Concert Review: MARVEL STUDIOS' INFINITY SAGA CONCERT EXPERIENCE
On a surprisingly windy summer day in Toronto, Marvel fans came together to experience the Infinity Saga like never before. The Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga Concert Experience combined select scenes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe with live orchestral music from the franchise to produce an immersive experience unlike a regular movie-going one.
The concert was brought to the city by Kashamara Productions, a Canadian-based special events company. The concert music was conducted by renowned Japanese-American conductor Sarah Hicks, and brought to life by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. About the Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga Concert Experience Photo courtesy Monita Roy Mohan
The Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga Concert Experience debuted in 2024 and has since slowly been doing the rounds of North America. There were supposed to be two Toronto concerts, but the Friday show was cancelled. The Saturday show, which is the one I attended, therefore, had a packed audience, which was spectacular because the thunderous clapping and hooting reverberated across the expansive Meridian Hall.
RELATED: Marvel Studios Announces Expansive Avengers: Doomsday Cast
The concert kicked off with Hicks saying 'Avengers Assemble' to thunderous applause. After a short trailer of the MCU, the show began with the Marvel fanfare. But of course. The concert charted the journeys of key characters from the Infinity Saga, with a focus on the big three—Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth). We got to see a few full scenes of their most heroic moments, all with the live orchestra's music playing alongside.
Other hero tributes included nods to Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), surprisingly Hope Van Dyne/Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), as well as Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), and, of course, an emotionally heavy dose of T'Challa/Black Panther, played by the late Chadwick Boseman. There were loud cheers for Thor and Loki (Tom Hiddleston), but also, randomly, Thanos (Josh Brolin).
RELATED: Sadie Sink to Star in Spider-Man 4
The pre-intermission section of the Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga Concert Experience was joyful and bright. The inclusion of humorous fight scenes and banter from The Avengers added to the ebullience.
Post-intermission was much darker, but it was absolute perfection—the second part almost exclusively covered Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame . It was intense and ever-so emotional. The Music of Marvel Photo courtesy Monita Roy Mohan
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has plenty of stunning themes and musical interludes, but the franchise doesn't always get the credit it deserves for its music. Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga Concert Experience spotlights the more memorable musical moments of the franchise. I couldn't stop swaying and bobbing to many of my favorite tunes, like the theme from Thor , and the Oscar-winning music of Black Panther .
RELATED: Captain America: Brave New World and the Importance of Self-Love
A huge cheer went up for the Thor: Ragnarok theme. But the cheers and hoots for The Avengers theme, which played over the scene of the six original Avengers coming together, were deafening. The audience drowned the music out with our applause.
While the music was glorious, there were a few missteps. I loved the inclusion of 'The Star-Spangled Man,' but I could not hear the lyrics. Not sure why the voices were completely drowned out by the music.
The scene introducing Thor, 'Wakanda,' and Killmonger's theme seemed muted, as if the key percussions were missing. But the music picked up after that.
RELATED: Denzel Washington Teases Black Panther 3 Role The Characters Photo courtesy Monita Roy Mohan
The Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga Concert Experience emphasized the journey of some of the main characters. So, despite one audience member loudly yelling for Bucky (Sebastian Stan), Bucky Barnes/the Winter Soldier was hardly in the concert. Interestingly, despite the Snap scene being played out almost in full, Bucky's part was cut out. Strange choice.
There was far too little of the Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) tribute. Only her theme tune and a short montage were played. But she got her due later in the concert. The loud hollers for Captain Marvel's epic entrance in Endgame made my heart sing. For all the hate that the ladies of Marvel, especially Brie Larson as Carol, get from the online community, an experience like Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga Concert Experience is a nice reminder that there are actual fans out there who don't revel in prejudice.
RELATED: The Missing Women From the Avengers: Doomsday Cast
I found the choices of Steve's scenes spectacular—they truly did showcase his heroism. But they also inadvertently showed off how brave and strategic Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) was.
My favorite part of the concert was the obvious love for Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). One woman screamed throughout the scene when Wanda staved off Thanos' attack while destroying the Mind Stone, and the love of her life, Vision (Paul Bettany). It was a bit much, but we felt the love. Another audience member stood up and clapped while Wanda fought Thanos in Endgame .
The concert also gave us the funeral and farewell for Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) that the all-male writing-directing team of Avengers: Endgame didn't bother to give her. Not only that, but the Black Widow tribute was absolutely stellar. As Natasha Romanoff fell to her death in Vormir, the concert cut to a collection of scenes of Black Widow throughout the MCU, including the dream sequences of the Red Room and numerous touching moments between Natasha and her sister, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh). The tears flowed freely. Literally, the best part of the show.
RELATED: Movie Review: Thunderbolts* An Unmissable Experience
The Marvel Studios' Infinity Saga Concert Experience ended the way Avengers: Endgame did, concluding decades of nostalgia and investment in these characters with Alan Silvestri's unforgettable musical refrain. Yes, there were more tears.
