Adoption at the Movies : Avengers: Infinity War (SPOILERS) Adoption Movie Review

Friday, May 4, 2018

Avengers: Infinity War (SPOILERS) Adoption Movie Review

Thanos is pursuing powerful artifacts known as Infinity Stones. If he can collect them all, he will destroy life throughout the universe. In an attempt to stop Thanos and save lives throughout the universe, dozens of heroes from other Marvel movies join forces, but this may be the toughest challenge they’ve ever faced.

** SPOILERS AHEAD THE REST OF THE WAY **

The Adoption Connection – MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS SECTION

There are two adopted characters who are murdered on screen; in one case, the killer is the adoptive father, in another, an adoptive sibling watches helplessly as the murder happens.

Thanos has been killing large numbers throughout the galaxy in an attempt to stop other planets from experiencing the overpopulation that decimated his own world. With a new weapon, Thanos believes he will be able to kill in a more merciful manner, but in the past, he killed through warfare. Thanos has two daughters; he took Gamora into his life after he killed her parents while waging war on her planet. Thanos seems to care deeply for Gamora, but she tells him that she does not love him and that he has never been her father. Thanos ultimately sacrifices her, hurling her off a cliff to satisfy what he believes is a higher purpose. Thanos’ other daughter, Nebula, has tried to kill him. Thanos tortures Nebula to manipulate Gamora into giving him information. Thanos’ adoption of one of his daughters came after he killed her parents, and his treatment of both of his daughters is brutal. This could be a trigger for some viewers.

In one scene, Gamora attempts to kill Thanos, and believes she succeeds. She is tearful as she does this, though, reflecting that although she says she hates him, she also has conflicting feelings towards him. This could reflect the conflicted feelings that some viewers might have towards parents who have neglected or abused them.

Nebula and Gamora managed to build a collaborative relationship with each other in spite of the feuding that characterized their relationship in earlier films.

Thor and Loki are brothers by adoption. Thor watches helplessly as Thanos strangles Loki to death. They appear to have developed some level of care for each other, as opposed to the rivalry that characterized their earlier interactions.

Strong Points

This is a very full film. Characters form new relationships, and old broken relationships appear to be reconciled. Characters act heroically in the face of dire odds. It is a thought-provoking and engaging film.

Challenges – MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS SECTION

**MAJOR SPOILER ALERT ---------------------------------------- For kids who’ve experienced violence or who have unresolved grief regarding loss, this could be a difficult film. Many heroes appear to die. Some are brutally murdered on screen.***

Gamora has a pseudo-adoptive relationship with Thanos, but is presented as his adopted daughter, and some of the history, dialogue, and actions between them could be difficult for some families touched by adoption.

Gamora fears falling into Thanos’ hands, and pleads with her boyfriend, “If THanos takes me, promise to kill me.”

***MAJOR SPOILER ALERT -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some viewers, particularly young viewers who’ve identified with favorite heroes, could be left sad or shaken at the end of the film, because the good guys are left decimated, many of the superheroes (including Black Panther and Spiderman, who might be characters that kids have identified with recently) appear to have died, and the villain appears to have triumphed. ***

Recommendations

Avengers: Infinity War has succeeded in creating a powerful, memorable film that flies through its 160-minute runtime. There are definitely elements to the story that could pose challenges to (particularly younger) viewers who have identified with superheroes or who have unresolved issues with regard to grief, loss, violence or death, as well as for those who struggle with memories of an abusive father or distrust of an adoptive parent. For most teenagers, the film will probably be enjoyable. I’ll stick with the PG-13 MPAA Rating of this film, and recommend it for ages 13 and up.