By Nadia Ranaputri
Directors: Joe Russo and Anthony Russo
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Karen Gillan, Josh Brolin, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow.
It's amazing when you think that this all started with a genius, playboy, philanthropist who built a suit of armor from a box of scraps. It's even more impressive when you see that his solo film opened the doors to many more heroes that grace the big screen, heroes that most people didn't even know back then, but have become well-known and beloved since their big screen debuts. This is the ever-expanding franchise called the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Who knew that a billionaire with a metal suit would lead to such a mega-franchise? With 22 films, multiple storylines, and a line of beloved heroes, the MCU has taken over the box office since their debut with Iron Man. We've witnessed both heroes from earth and the galaxy beyond face their threats on their own and together. We saw a billionaire who was full of himself, but eventually sees his mistakes and be the hero the world needs. We saw an ordinary man transformed into a super soldier, who still retains his goodness and his will to fight; and we saw a mighty God of Thunder who learns how to be humble and see the responsibilities of being a hero, and in the process, a king. We've grown to love these heroes and the journey they take throughout the course of their films. When we see them come together for the first time, it was something truly special. In Infinity War, we saw the entire MCU collide in one hell of a culmination and band together to fight their biggest threat yet: Thanos. But of course, their attempts weren't enough to prevent half the universe from disappearing. So the question is: how are they going to go from there?
Avengers: Endgame takes place right after the events of Infinity War, where our heroes are left in disbelief of their loss against Thanos. Half the population is wiped out, the world is in mourning, and the remaining Avengers are stuck between grief and trying to find a way to reverse the devastating snap. Thor is unable to forgive himself for not taking the fatal blow, Hawkeye becomes a vigilante, and Steve is trying to provide support and comfort for people who aren't able to move on. Just when all hope is lost, the Avengers begin to see an opportunity to avenge those that vanished when a possible solution is proposed. Seeing an opportunity to save the universe once again, the Avengers regroup together to do whatever it takes to finally set things right again, even if it means putting their lives on the line.
First of all, there's a lot going on in this film. Thankfully, the three hour run-time does the story justice. While the first act might be slow and even a little depressing somehow since it does after all, focus on the world after half the population is wiped out. There's a hollow feeling to it (the kind where you do feel that there's an empty void of longing that these characters are going through). Because we've been following these characters for so long, we've grown attached and really do connect with how they're reacting to it all. In other words, once the film starts, there's nothing very hopeful to it. The Avengers have lost all hope on ever trying to reverse what had happened. The only thing they could ever really do is give each other comfort and to the others who have lost their loved ones. It's in scenes like these where our heroes are shown as humans trying to accept their loss, that when our heroes have been tested to their limits and pushed to rock bottom; they can't always recover from it. Then it finally picks up around the second act, where a solution is proposed, but a very risky one. In certain ways, you can tell that it is also some sort of fan-service, but hear me out, this is the very good kind of fan-service. It feels as if it is more of Marvel giving appreciation to everyone that has followed this franchise. Those who have been watching every MCU film will be rewarded by the appearance of things from previous films (no spoilers here).
But then there's the third act, and it is insanely epic. Perhaps epic might even be an understatement. Whatever it is, it's the type that give you chills, makes you cheer, and has you crying tears of joy and sadness; because that is exactly what I did. The third act is simply pure action, packing in all the thrills and tension while also making it a grandeur. This is perhaps the biggest scale that any superhero film has gone to in terms of final battle. It doesn't take up a whole sequence, it takes up a whole act. Maybe a battle this size can be a little tiring and nauseating, but Endgame makes it work. In fact, nearly everything in this film works. It has a great balance of action and emotional character moments that really did make me tear up at times. This also works because of the performances, and seriously, there are some great performances here, especially from Robert Downey Jr. It's clear that Downey, along with the likes of Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Paul Rudd, and many others care about these characters and their stories. They, along with the Russo brothers, Christopher Marcus and Stephen McFeely; everyone else in front and behind the camera, care about this film, this big finale of an already vast franchise. It might feel a little messy at times, slightly incoherent at worst, considering how many things they have to juggle; but if anything, the three-hour run-time proves that it's an advantage for them to dive into these arcs.
