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First reactions to Avengers: Infinity War: does Marvel's superhero epic live up to the hype?

Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo and Benedict Wong - WWW.LMKMEDIA.COM
Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo and Benedict Wong - WWW.LMKMEDIA.COM

It's just after midnight in Los Angeles, and those people lucky enough to have been invited to Monday night's premiere of Marvel's latest blockbuster, Avengers: Infinity War, are sharing their (spoiler-free) feelings about the film on social media.

Reviews of the film are embargoed until 11pm tonight (GMT), but the first reactions from writers at the premiere suggest it lives up to the hype. The film – which reportedly cost $300 million to make – brings together heroes from a decade's worth of Marvel movies, to confront the super-villain Thanos (Josh Brolin).

Directed by brothers Joe and Anthony Russo, it features an all-star cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey Jr.

VIP guests at the premiere have been sharing their breathless excitement on social media. According to Robert Liefield, the comic book artist known for his work on Deadpool, it has "the greatest super hero battles ever put to film". Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson Others, including Oscar-winning Room actress Brie Larson, had to resort to BLOCK CAPITALS to convey their feelings.

And what do the film critics think? The Playlist's editor Rodrigo Pereze called it a "punch fest", a view shared by The Verge's critic Tasha Robinson, who loved it, but added that anyone "bored" by the action scenes in previous Marvel films would be just as bored by the punch-ups here. For CNET journalist Mike Sorrentino, it had the feel of a "soap opera" – but in a good way. 

It's the Marvel franchise's Empire Strikes Back, according to a glowing tweet from Slash Film editor Peter Sciretta. Rather more surprisingly, Screenrant writer Rudie Obias saw similarities with Phantom Thread director Paul Thomas Anderson's work. Yes, really. Meanwhile, Mashable's disappointed critic Angie Han was one of the few dissenting voices.