Enjoyable but Passable, overall disappointing

Rating: 6/10 (5 May 2019)

After watching the masterpieces of The Winter Soldier and Infinity War, I expected Endgame to trump them both in one massive all-out bow out performance for the main Avengers roster, a final hurrah. But I was disappointed with this film. I had such high expectations and I was severely frustrated. This is not the Russo Brothers best work.
There are 11 main points why:
1) The whole story pivoted on a coincidental plot point weaker than the Martha moment in BvS. It was the rat walking over Antman's machine controls turning the machine on that started this movie. This is convoluted. This is a very weak plot point they could have done without. Antman could have found a way back through a time vortex which Janet warned him about. Or, the Avengers could have found his van, and took it back to Avengers HQ, and then turned it on and brought him back. The mysteries of the quantum realm and time travel would have still driven the first part of the film.
2) Captain Marvel was unnecessary. After introducing Captain Marvel as Nick Fury's trump card,she was absent from the film. She was not the pivotal character that made any difference. She did not do anything that the avengers could not have done themselves. Her Deux Ex Machina moment in the final battle was not essential. Thor or Rocket could have rescued Tony in space and Hulk could have destroyed Thanos' ship. She did not add anything new or unique to the story.
3) No Rematch between Hulk and Thanos. There should have been a rematch between them even if Hulk loses again. Captain America had a rematch and nearly won, the Hulk should have had too. Alternatively the Hulk could have destroyed Thanos ship. Natasha's death could have the set up for the ultimate Hulk rampage. Hulk has a healing power in the comics so his arm could have recovered quickly for this rampage. This was a missed opportunity that the audience would have loved to witness.
4) Ironman and Captain America's reconciliation was completely unsatisfying and unearned. We know their conflict stem from moral, emotional and personal clash. They very nearly killed each other in Civil War and they made up as if nothing happened. It would have been better if they went back in time, Tony meets his dad, they have a heart to heart then they go back to the present and Tony forgives Steve. This would have given their reconciliation substance and made it a cathartic moment. After all, it was Tony's parent death that was the main issue of why they clashed in Civil War. This would also have tied in nicely with Steve being worthy of Thor's power later.
5) Sudden change of pace. There was no build up of tension coming to the final conflict. One half of it is a lecture in quantum physics, and the other is them fighting Thanos. It felt like watching two movies with no transition in between.
6) No in memoriam for Stan Lee. They should have had an in memoriam message for Stan Lee. This is after all, his life's work culminating in one film. He made such a huge contribution to the comic industry that not giving him proper honours was just poor manners. He passed away during the filming of this film. It would have been very fitting to have a remembrance message in his honour at the end of the time, just like anyone would if any one of the creators passed away during the duration of the MCU.
7) Ironman is the only one that gets a story arc in this film. This felt like an ironman film and not an Avengers film because he was the only one that got a complete story arc and no one else.Too much focus on him, and not enough given to other characters. It might was well be called Ironman 4.
8) Bucky Barnes should have been given the shield first just like in the comics. Who wouldn't have liked to see Captain's America fellow super soldier and best friend with a metal arm become the new Captain America? This would have been more faithful to the comics.
9) What have they done to Thor? Really? They made him to be a fat drunk for comic relief and product placement. Seriously? Why bastardised a character who is widely beloved?
10) So many questions unanswered. Where did Valkarie get the flying horse? Did Dr strange knew about Ant man and the rat? What happens if Natasha and Clint both jumped in the cliff? Who gets the soul stone then? Where is Loki now? Did Dr strange know about these events? Did he know about Captain Marvel? How comes Thanos did not notice the stones were not firing on his arms in the end? How comes Stark's suit held the stones? For a film that was supposed to make the Avengers story come full circle, it left a lot of questions unanswered.
11) Thanos is the MCU's best villain, and his ending was so flat. They could have given Thanos' story a new detail or a different aspect of his personality or mission . But this film treated him as a disposable villain and not the Thanos the audience feared and admired in Infinity War. Also, they killed him in an anti-climatic way at the end.
These 11 points are the biggest reasons why Avengers Endgame was a letdown. It could have been the MCU's masterpiece, but it was not. It's an enjoyable but passable movie with a few great moments. It was DISAPPOINTING.