However, this film isn't without its flaws. Somehow, the route that it's taken is quite a risk, but it especially in regards to its connections to previous MCU films. It's great to see how much it connects to other films in the franchise, but the direction it plans to take, particularly in the second act, it can create glaring plot holes for both this film and other films that have a connection with it. There are also certain rules that characters establish, but later broken by some. You can't simply do a certain arc without considering the effects it has in both stories to come in the future and stories that came in the past. Endgame does address the vast effect that it has on previous films, but sometimes it forgets that (this particular part is something I want to discuss later on in a spoiler review that I'm planning to do). Keep in mind that this is merely a nitpick though. Also, because it juggles quite a lot of things, it may be slightly overwhelming at times. It sometimes has some jarring POV changes where the film focuses on one character, and just as you feel like you want to see more of it, it changes focus on another character. It may be bothersome, but it isn't something major; it just leaves you wanting more focus on certain things rather than the things the film chooses to focus on. Moreover, some might be bothered with some of the decisions that this film choose to do with the characters, but it really just depends on the person that watches it.
When Infinity War was a film that involved the whole MCU, Endgame focused on the people who started it all, the original members that made it all happen. It makes it so much more emotional knowing that while this concludes eleven years of storytelling, it also does so by taking us back to where it all began. It started with them, and it ended with them. It's hard to simply say much about Avengers: Endgame other than it being an incredible finale to the franchise we've been following since Tony Stark says "I am Iron Man" in 2008 without giving away any spoilers. I can say this: Endgame knows damn well that it has to juggle between building up a fantastic finale and wrapping eleven years worth of stories. After 21 films in the making, Endgame is the true culmination of this grand franchise. It was everything I wanted it to be, but at the same time, it was nothing like I expected it to be. It might be the most epic finale to a film franchise, and it's amazing how much the MCU has grown throughout the years. Endgame is proof that if you put so much love and patience in crafting the characters, it can all pay off in the end. Kudos should also be given to Alan Silvestri, who did a fantastic job scoring the film. While most MCU films do lack a memorable score (save for the likes of Black Panther or Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Endgame was anything but that.
It really feels like this: imagine someone giving you the biggest present wrapped in a box. You open to see that every single present in the box is much better than the last. But you can't play with them forever. Sometime, you'd have to put it back in the box, so you do. You put everything back together and close the lid of the box back. You bid farewell to this present that brought you so much joy. That's what Avengers: Endgame feels like. This franchise has given you so much joy in your life, but you know you have to say goodbye someday. This is the MCU's very own thank you letter to the fans, the last present that they're giving us before we bid farewell. It's incredible to see how far this franchise has come, how many characters they've crafted, and how they play into the bigger picture. Never has a film made me cry, cheer, and feel goosebumps as much as Endgame. We've witnessed finales from other famous franchises like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and The Hobbit. For the MCU, it's the finale of what they call "The Infinity Saga." Though the MCU will still continue after this, this is the finale for the characters we've witnessed and loved since the first Iron Man. Much like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, the experience for me was unlike any other. Avengers: Endgame is MCU's farewell party, and it is one that goes out with a spectacular bang.
Overall verdict: Avengers: Endgame is a satisfying finale to the evergrowing MCU. Its three hour run-time can never be more perfect to wrap the story of the characters we've followed since Iron Man. It's clear that the people who starred and crafted the film care about providing closure as well as build an epic finale that perhaps will be remembered for years to come. The performances are simply fantastic, from Downey, Evans, Johansson, and many others who starred in the film. However, it isn't perfect. Because this film had to juggle many things, some arcs may end up a little messy, while there are notable scenes or arcs that should have been given attention, but is sidelined in favor of scenes that either feel like comedic relief or filler scenes. In other words, they didn't need to be there. Some people may find some of the decisions that the film chooses to make surprising, and some may not like where the film goes, but in the end, it's up to the audience to decide. I personally liked where they chose to go, but there are some aspects that I did not particularly agree with (a very interesting topic to discuss in a spoiler review). Despite that, Avengers: Endgame is pretty spectacular, especially when it gets to that epic third act. It gives so much attention and care to these characters that the audience have grown to love over the years. It's amazing when a particular franchise pays so much attention to both the characters and the fans. Overall, Avengers: Endgame is emotional, epic, and a satisfying finale to the franchise eleven years in the making. It is quite an experience that once it's finished, despite all emotions, you can't help but long for just one last trip with these characters.
