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Avengers: Infinity War (2018) has been regarded as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) best films. From start to finish the film is a roller coaster of emotions and action sequences that many fans have enjoyed, especially the ending. It is one of the most mind-blowing endings that has been seen in the past decade; right next to some of the giants like The Sixth Sense (1999) or The Shinning (1980). Although many believe the conclusion is the best part, the opening sequence truly sets up what is in store for our future characters.
The opening of the film is solely dedicated to demonstrating how deadly of an antagonist Thanos is. Previous Marvel films — Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014) — have shown Thanos as a “background villain.” However, in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Thanos is the main antagonist actively trying to achieve his goals — and the audience witnesses exactly that within the first ten minutes. In the opening sequence, The Mad Titan, Thanos, invades the Asgardian ship; Thanos defeats Hulk and Thor, then kills Loki all to get the space stone that was aboard the ship.
Infinity War‘s (2018) opening sequence shows that nobody is safe from Thanos and his quest for the Infinity Stones. It also hints at what to expect — including death and failure forthcoming.
Infinity War‘s Preface — Conquering The Asgardians
Followers of the Marvel films will recognize the conclusion of Thor: Ragnarok (2017) when Thor takes the Asgardians into a spaceship to search for a new place to reside. (If not, an accidental spoiler for those who have not seen it.) Thor and his friends decide that Earth would be the place to go, but before the film ends we see a giant spaceship appear behind them; indicating that Thanos has found them. After the cliffhanger, Ragnarok left many anticipating the next installment to come within the MCU.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) unfurls to the devastation and destruction of the Asgardians. The camera pans to reveal many of them slaughtered and displays Loki speaking to Thanos’ team, The Black Order. With destruction independently, the film demonstrates to the audience that Thanos is a threat to not just the Avengers, but to all of Earth; he has the means to take down civilizations and planets with ease. It also demonstrates that Thanos is willing to sacrifice civilizations in order to save others — a clear foreshadowing of his sacrifice of Gamora in order to attain the soul stone.
The Defeat Of The Avengers
The Asgardian ship contains some of the most powerful and skilled fighters in the MCU: Thor, Hulk, and Loki. However, despite that, the team is quickly defeated, with ease, by Thanos and his Black Order. As Thanos treks through the pile of bodies on the ship, the audience sees Thor in his hands. Thanos treks to Loki, the same token, demanding that he presents The Space Stone. Loki does not give it up to Thanos and his Black Order until The Mad Titan begins to torture his brother where he then reveals that he has had it since Thor: Ragnarok (2017).
Even with the power expansion from the previous film (Ragnarok), Thor was no match for Thanos’ wrath demonstrating that he is cadaverous when it comes to one-on-one combat. As with Gamora and Nebula, Thanos also used family relations in order to obtain The Space Stone from Loki.
“We Have A Hulk”
Before Thanos can take The Space Stone, Hulk runs to the scene and begins battling with him. At first, it seems like Hulk has the advantage, but the tables turn in Thanos’ favor as Hulk becomes unconscious. Thor attempts to aid the unconscious Hulk but is incapacitated before he can do much. Heimdall, an Asgardian who is all-seeing and all-hearing, opens up a portal for Hulk to escape and warn Earth, along with the rest of the Avengers, that Thanos is arriving.
Bruce Banner, not being able to transform into the Hulk, shows the audience how dangerous Thanos is. Hulk is one of the strongest heroes within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and his refusal to fight for the fate of the universe shows Thanos as a true menace that everyone should be afraid of.
Who Survives?
Once Hulk is teleported to Earth, Heimdall is impaled as Thor watches without being able to help. Thanos is then handed The Space Stone by one of his minions which he puts in his Infinity Gauntlet becoming one first being to whiled two Infinity Stones. Thanos then sends out The Black Order to look for two more Infinity Stones on Earth, but Loki demands he tags along in the mission since he has been there before. Loki kneels down to Thanos in order to seem non-threatening but pulls a knife out intending to eradicate Thanos. Unfortunately, the action was ultimately for frivolity since Thanos stopped Loki with the abilities of the stones. He strangles Loki, and as he takes his last breath, Loki is thrown to the ground where his brother watches in monstrosity.
Thanos and The Black Order leave Thor as the Asgardian ship begins to detonate. Thanos exemplifies that no one is safe from his fury by destroying Heimdall and Loki, Thanos plays a major role in each character’s sacrifice.
Infinity War (2018) — What Comes Next?
As the protagonists of Avengers: Infinity War (2018) struggle to prevent Thanos from attaining his objectives, the audience recognizes that it will be difficult to combat him, even with the help of the strongest. Despite all of the Avengers and The Guardians Of the Galaxy aiding in defeating Thanos, he still emerges triumphant in all of his battles.
By the end of the film, he achieved his goal of wiping out half of the galaxy’s population. The opening scene is an unmistakable manifestation of what is in store; it demonstrates how much of a threat Thanos is. No one is safe from The Mad Titan. It is fair to say that the opening sequence of Infinity War leaves viewers and characters feeling hopeless regarding the events that have transpired so far.