This is easily the top film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and beyond that, it’s simply the greatest superhero film I've ever seen. Without a doubt.

A significant plot development later in the film hinges on a character acting foolishly, which diminishes the importance of everything the protagonists accomplish both before and after that point. This particular instance was so distracting that I found myself unable to appreciate the remainder of the narrative, and it brought other serious shortcomings into sharp focus: the antagonist’s reasoning is baffling, a spec…

It’s remarkable that a movie carrying so much weight managed to avoid being a letdown. I really enjoyed it, though there were a few things that didn't quite work for me. My main worry was whether the story would be confusing or pointless for those who hadn’t seen all the previous films. It seems that concern might not be as big of an issue as I thought, because I saw it with two people who had only watched _Black Pan…

It’s remarkable – the visuals are truly impressive. There's a great deal happening onscreen, yet it manages to be straightforward and accessible. The pacing does sag somewhat in the central section, which is perhaps forgivable considering the large number of characters and plot threads being juggled. What stood out most were the combinations of characters from various storylines and how they played off one another. …

Attempting something new with the established conventions of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Avengers movies is a significant challenge, and occasionally the film’s impressive scope and forward drive align with its storytelling goals...