Stars: 4.5/5
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| Image source: IMDB |
Directors: Joe Russo and Anthony Russo
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Karen Gillan, Josh Brolin, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow.
It's amazing when you think that this all started with a genius, playboy, philanthropist who built a suit of armor from a box of scraps. It's even more impressive when you see that his solo film opened the doors to many more heroes that grace the big screen, heroes that most people didn't even know back then, but have become well-known and beloved since their big screen debuts. This is the ever-expanding franchise called the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Who knew that a billionaire with a metal suit would lead to such a mega-franchise? With 22 films, multiple storylines, and a line of beloved heroes, the MCU has taken over the box office since their debut with Iron Man. We've witnessed both heroes from earth and the galaxy beyond face their threats on their own and together. We saw a billionaire who was full of himself, but eventually sees his mistakes and be the hero the world needs. We saw an ordinary man transformed into a super soldier, who still retains his goodness and his will to fight; and we saw a mighty God of Thunder who learns how to be humble and see the responsibilities of being a hero, and in the process, a king. We've grown to love these heroes and the journey they take throughout the course of their films. When we see them come together for the first time, it was something truly special. In Infinity War, we saw the entire MCU collide in one hell of a culmination and band together to fight their biggest threat yet: Thanos. But of course, their attempts weren't enough to prevent half the universe from disappearing. So the question is: how are they going to go from there?
Avengers: Endgame takes place right after the events of Infinity War, where our heroes are left in disbelief of their loss against Thanos. Half the population is wiped out, the world is in mourning, and the remaining Avengers are stuck between grief and trying to find a way to reverse the devastating snap. Thor is unable to forgive himself for not taking the fatal blow, Hawkeye becomes a vigilante, and Steve is trying to provide support and comfort for people who aren't able to move on. Just when all hope is lost, the Avengers begin to see an opportunity to avenge those that vanished when a possible solution is proposed. Seeing an opportunity to save the universe once again, the Avengers regroup together to do whatever it takes to finally set things right again, even if it means putting their lives on the line.
First of all, there's a lot going on in this film. Thankfully, the three hour run-time does the story justice. While the first act might be slow and even a little depressing somehow since it does after all, focus on the world after half the population is wiped out. There's a hollow feeling to it (the kind where you do feel that there's an empty void of longing that these characters are going through). Because we've been following these characters for so long, we've grown attached and really do connect with how they're reacting to it all. In other words, once the film starts, there's nothing very hopeful to it. The Avengers have lost all hope on ever trying to reverse what had happened. The only thing they could ever really do is give each other comfort and to the others who have lost their loved ones. It's in scenes like these where our heroes are shown as humans trying to accept their loss, that when our heroes have been tested to their limits and pushed to rock bottom; they can't always recover from it. Then it finally picks up around the second act, where a solution is proposed, but a very risky one. In certain ways, you can tell that it is also some sort of fan-service, but hear me out, this is the very good kind of fan-service. It feels as if it is more of Marvel giving appreciation to everyone that has followed this franchise. Those who have been watching every MCU film will be rewarded by the appearance of things from previous films (no spoilers here).
 |
| Image source: IMDB |
But then there's the third act, and it is insanely epic. Perhaps epic might even be an understatement. Whatever it is, it's the type that give you chills, makes you cheer, and has you crying tears of joy and sadness; because that is exactly what I did. The third act is simply pure action, packing in all the thrills and tension while also making it a grandeur. This is perhaps the biggest scale that any superhero film has gone to in terms of final battle. It doesn't take up a whole sequence, it takes up a whole act. Maybe a battle this size can be a little tiring and nauseating, but Endgame makes it work. In fact, nearly everything in this film works. It has a great balance of action and emotional character moments that really did make me tear up at times. This also works because of the performances, and seriously, there are some great performances here, especially from Robert Downey Jr. It's clear that Downey, along with the likes of Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Paul Rudd, and many others care about these characters and their stories. They, along with the Russo brothers, Christopher Marcus and Stephen McFeely; everyone else in front and behind the camera, care about this film, this big finale of an already vast franchise. It might feel a little messy at times, slightly incoherent at worst, considering how many things they have to juggle; but if anything, the three-hour run-time proves that it's an advantage for them to dive into these arcs.
