My Thoughts on Avengers: Endgame

Quick heads up: there are spoilers ahead. I really can't talk about this film in-depth without spoiling it, so go watch it before you read this. If you want a quick, spoiler free verdict, then Avengers: Endgame is one of the best movies in the MCU, and you should definitely watch it

With that out of the way, let's talk about Avengers: Endgame, a film so huge that no round up could adequately contain it!

When Infinity War came out, I gave it a mostly positive review, and I stand by that. Over time, I think the issues that I do have with that film have kind of hampered my enjoyment of it a little bit more than when I reviewed it, but I still think that it does a lot well, and is overall a pretty good film. Weirdly enough, even though it's only been a year, it feels like so much time has passed since Infinity War, which passed into the halls of pop culture legend faster than Thanos could snap his fingers. This is pretty fitting, as the passage of time is a pretty big deal in Endgame. Though the film starts shortly after the snap, a time skip takes us five years into the future, where the characters have all changed significantly. I think this is why the film works so well, because, yes it's relying on how much you've invested into these movies, but it's also something that the film itself takes seriously. This is going to be a conclusion of this part of the story, one that starts with the characters at their absolute lowest. The early Thanos death is an effective rug pull, because it sets up the plot in a way that indicates that this film might not quite be what you think it going to be.

Which is another nice piece of storytelling, because the film tells its story almost retrospectively, with the Avengers, or what's left of them, trying to defeat Thanos before he's even got a chance to start fighting. How will they do this? Time travel, baby! Yeah, a back-in-time set up might feel kind of unconditional for a film like this, but they pull it off really well, building the first half of the plot around a really deft, fun, time heist. It works because it's big consequences on a small canvas (literally, given the quantum shenanigans). It keeps you invested with swift pacing and constant reminders of what's at stake. It might not have the scale of a huge battle scene, but it's a really fun way of re-approaching the entire MCU that feels breezy and light, but still packs a fair amount of weight, too. I also love how the method of time travel is so condition dependant, which does give it a little more heft than it might have had otherwise. This portion of the film is jam packed with details that'll make no sense to outsiders, but in the context of this series, they become little individual payoffs that gradually build the anticipation to that climax

And when it does come, holy America's Ass is it strong. Is the Avengers vs. Thanos battle a little bit fanservice-y? Maybe, but if it works, it works, and for the most part, the satisfying moments absolutely kill here. Okay, one or two are a little heavy-handed (one particular shot verges on lazy pandering), but overall, it's as epic a set piece as this series has ever given us. It's a culmination of everything in the MCU, action wise, and it's a really satisfying way to conclude the Thanos-plot. What's even better is the sequence they follow it up with, an extended victory lap that completely confirms their dedication to Tony's sacrifice. It's never cheap, instead being a genuinely emotional moment that brings so many things to an end wonderfully. And like every good ending, it's a great end for some characters, but a new beginning for others (Sam's got the shield! Asgardians of the Galaxy! Valkyrie rules New Asgard!). In many ways, it's a perfect finale, maybe not for the MCU as a whole, but for this specific chapter. This is something that worried me going in, that they'd deliver a conclusion on the middle of an ongoing series, but the film's final act confirms that, although the MCU certainly isn't done, some of its plots have definitively concluded, and for the most part, it's incredibly satisfying. It really makes an impact, and it's here when the film really becomes a knockout

It's definitely not perfect. Captain Marvel feels weirdly absent, especially odd considering how fantastic her solo outing was. She turns up, disappears, and then turns up again. I don't know, for such a great character who had been really built up for the last few months, she feels bizarrely short-changed, which is a really big shame. Another issue is the conclusion of Captain America's arc, which was fine, but distractingly out of character, turning what should have been a weighty character moment into a bafflingly pandering piece of fanservice. The Peggy Carter thing was fine, but definitely outstays it's welcome here, and the scene itself is such a strange and awkward moment that works way to hard to cater to such a small group of fans, bending the story and characters in the process. Guess he wasn't with Bucky until the end of the line after all.

But the fact that that's one of my issues with this film should be an indication of how invested I am in this series. And Endgame does, for the most part, reward me and people like me for sticking with this universe for so long. Any problems feel irrelevant in a movie like this, one that feels genuinely satisfying, epic and impressive. Do I think that the MCU is s groundbreaking cinematic achievement? No. Is it a defining moment of 21st century pop culture? Absolutely, and this movie definitely honours that. For how flawed I think this series occasionally is, Endgame was still really satisfying, and as both a fan of the series and a lover of spectacle, I really couldn't ask for any more. It's structurally sound, emotionally engaging and consistently entertaining despite its length. Overall? It's a titanic achievement of blockbuster filmmaking, and a damn fun ride, one where the missteps are nitpicks and the payoffs (for the most part) absolutely satisfy. I'd say go see it, but given its gargantuan box office takings, you probably already have