Avengers: Infinity War – A Trailer, A Wardrobe Choice

Alright, so the new and final trailer for Avengers: Infinity War dropped yesterday.  Aaaaaaahhhh – as if Fridays weren’t exciting enough!!  Naturally, I watched it as soon as it came out (thank you well timed prep mod/trailer release) and then I spent my entire lunch break watching it again (and again (and again (and again and again and again (and again)))).  We are barely a month away from the culmination of ten years of storytelling within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  We are finally here.  They are finally going to do battle with Thanos.  In and around grading exams today, I figured I’d write about my excitement with the trailer, ALL THE FEELS it elicited, and the major clothing conundrum it caused.

Before we go any further, let’s look at that trailer one more time huh?  Now, I’m sure you’ve seen it but I want to watch it again so I’m putting it here.  Plus who doesn’t want to watch it again?!?  I’m sure you do too so here we go.

AAAAAAHHHHHHH WE ARE FINALLY GOING TO SEE THIS MOVIE AND I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN HANDLE THE ANTICIPATION OR THE EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE OF ACTUALLY SEEING IT.  Now that that’s out of my system, when I wrote about the first trailer back in December, I said I was excited for the film but my overarching feeling was trepidation.  I was worried they’d be unable to balance all the characters.  I was worried it would feel cluttered and crowded and many of these rich, dynamic characters I’ve grown to love on screen over the last ten years would be relegated to group shots and side roles while a few were allowed the chance to shine.  I can’t say those anxieties have left me.  But my excitement has totally overpowered them!

Black Panther showed me the MCU still has the ability to dramatically redefine both itself and what the comic book movie genre can be.  Not since Iron Man in 2008 has the Marvel Cinematic Universe felt so fresh.  More than anything, Black Panther and the chance to see T’Challa, Shuri, Okoye, and Wakanda (FOREVER!) again on screen so soon have put my excitement through the roof for Infinity War.  When you add in Anthony and Joe Russo (who gave us Captain America: Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War) at the helm and the reality that we’ve waited TEN YEARS FOR THIS, it’s a good place to be.

So many incredible actors.  So many brilliant characters.  This has the potential to give a whole new meaning to “epic.” / Photo Credit – Avengers: Infinity War

Also, to be direct, the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t disappointed me yet.  Sure, there are movies I like more than others.  That’s only natural.  And in an age where we get sooooooooo many of these a year, they do become more commonplace.  For better or worse, it’s easier for me to take the MCU for granted now and it takes more for one of their films to blow my mind than it used to, in part because they keep raising the bar.

Even so, I’ve never left a Marvel movie feeling disappointed.  Each and every entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been fun.  They’ve all been entertaining.  Some have worked to convey mythic themes and deeper messages too.  And every single one is clearly made with love and respect towards the source material.  In an age where I have an increasingly complicated relationship with the Disney Canon of Star Wars (which, if you like, you can read about in regard to The Last Jedi here and in regard to the books/comics Disney puts out here), I appreciate the sheer joy and excitement the Marvel movies always provide all the more.

Like much of the rest of the internet, I can’t get enough of this scene.  CAPTAIN AMERICA IS SO AMAZING!!!  Bring it Thanos.  You’re going down. / Photo Credit – Avengers: Infinity War

So, anxiety over the chance of an overcrowded film aside, HOW COULD I NOT BE SUPER EXCITED?!?  What were you thinking Past Michael?  How could you ever doubt your excitement for this??  You were always going to be FREAKING OUT.  I’ve already got my tickets for opening night too.  (I may be wondering if I need to see it at 11:15 after seeing it at 7:00 though… (I don’t have a problem…you have a problem.))

The trailer is wonderfully edited because – from those first piano notes and the spinning camera shot – I feel ominous dread and foreboding hanging over the entire thing.  Part of me wishes Thanos looked a bit more intimidating/horror monster-esque, but I’m still scared of him regardless.

Photo Credit – Avengers: Infinity War

I love the glimpse of a flashback where Thanos takes Gamora.  I wonder if we’ll see a similar backstory with Nebula too.  I hope so!  Thanos – being erotically and romantically in love with Death, looking to destroy creation in the name of wooing her – has always been such a fascinating character.  And James Gunn has made Gamora and Nebula into brilliant characters too, both on their own and in their relationship as sisters, so the chance of seeing this “family” dynamic develop has me waiting on baited breath.

I need to say this too.  Yes, we see Loki standing with Thanos’ Black Order BUT I am still holding to the fact that Loki’s redeemed.  He’s a good guy.  He’s tricky and a pathologically brilliant liar sure, but I have faith in him!  Just like I always believed with Severus Snape before him, I’m totally convinced that Loki will be a hero who does the right thing.