However, this film isn't without its flaws. Somehow, the route that it's taken is quite a risk, but it especially in regards to its connections to previous MCU films. It's great to see how much it connects to other films in the franchise, but the direction it plans to take, particularly in the second act, it can create glaring plot holes for both this film and other films that have a connection with it. There are also certain rules that characters establish, but later broken by some. You can't simply do a certain arc without considering the effects it has in both stories to come in the future and stories that came in the past. Endgame does address the vast effect that it has on previous films, but sometimes it forgets that (this particular part is something I want to discuss later on in a spoiler review that I'm planning to do). Keep in mind that this is merely a nitpick though. Also, because it juggles quite a lot of things, it may be slightly overwhelming at times. It sometimes has some jarring POV changes where the film focuses on one character, and just as you feel like you want to see more of it, it changes focus on another character. It may be bothersome, but it isn't something major; it just leaves you wanting more focus on certain things rather than the things the film chooses to focus on. Moreover, some might be bothered with some of the decisions that this film choose to do with the characters, but it really just depends on the person that watches it.
 |
| Image source: IMDB |
When Infinity War was a film that involved the whole MCU, Endgame focused on the people who started it all, the original members that made it all happen. It makes it so much more emotional knowing that while this concludes eleven years of storytelling, it also does so by taking us back to where it all began. It started with them, and it ended with them. It's hard to simply say much about Avengers: Endgame other than it being an incredible finale to the franchise we've been following since Tony Stark says "I am Iron Man" in 2008 without giving away any spoilers. I can say this: Endgame knows damn well that it has to juggle between building up a fantastic finale and wrapping eleven years worth of stories. After 21 films in the making, Endgame is the true culmination of this grand franchise. It was everything I wanted it to be, but at the same time, it was nothing like I expected it to be. It might be the most epic finale to a film franchise, and it's amazing how much the MCU has grown throughout the years. Endgame is proof that if you put so much love and patience in crafting the characters, it can all pay off in the end. Kudos should also be given to Alan Silvestri, who did a fantastic job scoring the film. While most MCU films do lack a memorable score (save for the likes of Black Panther or Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Endgame was anything but that.
It really feels like this: imagine someone giving you the biggest present wrapped in a box. You open to see that every single present in the box is much better than the last. But you can't play with them forever. Sometime, you'd have to put it back in the box, so you do. You put everything back together and close the lid of the box back. You bid farewell to this present that brought you so much joy. That's what Avengers: Endgame feels like. This franchise has given you so much joy in your life, but you know you have to say goodbye someday. This is the MCU's very own thank you letter to the fans, the last present that they're giving us before we bid farewell. It's incredible to see how far this franchise has come, how many characters they've crafted, and how they play into the bigger picture. Never has a film made me cry, cheer, and feel goosebumps as much as Endgame. We've witnessed finales from other famous franchises like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and The Hobbit. For the MCU, it's the finale of what they call "The Infinity Saga." Though the MCU will still continue after this, this is the finale for the characters we've witnessed and loved since the first Iron Man. Much like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, the experience for me was unlike any other. Avengers: Endgame is MCU's farewell party, and it is one that goes out with a spectacular bang.
 |
| Image source: IMDB |
Overall verdict: Avengers: Endgame is a satisfying finale to the evergrowing MCU. Its three hour run-time can never be more perfect to wrap the story of the characters we've followed since Iron Man. It's clear that the people who starred and crafted the film care about providing closure as well as build an epic finale that perhaps will be remembered for years to come. The performances are simply fantastic, from Downey, Evans, Johansson, and many others who starred in the film. However, it isn't perfect. Because this film had to juggle many things, some arcs may end up a little messy, while there are notable scenes or arcs that should have been given attention, but is sidelined in favor of scenes that either feel like comedic relief or filler scenes. In other words, they didn't need to be there. Some people may find some of the decisions that the film chooses to make surprising, and some may not like where the film goes, but in the end, it's up to the audience to decide. I personally liked where they chose to go, but there are some aspects that I did not particularly agree with (a very interesting topic to discuss in a spoiler review). Despite that, Avengers: Endgame is pretty spectacular, especially when it gets to that epic third act. It gives so much attention and care to these characters that the audience have grown to love over the years. It's amazing when a particular franchise pays so much attention to both the characters and the fans. Overall, Avengers: Endgame is emotional, epic, and a satisfying finale to the franchise eleven years in the making. It is quite an experience that once it's finished, despite all emotions, you can't help but long for just one last trip with these characters.
Stars: 4.5/5
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