Avengers: Infinity War - 9 Reasons It's The Most Important Marvel Movie Yet
9. It Resolves Countless Story-Arcs
When it comes to franchises, none have gone to as great a lengths as the MCU to develop their characters. It's a feat made even greater by the sheer quantity of projects that have released this past decade, and in resolving this development, Infinity War finds real importance.
First to complete his journey is Tom Hiddleston's Loki, who finally realises his redemption in the film's opening act. He's a fan-favourite character in the truest sense, and with his fluctuating loyalties having long been a point of contention for the character, going all the way back to that first Thor film, to see him finally embrace his heroic tendencies and stand up to Thanos was incredibly powerful. This was always where his journey was leading to, but it's also where it was meant to end, with the character's brutal death establishing the film's sense of peril for the proceeding two-and-a-half hours of its runtime.
Vision too - as well as Gamora - meet their end and complete their own respective journeys, but so too do plenty of the film's surviving characters. The full horror and impact of Tony Stark's experiences during the Battle of New York are laid bare as he takes to the skies above, content with the knowledge that it could - as he imparts to Peter Parker - "be a one-way ticket". His final showdown with Thanos is also illustrative of Tony's unflinching commitment to protect life, and although he may not depart in the film, it sets him up wonderfully for a departure in the following one.
Red Skull's surprise appearance also closes the book on The First Avenger, setting the stage for the Skull to appear once more and begin a whole new voyage in the near future. It's a remarkable piece of architecture, and in beginning this new stage of the MCU, Infinity War is absolutely incredible.