Avengers Infinity War:  Worth the wait?

The Avengers Infinity War movie finally came out.  After 98 precursor set up films, (it's like 31 films), and countless hidden easter eggs throughout said films, alternative endings, and great one-liners, everything boils down to one question:  will Infinity War deliver on its investment?  Let's face it:  this film could bomb simply because it has too many great characters to show on screen, all with powerful personalities, portrayed by people we have tended to like for the past 30 films.  We are invested and we want that investment to pay off handsomely.  So, to answer the question, the film can be summed up in two words:  WOW and What?

To keep things simple, the movie revolves around Josh Brolin and his mighty chin, errr, character named Thanos.  Thanos has one job:  save the world from killing itself due to limited natural resources, and so, he believes, it is in the universes best interest if someone eliminates humanity before the cruel world does it.  Thus, Thanos needs the Infinity stones (Time, Soul, Space, etc.), which are powerful items that when placed on a cool glove, form the Infinity Gauntlet.  Again, this stuff has been "hidden" throughout the other films and is now here for us to gaze at...along with shattering the all time opening weekend box office numbers.  And the film does deliver!   The film is huge, but it all revolves around Brolin's baddy and he does an admirable job.  There are times that i found myself admiring his ideas (in a weird, Charles Dickinson way) and the way in which he interacts with the other Avengers.  Unlike Loki or a Bond villain that wants to take over the world for greedy ways, Thanos doesn't really find pleasure in killing people or the Avengers (spoiler alert).  He truly feels if he doesn't, there will be more suffering because he has not taken action.  There is no pleasure in fighting people that hold opposing views, like the Avengers, and he goes out of his way to say that he admires what they stand for.  I found it refreshing simply because i'm tired of all the Vin Disel, macho, alpha male, ego driven vengeance flicks these past several years.  There seems to be a true dignity by both sides in how they tackle their problems with each other.
The cast is large, but everyone will love the jokes, especially Chris Pratt challenging the other Chris's in the film.  Frankly, the movie could have died upon arrival because there are so many characters, but each one gets ample time to show off their powers, and personalities, which is great.  The film, while long, never feels bogged down, but that is also a problem.  The film just ends.  I verbally said, "What?" when the film ended.  Herein lies the true problem with Marvel films:  money.

There are characters that die, in fact, half the world population gets wiped out.  Yet, there is no sadness or sorrow because we know Disney is raking in so much cash, they literally can't allow any of these great folks to die.  There are several glaring, "wink, wink" moments by Doctor Strange that set up the potential "resurrections" because of various "timelines," with hints of Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) coming soon to save everyone.  Heck, even knowing Avengers 4 will come this time in 2019 takes away the genuine suspense from a truly great movie.  We know, somehow, everyone will make it back.  And with that, go enjoy this fun, great movie with friends and family, but get ready to leave the theatre shaking your head, wondering once again (or 31 times), "Well, gotta wait for the next one."