The Concert Experience isn't just a way to re-tread the journeys of the Avengers, it also recontextualizes the meaning they have to us — the audience and fans — and to the new heroes who've joined the MCU since the Infinity Saga ended.
RELATED: Why Did Thunderbolts* Even Bother Including Taskmaster?
We've all watched Marvel films in theatres far and wide, but the best part of the concert was that it gave us fans the ability to do the things that are not possible in the movie hall — we screamed, we clapped, we hooted. We re-lived the magic of Marvel, one musical theme at a time.
Who Is Bob Reynolds, the Newest Hero Introduced in THUNDERBOLTS*? Monita has been championing diversity, inclusivity, and representation in entertainment media through her work for over a decade. She is a contributor at Bam Smack Pow, and her bylines have appeared on 3-time Eisner Award-winning publication Women Write About Comics, Geek Girl Authority, HuffPost, Reactormag.com (formerly tor.com), Soundsphere/Screensphere, FanSided's Show Snob, and Vocal. She was also a TV/Movies features writer at Collider.com. Alongside her twin, Monita co-hosts the pop culture podcast Stereo Geeks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Olivia Munn was left feeling like an ‘expectant dad' while waiting for her daughter to arrive via surrogacy
Olivia Munn was left feeling like an 'expectant dad' while waiting for her daughter to arrive via surrogacy. The 44-year-old actress has son Malcolm, three, with her comedian husband John Mulaney, 42, andhe couple expanded their family through surrogacy following Olivia's breast cancer diagnosis in April 2023. Reflecting on the emotional journey of welcoming her now eight-month-old daughter Méi via surrogate, Olivia told People: 'It was the first time I was like, 'Oh wait, is this what it's like to be an expectant dad?'' After undergoing extensive treatment — including a lymph node dissection, nipple delay procedure, and double mastectomy — Olivia faced surgical menopause following the removal of her uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries during her cancer battle. 'It was important to do it at that moment, but it was also scary because my type of cancer feeds on hormones, and there are a lot of hormone injections with IVF,' she said, referring to the fertility preservation process she underwent before her hysterectomy. Her doctor devised a special IVF protocol tailored for cancer patients, enabling Olivia to retrieve seven eggs. 'At my age, about one in 10 eggs is healthy,' she explained. After fertilisation, two embryos were 'strong enough to be tested for abnormalities and the gender'. She and John hoped for a girl, with Olivia saying: 'I remember I was on a walk with John, and I said, 'I really don't think that I'll be okay unless we get two girl embryos. I know this puts me at risk, but I just need you to support me,'' she recalled. Mulaney responded: ''Whatever you need.'' That same day, Olivia received a call confirming both embryos were female. 'That was a sign for me everything was going to be okay,' she said. The couple then embarked on the 'emotional process' of finding a surrogate. 'The number one thing that I wanted in a surrogate was someone who was kind,' Olivia said. A friend's recommendation led them to an agency, which presented two potential surrogates. One candidate expressed a desire to help someone who had survived cancer. 'After meeting with her, I knew she was the right person to carry our daughter,' Olivia said. She added: 'The first thing I worried about was if I would be able to find somebody who would love and take care of my daughter as much as I would. 'We were so lucky to find someone so kind who we bonded with so much.'
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
‘Ginny & Georgia' Season 3: Brianne Howey Discusses Her Character's Mental Health
Brianne Howey in 'Ginny & Georgia' on Netflix. The Netflix hit Ginny & Georgia is back and better than ever. The ten-episode third season is a rollercoaster ride, and the finale is phenomenal, with two cliffhangers in the last few seconds that will leave fans salivating at the bit for season four. When the series first premiered in 2021, it appeared to be a light-hearted, fun, sexy binge-watch. Though it is incredibly entertaining, it's so much more than a soapy drama. Despite the show's lighthearted, heartwarming, and humorous moments, it's also brave in how it tackles mental health, and it does so in a way no other television show has in that it is not heavy-handed or preachy in its approach. Creator/executive producer Sarah Lampert has never shied away from the angst of being a human being, putting her characters through struggles such as depression, addiction, eating disorders, personality disorders, self-harm, and this season, teen pregnancy, to name a few. The story centers around Brianne Howey's Georgia Miller, a mother who will do anything, moral or not, for her children. As the chaos creator of the story, those around her are left to deal with the fallout of her actions following season two's cliffhanger, which left a shocked Georgia taken away in handcuffs at her wedding to the Mayor when she was arrested for murdering her friend's husband. Brianne Howey says Georgia Miller has narcissistic tendencies. By the time we get to season three, which premiered on June 5, Georgia is on house arrest, bound by an ankle bracelet that keeps her caged like a wild animal as she tries to survive the media sensation surrounding her murder trial. Her world spins out of control when it comes out that she may have also killed a few of her husbands, and she's nicknamed the 'Mayoress Murderess.' When asked what she thinks Georgia's mental health issues might be, Howey replied carefully. 