Near perfect cinematic experience!

Rating: 9/10 (7 August 2019)

11 years, and still going strong, MARVEL and Disney were very much banking on audiences reacting well to to the big and very expensive climax to the Infinity Saga. And since this film became extremely close to toppling Avatar as the highest grossing film of all time, I think it's safe to say that Avengers: Endgame did so and much more.
With over half the cast brutally turned to ash at the end of the equally incredible Infinity War, writers, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely did a superb job of wrapping up the loose ends left by Infinity War, while also wrapped up many open ended points from many other aspects of the past 22 movies. While many studios continue to try and often fail at an extensive movie universe, MARVEL has very rarely fumbled in this monstrous achievement. Despite a couple of duds, (looking at you, Incredible Hulk and Thor 2) the MCU has gone down with universal praise from fans, critics and general audiences goers alike.
Nevertheless, while it's very easy to proclaim Endgame as being perfect upon first viewing, (I was admittedly guilty of that) it does have a couple of problems that can hold it back. The biggest being the inconsistent and had to understand concept of time travel. Markus and McFeely seemingly have a juxtaposing explanation compared to that of directors, Joe and Anthony Russo. Personally, I've merged both explanations, which has made re-watching the film just as enjoyable as it was at the midnight release.
Additionally, some moments can be questionable, in particular one big crowd pleasing moment between the female heroes, coming together to support Captain Marvel. (Brie Larson) Ultimately, there was clear evidence that Larson's character didn't need the support. And while the moment is brilliant to watch and definitely deserves the inevitable applause it receives, the moment would be even better had Captain Marvel not been the one needing support. A very good example of what I mean can be seen in the video below.
But despite some small hiccups, the majority of this narrative holds up brilliantly, and still holds up as a sublime book end for that part of the MCU's history. And while technically, Jon Watt's Spider-Man: Far From Home is the final Phase 3 film, and is technically the last film in this saga, Endgame is the big book end for the majority of it's cast, and is a tremendous and emotional send off for many of our beloved heroes.
As we've come to expect from MARVEL, the production values for Endgame are off the scale, with tremendous special effects, which blends in so many elements and characters, while still appearing cohesive and a beautiful spectacle. Cinematography by Trent Opaloch was beautifully frame, full of dazzling colours at the right moments, thankfully avoiding the drab and darkly lit cinematography seen in Captain Marvel earlier in the year. Additionally, with the time travelling aspect to the narrative, Opaloch's cinematography also pays respect to the work of MCU cinematographers from past installments. Since the film was shot entirely in IMAX alongside Infinity War, some may find the standard cinemascope version (the most common version shown) to feel boxed in at times, or not framed as well. And while this can be noticeable, it doesn't hinder the film much, since everything you need to see is perfectly visible, with the IMAX versions also bringing extra detail on a larger scale. It's films like this that deserve to be shown and seen on the big-screen.
Throughout the MCU's run, many aspects have improved. And the biggest improvement Endgame demonstrates is the sublime music by legendary composer, Alan Silvestri. After years of bland and unimaginative music, Silvestri really gets to be creative with this tremendous collection of music. His use of Jazz during the heist adds a unique tone to those moments, and the many inclusions of his empowering Avengers theme keeps the excitement coming. If MARVEL keeps giving composers the freedom to embrace their creativity, I look forward to continue seeing more work like this.
Obviously, after 11 years of story-telling, it's hard to please everyone with what you put out, and for those audience members that somehow haven't seen Endgame or any previous MCU installment, I do highly recommend taking the journey as many fans and general audiences have done. Start at the beginning, and follow the journey. Because after completing the entire Infinity Saga (including Far From Home) I can safely say that Endgame left me dazzled, shocked, but ultimately satisfied. And even with my minor problems, it's easy to look past, and just be entertained by this thrilling adventure. What else is there to say but... Avengers Assemble!
SCORES
Story 4/5
Characters 5/5
Production 4.5/5
Acting 5/5
Music 5/5
Overall - 4.7/5