Not the movie I expected, or perfered but a good film nonetheless...

Rating: 7/10 (27 April 2019)

Since 2008's "Iron Man" we have witnessed Marvel Studios release a cinematic jigsaw puzzle culminating with "Avengers: Endgame", its final piece. We have been introduced to many characters, seen a variety of storylines and invested in the many films the studio has released over this 11-year span. If you have been a complete and loyal fan of these films, Endgame is your ultimate reward. Because of the anticipation, the risk of ruining the many surprises the film holds and the chance of you going into the film with too much knowledge of its plot, I will not divulge a single aspect of its story. I am only going to attempt to give my final conclusions in the vaguest way I can.
If you haven't heard, the film clocks in at 3 hours, one minute. A truly daunting and risky gamble of the filmmakers, Anthony & Joe Russo, because no other film of this genre has been this epic in length. In some ways it helps the film and, in some ways, it hurts it as well. The first act of the film, an hour to hour and half, is rather slow paced. It says some things that has to be said as well as sets up many important aspects that will come to play later in the film, but trust me this part of Endgame is not the action roller-coaster that "Avengers: Infinity War" was, but it also doesn't involve as many characters and storylines as that film did (something that was many people's chief complaint). The first act could have been trimmed, written at a better pace or even had some more excitement added to it but that isn't my biggest complaint about this part of the film. For me one of my biggest problems with how comic films have been adapted to the big screen is their propensity to alter the very fabric of established characters and rewrite them to become very different than what I knew them to be when I followed them as a young comic reader. Without naming who they are, we find drastic differences and changes with some of the characters. Some I found to be interesting, others I found troubling and one, although done in the comics when I was still reading them, was a big disappointment. I will even go so far as to say how that superhero was treated creatively in the script in this and the previous film, is one of the most disappointing aspects of the films.
The film picks up the pace and its entertainment value in the second act, the part of the film I really loved. If I say too much you will have some huge surprises ruined, but I will say if you are a fan of the previous films in the Marvel Universe, it will be a huge treat for you. Throughout the film, a common element that has been persistent in the Marvel movies is the use of humor and this film is no different. The laughs come all thought this film but I think the jokes worked the best during this part of the film. The action picks up as well as the overall pace. Most of the scenes in the section make the movie worth the price of admission. It might be the section of the film that will be please the fans the most and even helps alleviate some of the first acts' mistakes.
By the time we get to the film's epic final act you might be a little worn and weary, but trust me when I tell you it is a cinematic achievement rarely seen. Fans will be cheering, and its probably the part of the film I would recommend seeing with other Marvel fans. Like the previous parts of the film, there are some surprises and laughs. But I will also contend that it had one flaw, not enough to ruin the film, but certainly a true complaint and I will just mention it with a hint; the end felt like Peter Jackson directed it.
Overall, I will say I would recommend "Avengers: Endgame" for obvious reasons, if you have followed the previous Marvel films it is an absolute must see. If you have missed many of the films and are one of the very few that hasn't seen "Avengers: Infinity War", I would actually recommend you wait until you know more about the storyline, you will truly be lost. I wasn't dismayed with the film, just certain aspects and smaller details. "Avengers: Endgame" is a fitting end in many ways and will overall leave you satisfied. Some will probably walk away thinking it is one of the greatest comic superhero films ever made, I wasn't but that's ok. We all have our own taste and opinions.