Avengers: Infinity War, the long awaited battle between The Avengers and Thanos (Josh Brolin),  premiered in Hollywood earlier this week, and while we know the highlights (and oh wow, there are A LOT), this will remain a spoiler-free zone, in the run-up to this weekend’s release. (Look for our review this weekend.) That said, here is a brief synopsis of the film and some early reactions from those who’ve seen it which we CAN share with you:

The movie, the 19th in the Marvel universe, picks up at the end of Thor: Ragnarok (Review: https://thereelness.com/film/thor-ragnarok/ ) with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) battling the big purple villain for one of the six infinity stones, powerful crystals formed during the Big Bang. If Thanos gets all six, he says he’ll have the power to destroy half the universe. The film tracks Thanos’ quest for the stones, setting up battles with nearly all of the Marvel characters introduced over the past 18 films.  If you think Game of Thrones was unpredictable, just wait – no character is safe in Infinity War.  And there’s a sequel next year!

The Six Infinity Stones per the comics (for all us non Marvel fanboys – you are welcome!):

• Tesseract (Space Stone): teleportation from one point in the universe to another
• Aether (Reality Stone): makes those which it attaches itself stronger
• Orb (Power Stone): gives whomever possesses it superhuman, destructive strength
• Loki’s Scepter/Vision (Mind Stone): whomever possesses it controls the minds of others
• Soul Stone: can trap souls inside another world
• Time Stone: time travel! (is this how all the darkness in Infinity War may get “undone?”)

And the early reactions??

This one might sum it up best:

On thing is certain – Marvel fans will be stunned leaving the theater, processing all that they have seen, and the payoff for the directors, the Russo brothers, is going to be equally epic.

Expect the unexpected. And stay through all the credits.

Avengers: Infinity War opens April 27th.