Feeling Rattled. Endgame Is Deep

Rating: 8/10 (13 May 2019)

In 2008, I was intrigued with what Marvel was planning out after seeing the first Iron Man and its post-credit scene explaining of a wider universe. Now to the present time with the MCU's latest installment Avengers: Endgame - all the heroes and allies we've come to know culminating from 22 MCU movies - leads to an end of a magnificent saga. I did not expect it to be so engaging and downright fun! Joe and Anthony Russo did a splendid job setting up this climactic film. Stars Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, and Scarlett Johansson gave it their all with performances that made their characters as humorous, clever, or just plain deep. What a run alongside the additional familiar faces in this all-star cast. No words can express how much I enjoyed out of this 3-hour spectacle.
Three weeks have passed since Infinity War. The Mad Titan Thanos (Josh Brolin) has successfully decimated half the Earth's population with a single snap and the surviving Avengers along with their few remaining allies must find their resolve by setting things right.
My curiosity and adrenaline kept growing with each pivotal scene playing out to either interesting cameo appearances to a shock of disbelief and dismay that I even yelped loudly when the final stand commenced. Music composer Alan Silvestri (who has done many other hit cinematic projects in the past) provided an enthralling score that accompanies and compliments the most tragic and triumphant moments of the film. Not to mention the right balance of drama and humor that felt like a roller coaster ride that toyed with my emotions. There were a few people at my local theater that quietly wept as the final act played out and that really caught my attention other than just the huge action scenes onscreen alone. The fate and great sacrifice of Tony Stark in particular, was a nail biter for me since Downey Jr's performance felt so believable as a nearly decrepit who's been through so much trauma. Saddens me The Stan Lee, nor Jack Kirby didn't live to see this spectacle that they and their associates drew and wrote on pages of paper many decades ago, but I have to say their legacies live on as these characters have cemented themselves as living and breathing entities in the world of film.
I now see what both critics and audiences alike meant about how brilliant this movie can make anyone laugh, cry, or simply stay engaged. Easter eggs and cameos are also fun to find, especially if it foreshadows potential new heroes yet to be shown. Sure, this movie is not meant for everybody who are likely not into the genre, let alone comics in general. Likewise, I'll admit some scenes did feel somewhat confusing in terms of how the story builds, namely the use of time travel as a plot device was a bit difficult to follow when the rules are applied differently here compared to other past films that used it extensively. Though what matters to me is I was not at all disappointed of the end result spanning 11 years in the making.
I applaud them all. Well done, well done.