The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become an unprecedented achievement in filmmaking as a whole. For the past 11 years, we have traveled on this unparalleled journey of extraordinary heroism and growth. We’ve seen heroes rise and fall, villains vanquished and redeemed, and the vast potential of its diverse universe expand evermore, with no signs of stopping, and Avengers: Endgame is the culmination of what Marvel has been working towards. Shocking everyone and no one all at once, they pull it off to overwhelmingly satisfying results. With over 20 films and 11 years of storytelling behind it, directors Joe and Anthony Russo bring together everything we’ve been through and all the journeys we have traveled for the past decade into one monumentally epic and emotionally striking conclusion.
Set after the events of Avengers: Infinity War, the Avengers are left to come to terms with the actions of Thanos after he wiped out half of all life in the universe with a single snap. With many of their friends gone, most of the Avengers, consisting of Captain America (Chris Evans), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) and so forth, have resorted to trying to move on from Thanos’ snap, albeit unsuccessfully. But soon, an opportunity comes to their door, quite literally, that has the potential to set everything back to the way it was. Seeing it as their last chance to save everyone, the Avengers will do whatever it takes to bring everyone back, even if it means losing their lives in the process.
When you have a film like Avengers: Endgame, a film that is designed to be a sequel to Infinity War as well as the final chapter of an entire saga, it can be hard to imagine that something like it can succeed. Well, not only does it succeed, it exceeds every expectation I had for it. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, along with writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, have become the most ambitious and reliable filmmakers in the entire MCU, crafting intricately daring stories that balance a multitude of concepts and characters all in one. In a film like this, practically any plot point is considered a spoiler, so much so that it’s accurate to say that 90% of the footage displayed in the trailers come from the first 20-30 minutes of the film. The story diverts into different directions that no one will see coming, so much so that certain plot points occur that you never expected.
But along with a multitude of storylines, they needed to balance a whole swathe of journeys and storylines that these characters have been on ever since 2008, and somehow, it all works. Because they were left alive in Infinity War, the story very wisely centers most of its focus on the core six Avengers, consisting of Steve Rogers, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Thor. In this way, Endgame successfully balances everyone in this justifiably 3-hour runtime. Each and every primary character gets a chance to show to the audience how much they’ve evolved over the past ten years and each of them has at least one moment where they are the clear standout. They all represent something and their personal stories are beautifully rendered in this film, all of which act together as the heart and soul of the movie.
Much like in Infinity War, however, that focus on the main six obviously leaves out everyone else in terms of story and character. For example, Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) is simply there to be a badass and help move the story forward, and while she is definitely a badass in every regard in this movie, she’s still left on the sidelines. As another example, Thanos is basically turned into a more traditional villain rather than the anti-heroic persona he donned in the previous entry that made him a household name in villainy. But to be honest, no of it really hinders the story as a whole. All the characters are still acted commendably by the cast, most of these characters are still so much fun to watch, and some of them even get fantastic little moments of their own. But most importantly, we already understand who these characters are and what they represent in the context of the MCU as a whole. They don’t get much development because as fans, we’ve already seen their development unfold for the past 11 years. As such, Endgame is definitely a film that is meant to be for the fans of the MCU, the fans who have waited patiently for this experience and watched every MCU entry unfold as they waited. While non fans can definitely watch the film, the experience will more than likely not be the same.
That balance can also be felt with how the story itself unfolds. The pacing is shockingly perfect for a story like this. The first act is a slow build as the characters begin to come together and the action soon picks up, never feeling overstuffed, sudden, or forced. It takes its time to balance out the epic action set pieces and the much more tender moments between characters. As the culmination of everything the characters have been through and everything that was built up, it’s almost surreal to watch what was planned back in the mid-2000s as merely a fever dream no one thought could, let alone would, happen lead up to and become an emotionally engrossing climactic finale that will be remembered and discussed for decades.
Everything that was built up before culminates into some sort of payoff in the story, whether it relates to a triumphant character moment or a plot device introduced in a previous entry. Some will interpret them as fan service, and that term isn’t typically used in a positive light. However, unlike in practically every other remake or reboot out there, the fan service here feels earned and worthy of celebration as they are a reflection of the kinds of emotional journeys these characters have gone on for the past 11 years.
Overall, Avengers: Endgame is a momentous celebration of what was thought to be impossible. 11 years of love, loss, laughter, sorrow, heroes, and villains all culminate into a poignant, emotionally satisfying experience unlike any other. As the final chapter of the so-called “Infinity Saga,” it’s hard to say goodbye to many of these characters whom we’ve had the fortunate privilege to watch evolve and become heroes in their own respective ways. While this is by no means the end of the MCU as a whole, it’s definitely the end of an era in superhero storytelling, an era that will leave behind a legacy that will be celebrated for years to come.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcMBFSGVi1c&t=1s&w=585