Loki standing with the Black Order BUT NOTE they totally have a gun (or, uh, something) pointed at him.  Yep, that’s totally something a bad guy would do to a hero.  I’m just sayin’… / Photo Credit – Avengers: Infinity War

Of course I’m still concerned about Peter suiting up alongside the Avengers in this one.  It just seems irresponsible to allow a sixteen-year-old kid to help battle a creature bent on wiping out half of the life in the cosmos as his opening gambit.  I can’t imagine Peter would be willing to sit it out, but it also seems improbable the Avengers – Tony specifically, given his character arc since Civil War – would be cool with it.  But the final shot of Spider-Man swinging through wreckage in the sky makes me super excited Spidey’s there all the same :).  Is it irresponsible.  Yes.  Is it crazy exciting and badass??  YES.

It’s just…THEY ARE ALL GOING TO BE IN THIS THING TOGETHER.  Do you remember the feeling of The Avengers?  Of seeing Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, and Hawkeye all suiting up together to defend the Earth against Loki and the Chitauri for the first time?  I’d never felt like the comics I loved as a kid had come to life more than I did in that moment.  Now, what happened after those first four years is happening again, but this time we have ten years of characters, relationships, and stories coming together.

WAKANDA FOREVER and AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! / Photo Credit – Avengers: Infinity War

For me, this has always been the most exciting part.  I loved team-ups and crossovers as a kid.  I still do.  And it’s working in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  From the moment Black Widow and War Machine showed up to help Tony in Iron Man 2, it’s all been leading here.  I can’t wait…

But I have a problem.

I’m being serious.  This is a major problem, not dumb anxiety over a potentially crowded film.  This is BIG and this is real.  What am I going to wear??

Thor understands the struggle to look good.  Sure, he lost an eye but he’s not letting it slow down his superhero style. / Photo Credit – Avengers: Infinity War

You might think this is ridiculous, that I’m even thinking about this forty days ahead of time, but I’m a planner.  I also like to commit.  If I’m doing something, I’m going to do it right.  So what can I wear that will do Avengers: Infinity War justice?

Do I go the costume route?  I’ve done some cosplaying.  I’ve had some fun with it too.  However I don’t know if that’s the best option.  I enjoy dressing up.  I think I do an alright job with it too :).  Deep down though, I doubt I’m really a costume guy at heart.  And if I dressed up, how would I even begin to choose which character to be?!?  There are so many to choose from!  Plus, when I’m dressed up I always have to worry about how I’m sitting or standing or moving in it.  Wearing a costume is never as fluid or as comfortable as wearing a t-shirt.

See?  Like Peter has to look cool in his Spider-Man suit but also be comfortable enough and mobile enough to fight the Mad Titan too.  It’s tough. / Photo Credit – Avengers: Infinity War

I am most certainly a t-shirt guy though.  So that’s natural.  That’s organic.  That’s me.  It also allows me maximum comfort when it comes to standing in line beforehand and – most importantly – when I’m actually watching the movie.  But this route is not without problems either.  Avengers: Infinity War is a big movie.  It’s the culmination of ten years of storytelling, planning, and incredible films.  Which t-shirt would be worthy of such a night??

Do I wear an Avengers: Infinity War t-shirt?  Nah, that seems too easy and too new a relationship.  For a movie like this I feel I need a shirt I have some history with.  Do I wear the shirt I wore on opening night of The Avengers for a full-circle sort of moment?  Do I choose Iron Man, since the Marvel Cinematic Universe began with him?  How about Thor, as he’s my favorite Avenger?  Or Spidey, because he’s my favorite superhero?  Do I go with the Guardians of the Galaxy because they’re by far my favorite films in the MCU?  

Your quizzical look matches my struggle Natasha.  If anything, you’re a little too calm about it. / Photo Credit – Avengers: Infinity War

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO.  HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT OUTFIT FOR THE NIGHT?!?  THIS IS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME MOMENT AND CAN NEVER BE RECAPTURED SO I MUST DO THIS RIGHT.

No, I don’t think I’m being melodramatic or over-the-top at all here.  Why do you ask?  Anyway, while I go finish my exams (and begin to try to start to untangle my outfit angst (which will be a looooooong road on the way to 26 April)), may you enjoy the rest of your day.  Watch the trailer.  Ponder when you’ll see it.  And good luck picking your outfit too.  If you figure out anything particularly inspired, let me know…

I mean, Cap’s got a new shield here so maybe going outside the box of my normal choices is a good idea.  But then again, this shield makes me SUPER ANXIOUS and I can’t wait for him to get his regular shield back so all will be right with the world so maybe deviation isn’t a good idea for me.  Hmmm… / Photo Credit – Avengers: Infinity War