Film Review: Avengers Endgame Is A Goodbye To My Childhood
Watching Avengers: Endgame was extremely moving because it felt like the end of an era for both its characters and the people, like myself, that grew up watching them. For those that were kids and teens when the Marvel Universe began, it felt like our Star Wars; a fantasy, sci-fi epic that defined our imagination and morality. Endgame caps the journey by transforming its original six into full heroes and grown-ups.
It is no secret that Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr’s contracts are up, and alongside Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, their characters make the biggest developments as human beings. Downey makes Tony Stark’s last hurrah feel like a giant kid learning he is an adult and family man now, which makes him less self-centered. The weight of Peter’s death, definitely, motivates him, while Evan’s Captain America and Johansson’s Black Widow feel like they failed the universe. You fully embrace their heartbreak as two people that CANNOT lose anymore, which reverberates to Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. Honestly, The God of Thunder is the most hilarious aspect of the film, and seeing him hang with Korg (Taika Waititi) was enough for me to DEMAND a buddy-comedy. Their bond, along with Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man and Mark Ruffalo’s “more zen” Hulk, keeps a light-hearted wit to a film that really delves into the grief and loss after the infamous “Thanos Snap.”
For most of the film, the Avengers feel like hopeless losers. Everyone is emotionally stuck, and, naturally, are unable to move on from their friends and families’ deaths, despite so much time passing. The film does well to assure Thanos (Josh Brolin) is one of the most dangerous/ annoying villains in Marvel History. Talk about a big, purple guy that LOVES to hear his own voice, but you cannot take away that he knows how to disrupt the Avengers’ plans. Hence, the danger of Thanos is not only evident; it is constant. This film needed three hours and if The Russo Brothers had wanted to go up to five, I would have been down. From the packed screening, it was clear that people were fans; cheering and laughing throughout as if they were watching the Yankees during the final World Series.
Epic and emotional are two words I would use to define Avengers: Endgame, especially the final battle. There is so much tension throughout the film because their plans go, constantly, wrong, which leads to so many exciting features from old, familiar faces. While, deep down, you know Earth’s Mightiest Heroes HAVE to win, you do get nervous. Luckily, they are backed by future avengers that make you excited for Marvel’s next phase, especially for the women that will headline it. From Brie Larson’s POWERFUL Captain Marvel to the fierce Valkyrie (Tess Thompson) or Karen Gillan’s heartfelt and important turn as Nebula, queens reign in this film and its final battle.
As every single Avenger/ hero from the Marvel Universe unites on the screen to confront Thanos, I felt shook. There were some AMAZING scenes where the Avengers assembled, of which one of the most empowering ones was with its female heroes. I got chills because the battle is cinematically engulfing, and I can only imagine how stunning it will look in IMAX. It truly feels like a video game fantasy that has come to life, and, by all means, Marvel goes Game of Thrones’ levels when showing the weight of war. I could watch the final battle sequence 10 million times and see something new every time. It was gorgeous and led to an ending that was surprisingly sweet and human. Yet, now when I look back at my 3 hour goodbye, it felt right. Avengers: Endgame Is In Theaters April 26.