'The show works very closely with Mental Health America to make sure that we aren't glorifying any of the wrong things and that we're handling all of these subjects with the utmost respect and care. I do think Georgia has narcissistic qualities. That being said, I think Georgia is the type of narcissist who is capable of change, and that's what has been really compelling this season to see for Georgia. Every character goes on a mental health journey. But yes, especially Ginny and Georgia.' Lampert concurred, adding, 'The show's theme is that everyone is fighting a battle you can't see.' Of the new season, she explained that for Georgia to change her ways, the stakes would need to be raised. 'We purposefully exploded our entire world and revealed our main character. I loved it!' exclaimed Lampert. As the media frenzy around her murder trial explodes, Georgia is forced to face herself. Antonia Gentry talks about her character's journey in season three of 'Ginny & Georgia' on Netflix. This season, Georgia's daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry) must confront just how similar she is to her mom when her brother Austin (Diesel La Torraca) is sent to live with his abusive father, and she goes to live with her dad. Ginny discovers the lengths she will go to free her mom and get her family back together, and she realizes she's a lot like her mother. Gentry paused briefly when asked to describe the relationship between Ginny and Georgia. 'It's almost symbiotic…because they're so apart this season, we see them have to come into their own in different ways that they haven't been able to before. Ginny can't rely on Georgia as much as she'd like to. Georgia can't rely on Ginny or do anything at all because she's on house arrest. We see Ginny forced to make decisions for herself and to start creating situations and opportunities for herself instead of reacting to those things.' Gentry added how much she enjoyed the acting challenges this season. 'It was wonderful to play her, especially towards the end, as someone who is kind of turning into her mom in a sense where she's like, 'Look, I'm not getting the results that I want. My mom is going to jail. My brother is with his abusive father. I don't want any of this. I'm going to make it happen.' And she does, and it's scary for Georgia to witness, but it's fascinating because we see Ginny morphing into the young woman that she's going to become. And you can't come back from that ledge. It's very interesting to see Ginny walk this tightrope of chaos.' Brianne Howey and Antonia Gentry in 'Ginny & Georgia' on Netflix. This season, Howey pointed out, Ginny and Georgia were forced to question whether or not they should be together. 'Are they better together? Or, are they better apart? Is it them against the world? This season poses so many questions.' When asked if she thinks her character is a good mom, Howey gave a Georgia-like grin and said, 'I think so.' Georgia, she confirmed, will do anything for her children. 'This season gives her a run for her money. She's seeing the idea the public has about her, and it's starting to hit home like, 'My God, have I made my children's life harder than it needs to be? I think she had to get pushed to these extremes to have that realization. There's going to be a change, but as we see, it's very small and slow, but it's happening.' Lampert agreed with Howey's comments about Georgia having narcissistic qualities. 'She definitely has a personality disorder that can get better with treatment.' She added that she and her team have worked closely with Mental Health America since season one to craft the characters' mental health journeys. For seasons one and two, Lampert worked alongside showrunner and executive producer Debra J. Fisher, and for seasons three and four, she teamed up with Sarah Glinski. Antonia Gentry and Diesel La Torraca in 'Ginny & Georgia' on Netflix. As to why the fans continue to support Georgia despite her penchant for murder, Glinski thinks it's because, at her core, Georgia is good. 'Georgia believes she's doing everything for her children. All of her actions come out of that place of love. The fact that she's doing things out of love makes us root for her.' This is the beauty of good writing. Lampert, Glinski, and their team of writers have taken a character with a personality disorder that's very difficult to deal with and made her likable. Lampert credited those at Mental Health America with helping to write various scenes and morph the mental health journeys of the characters throughout the seasons. When she asked the doctors she was working with what would have to happen for Ginny and Georgia to have a healthy relationship, she was advised that Georgia would have to be broken down. 'She'd have to face something big. She'd have to feel threatened with losing her children to come to an understanding that she has to change and that her actions have consequences. And Ginny would have to set some boundaries," revealed Lampert. "Ultimately, their relationship being healthy isn't on Ginny. She's the child. It's on Georgia. This season, we broke Georgia's soul with the hope to rebuild.' To the fans anxiously waiting to see what happens next, the writers are back at work. 'The theme of season four is origins and cycles,' Lampert divulged, adding that though the original plan was to end Ginny & Georgia after four seasons, they've realized there's more to tell. 'We're not done yet.'
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: World Pride gathers LGBTQ+ advocates in Washington for 50th anniversary
WASHINGTON (AP) — World Pride gathers LGBTQ+ advocates from around the globe. This year, which marks the 50th anniversary of Washington's Pride festival, is the first time the city is hosting the gathering. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
