It all started in 2008. A gamble was taken on an actor, who had fallen towards irrelevancy, to play a not exactly household name superhero. That would be Robert Downey Jr. and of course he started it all with Iron Man. It started in 2008 and we are in the end game now.
Infinity War was a punch to the gut. Half of the universe was dead and the heroes that we loved for 10 years, lost in epic fashion. Here we are in April 2019. We are at the point where 22 movies finally come to an end. It is a lot of characters, a lot of pressure, and a lot of emotion. Congrats to the Russo Brothers and Kevin Feige. They all delivered a masterpiece.
22 days after the last movie, our heroes are trying to come to terms with what happened. They are trying to put the world back together and deal with the losses that they suffered. They are in a really low spot. The world is and it is not getting any better. The remaining members of the team are on a mission to find Thanos and unsnap the snap. Much like Infinity War, the first 10 minutes of the movie is a punch to the gut. Nearly everything that you have seen in the previews, is all in the first 20 minutes of the film. Nearly every plot leak and theory is mostly wrong. I was correct on two of my predictions and kind of correct on 2 more. I promised no spoilers so that is all the plot that you get this go around.
The Infinity Stones are an important part of this film, but it is a movie about it's characters. For a super hero movie, it is very human. It is an emotional ride. It has it's touching moments. I held back a tear more than once. It is intense and hilarious. The great thing about all the Marvel films, is there ability to inject humor that works into the most dire of circumstance. It is a movie that relies on story. It relies on characters. It does an incredible job of giving them all screen time. The Russos are tasked with wrapping up several character arcs. They do that and set the stage for what comes next?
Dr. Strange called it. We are in the endgame now. This movie ties everything together. We get call backs to 11 years of movies. We see things that were going on during those films that we didn't even realize was happening. There is so much foreshadowing from those movies that comes into play. We lost so many in the last film. Ant Man, Nebula, and Rocket have their part to play, but it is the original six that get there time to shine.
We didn't get much Hulk the last go around, but we get plenty this time. The Hulk has definitely evolved. We get a version straight out of the comics. He is also a great source for some of that humor that works so well. Mark Ruffalo had a great performance even though he is mostly motion captured.
I think people will appreciate seeing a side of the Hulk that hasn't been seen before on the big screen.
Captain Marvel also gets a few moments to shine. Bri Larson is just so likeable. Women find her empowering and as I guy, I want to hang out with her. She is perfectly cast as Carol Danvers. It is fun to see her finally side by side with the rest of the Avengers. We do get a little info about where she has been, and the stage is set for her to stay with whatever version of the team comes next.
It is also great to have Clint Barton back. He was completely absent from the last film and he is back with a vengeance. Literally. He definitely gets a role to play in the endgame. His arc has been centered around family and that plays a huge role in where he has been. Hawkeye also has close ties with Natasha.
Like Hawkeye, Natasha is one of the most vulnerable in the group. She doesn't wear armor, no powers, but can hold her own. I was shocked with the direction her story takes. It was something that I didn't see coming from a mile away.
Thanos is still one of the best villains. He ranks right up there with the best of them. Brolin's performance is so good. The emotion conveyed in a motion capture character is incredible. He looks real and he is every bit a threat, with or without the gauntlet. He has dealt out damage to all of the Avengers, but none more so than Thor.
Thor might be the character who has lost the most. His parents, his brother, his home, and he has an overwhelming feeling of grief for the events of Infinity War. He is so much fun to watch in this movie. Chris Hemsworth was born to play this role. He is Thor. I am not sure anyone could do it better. He is hilarious, but end of the day one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe. There are talks of a fourth Thor film and I truly hope it happens. He and Captain America have some incredible scenes.
If there was a complaint about Infinity War, it was the lack of Captain America. That is not the case here. Cap is my favorite. He is the man out of time. He is the heart of the Avengers. He their moral compass and their is no quit in him. I had a lot of theories about where they would take him. There were so many rumors floating around. Where it goes is unexpected. I had an idea of how his story might end and it was partially correct. It is the one part of the movie that I haven't fully come to terms with yet. He has some great moments. His scenes in the climactic battle had me on the edge of the seat and cheering! He also has moments that made me a little emotional. We will get the Tony and Steve reconciliation and it plays well.
This all started with Tony. He is Iron Man. The others have their moments, but this is his movie. iF Cap is the heart of the team, Tony might be the soul. Robert Downey Jr. is Tony. No one could do it better. In the comics, Tony is an alcoholic that loses everything. They never touched on that in the films, but they didn't need to. There is a subtle call back to Iron Man 3 and I think the kid from that movie has a future role to play, but this is not the time to discuss that. It is the time to talk about Iron Man now. Tony has deep connections with most of the team. He is burdened by guilt, a need to protect the world, and his own insecurities. His encounter with Thanos has left him scarred. He truly comes full circle and his arc will have an effect on you. He is more than the suit.
Avengers:Endgame is a roller coaster ride. The climax will have you on the edge of your seat. The amount of heroes on the screen is breathtaking. And while some take a backseat based on story, it still plays well. There are no post credit scenes. It is a masterpiece. One of the best films and easily top 5 comic book movies of all time. It is hilarious, sad, intense, and epic. It sticks the landing. Well done cast. Well done Russo Brothers. Another win for Marvel.
