth, linking back to earlier MCU films.
    • The film excels in technical artistry, including design, music, and special effects, making it a frequent subject of study.
    • Viewer experience, including the communal theater atmosphere, enhances the movie’s impact significantly.
    Summary Table: Expectations vs Reality Aspect Audience Expectation Actual Outcome in Infinity War Infinity Stones Thanos would obtain half of the stones Thanos obtains all six stones Captain Marvel’s Role Captain Marvel would confront Thanos, possibly die Captain Marvel does not appear significantly Snap Outcome Half of the stones collected, lead into Endgame Snap wipes out half the universe immediately Emotional Impact Anticipated reflection on death of Captain Marvel Emotional impact centered on multiple characters, including Gamora and Spider-Man Sequel Endgame to resolve remaining storyline Endgame follows but lacks lasting impression compared to Infinity War Core Concepts Highlighted
    • The importance of narrative payoff in large ensemble films.
    • The balance between complex storytelling and character development.
    • The integration of cinematic universe continuity (e.g., Red Skull connection).
    • The value of theatrical communal experiences in film appreciation.
    This episode stands as a heartfelt tribute to Avengers: Infinity War as a cinematic masterpiece and a cultural event, emphasizing its storytelling, artistic merit, and the unique shared experience of its audience.

00:00:01
AKAPADers welcome to another fantastic episode of the 2024 thanks flicking this is where throughout the month of November and maybe a little bit beyond it depends how well I schedule and drop my videos well me and the AKAPAD Army of course but thanks flicking are the films I am thankful for it’s an annual podcast event our second of three late in the season podcast events you guys know the 31 days of dread then we have thanks flicking and then in December it’s cinus today we’re discussing Infinity

00:00:39
War what I consider to be the true end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe the true triumphant oomph I love this movie I want to explain it to you so let’s go down production one action it’s it’s different when you can tell people you were there you were there in line you were there in a good spot in the theater some of you bad spots you were there with popcorn soda I do raisinets packed theater in the middle of the day you your friends a lot of the people around you everyone’s taking off

00:01:32
of work a hype a anticipation purchasing the tickets on pre-sale as soon as they were available organizing your friends a big group chat who’s in who’s out you know one person is going to have to front the money period so you spend a couple hundred bucks just on the tickets cuz you get the good theater you get the good seats even then about $20 a piece so you spend a dime then you watch this movie and within like the first couple minutes when Thanos fights Hulk you see what the movie is going to

00:02:23
do everyone at this time thought Thanos was only going to get he only was going to get half of the stones the next movie was called endgame this is going to be the next three stones and the snap and in the middle we will get Captain Marvel Captain Marvel clearly was going to go up against Thanos potentially die maybe they were going to follow the Marvel comic book gospel and give Captain Mar Marvel cancer and then have the entire Marvel Universe somewhat have a reflection somewhat reflect upon themselves through

00:03:09
his passing as they did with the Captain Marvel graphic novel The Death of Captain Marvel none of that happened in this movie Thanos defeats the Hulk gets all six stones kills Gamora wipes out one half of the Marvel cinem universe and then is gone a movie this giant this complex it’s really a perfect movie your jaw hit the floor and you couldn’t wait for what was next unfortunately what came next wasn’t this Captain Marvel didn’t live up didn’t live up to it at all endgame was fun at the time but it

00:04:04
doesn’t have a lasting impression the storylines the threads everything that runs through this movie it’s of absolute significance I cannot even now think of even a historical drama that gives you so much so fast yet so clear now little bit a little bit of of a caveat you have to know a lot about some of these movies to see what the relationships and what the payoffs are with that said this is a complete cinematic experience this is one big story and it feels like it we have some of the best design Work the music uh I I

00:04:57
will put this movie on any day of the week just for the music I love the whole collector scene where we see what the reality gem can do the rules make sense you can follow everything Thanos is the Cinematic villain of all time you feel for him you feel for everyone around him you feel for starlord with the loss of Gamora or gamra when Peter Parker Spider-Man dies in the arms of Tony Stark it’s there it’s beyond there this movie is as deeply impactful within the story as it is of a collective work of

00:05:44
art the people involved the way it’s designed the way it’s it’s positioned it’s mindboggling of how much of this movie makes sense with as many characters as it has the Soul Stone sequence with the revelation of red skull again head spinning stuff in the theater your head exploded when you saw that scene when you saw that Revelation cuz it’s a little bit The Red Skull kind of runs his mouth for a little and then they reveal his face it’s it’s insane uh it’s insane that they connected it to

00:06:24
Captain America first avenger that they connected the motivations of red skull into this movie the black order is just awesome and fantastic I really didn’t want any of them to to die or or you know get offed uh I just think this movie is there AKA patters I love this movie so much I put it on regularly all the time uh maybe like three of the most modern movies I put on kind of on a tent pole or special effects level is Tron legacy Infinity war and Pacific Rim uh I equally adore all of those movies

00:07:03
but Infinity war is always of study for me just to understand a little bit more what they do with the characters and there’s nothing like it and that’s also what makes Infinity War uh so special there’s nothing like this movie a little bit of a short one today AKA PWS but do not dismiss this movie just because it was quote unquote a a worldwide Blockbuster I’m thankful for Avengers Infinity War and the day I saw it and the time I spent with my friends around this time I know some of you guys still

00:07:42
listen you guys still rock and roll you know who you are thank you okay that’s a WRAP!