Avengers: Endgame Review

11 years and 22 films later we've been gifted with the end of the Infinity Saga and Avengers: Endgame is a brilliant ending. The MCU has created a powerful dynasty that we have never seen in Hollywood before and I doubt we will see it again. For 11 years these movies have inspired me beyond anything else, and for that I have to thank Marvel, Stan Lee, Kevin Feige, the crew of each movie and the original six: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo and Jeremy Renner. Especially Robert Downey Jr, without him none of this would have been possible, he is a legend and what he helped to create is pure magic. Words cannot do this film justice but I am going to try my best. I am writing the review nearly 24 hours after seeing Endgame and I can still feel the emotions, I still feel the sadness and the adrenaline and happiness, Endgame is not a film that is easy to forget. This review will be full of spoilers. So let's get to it, I can only hope my writing does this masterpiece justice. 

Check out my Spider-Man Far From Home review here:https://thisisjustafilmblog.blogspot.com/2019/07/spider-man-far-from-home-review.html

This is your last warning for spoilers! Turn away now if you do not want to read spoilers (but make sure you save this page for later). Endgame opens on Clint Barton aka Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) spending some time with his family whilst on house arrest after the events of Captain America: Civil War, however they soon disappear as victims of the Snap. We are then shown Tony aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) lost in space with only Nebula (Karen Gillan) who is doing her best to keep him alive, when it looks like their time is up Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) comes to the rescue and flies them home to the Avengers Compound. Where the remaining Avengers are trying to find Thanos (Josh Brolin). Immediately Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Rhodey (Don Cheadle), Nebula, Captain Marvel, Rocket (Voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) set off to find Thanos. They discover that he has destroyed the stones and Thor goes for the head killing Thanos instantly. This was such a shock because I had a narrative in my head and Thanos dying within the first 15 minutes was not it. There is then a 5 year time jump (which I totally called!) and the Avengers are living life knowing they failed. Clint now Ronin is killing people he thinks should have been killed in the Snap, Captain Marvel is helping the rest of the universe, Thor has gotten fat and lost direction, Tony and Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) have had a child (this melted my heart) and Black Widow is trying to hold a team together. They are lost when Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) shows up and mentions time travel. This film is so unbelievably clever and is a love letter to the fans, this film is specifically for those of us that have watched all 22 films over and over and that is just one of the reasons I loved it.

I don't think it's over the top to say that Avengers: Endgame completely redefines the superhero movie narrative. Considering the first two hours have very little action and then we are given a massive fight between hundreds of heroes and hundreds of villains. This was possible because of the 11 years that lead up to it and it will take Marvel another 11 years to possibly get here again. One thing I loved was the links to previous films, we get to revisit the Battle of New York, Asgard and Guardians of the Galaxy one. We also got to see Peggy (Hayley Atwell) and Howard Stark (John Slattery) with a quick cameo from Jarvis (James D'Arcy) in 1970. The boy at from Iron Man 3 (Ty Simpkins) makes an appearance at Tony's funeral, we get an elevator scene that will remind you of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. There are also lots of links to the original comics, Captain Marvels hair, Rockets costume, Thor's beard, Captain America saying Hail Hydra, Captain America picking up Mjolnir, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) becoming Captain America and so much more. Honestly I could be here forever talking about all the links and Easter eggs.

This film is probably one of the most emotional films I have ever experienced, I cried at least five times, I smiled so much, I laughed, I shook my head in despair, I covered my eyes, my heart raced and I moved my hands to my face in shock so many times. I am still an emotional wreck. Again this range of emotions comes from the deep connection I have with the characters, a relationship that has been forming for 11 years. So which moments made me cry? I cried from the moment Black Widow and Hawkeye arrived to get the Soul stone. This scene was so hard to watch because the love these two have for each other is so deep and both were willing to die for the other. When Hawkeye runs over the edge and then Black Widow stops so she can die instead I crumbled, just thinking about it now and I'm almost in tears. I cried again when the portals opened and the Avengers started to appear, I was so overwhelmed and blown away. That moment when Cap stands to face Thanos and his army alone and then they appear, the Avengers theme plays and Cap shouts 'Avengers Assemble' is one of the greatest moments in cinema history. I then cried at the female team up, that was just a magical moment, even Pepper was there and I so wished Black Widow had been there for that. Then I cried when Tony died, Tom Holland got me again and then I cried until the end. Tony Starks funeral was the perfect goodbye for the man that gave us everything. I only wish Black Widow had the same treatment. Can we also just think about Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) almost killing Thanos? She was awesome and I cannot wait to see more from her. I also loved it when she referenced Vision and Quicksilver it was a reminder to everyone the Avengers had lost. It was a great humanising moment.

I should probably mention Thanos, I took so much joy in his death. When his army is disappearing I wanted to shout 'now you know how it feels' I felt like a saddest. But I was glad he was gone, I hated him like I've never hated a villain before. However at one point I was scared he was going to win again, when no one could get the glove off his hand and he had to use an infinity to stone to get rid of Captain Marvel. Josh Brolin should be so proud of his performance he has so much presence and so much conviction that he creates real fear something that a lot of Marvel villains have never achieved. On that note the makeup and costume departments outdid themselves yet again as do the set and prop and CGI departments. Endgame has such huge production value, everything about this film creates a realistic world. Which when you consider the amount of locations, planets, characters and creatures is a huge achievement. Also MCU films are known for their no blood but that one Ronin scene was so bloody and so realistic I was shocked.

Character development is at the very centre of Avengers: Endgame. Thor, Captain America, Hulk and Iron Man all come face to face with their pasts and it's very clear how much they have all changed. Thor started the MCU as an entitled prince that couldn't wait to be king and he ends Endgame freed from the constraints of royalty after passing the mantle to Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson). He finally has the confidence to be who he wants to be and not who he thought he had to be. Thor is also the main comic relief in this film and I can see him becoming the funniest Avenger. Captain America has gone through so many stages of development, he is finally worthy to hold Mjolnir, but in the end he took Tony's advice and had a life, he finally gets to dance to Peggy and that is what he deserved all along. Tony Stark started as a selfish billionaire but he gives his life to save everyone, he became a true hero. I loved to see the strain between Steve and Tony at the start of the film, neither of them being able to face reality however they forgive one another and become the strongest team. Bruce Banner finally embraces the Hulk becoming one which is a far cry from the resentment we saw in Avengers Assemble and the disfunction we saw in Infinity War.

Overall I feel my review does not do Avengers: Endgame justice, it is a once in a generation cinematic event that proves cinema is about creating magic and escapism. It also highlights the emotional connection you can have to fictional characters. I am in complete awe. Endgame is everything I ever wanted and everything I never knew I needed, I cannot see how the MCU will ever top what they have created with Endgame. Going forward I am excited to see what is next but that will not stop be from looking back at the wonderful 11 years and 22 movies that lead to this moment in history. It is films like this that inspire me, Endgame made me want to be apart of the film industry more than ever before and maybe it may happen. For now I love you 3000 Avengers: Endgame.


I'll no doubt be seeing it again very soon.

Please let me know what you think in the comments and give this a share.

And make sure you check out my Marvel: Who Could Play Who post:  https://thisisjustafilmblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/marvel-who-could-play-who.html 

Thank you for reading xx

A quick rundown of my favourite lines:

- 'I am Iron Man'
- 'Avengers Assemble'
- 'For a second I thought you were a build-a-bear'
- 'That's America's arse'