Lifestyles

Endgame brings a decade of films to a satisfying end

By JASON GUYER
iRATE
On May 2, 2008 a film endeavor like no other began, starting with the very first film of Marvel’s phase 1 plan, “Iron Man.” The entire film odyssey from Marvel’s phase one films to their phase 3 films culminated in this weekend’s box office juggernaut “Avengers: Endgame.”

“Avengers: Endgame” picks up near where “Avengers: Infinity War” ended. We find Tony Stark adrift in space with no food or water. The remaining Avengers of Thor, Black Widow, Captain America and Bruce Banner are trying to figure out a way to bring back their vanished allies and a way to get Thanos, the one who decimated the planet and the universe.

“Avengers: Endgame” is a film that should not be spoiled, therefore I will do my best not to and talk about the film in generalities and not plot context. This is something that, even though I will talk directly of plot and outcomes may still be able to be guessed by what I write. To err on the side of caution, spoilers ahead. DO NOT PROCEED if you wish to go into “Avengers: Endgame” with a clean mind.

The biggest questions with a film like “Avengers: Endgame” is often not plot, acting, or characters. The biggest question for an 11-year 22-film endeavor is, how did it end? “Avengers: Endgame” ended in the best way possible.

The phases of the last 22 films created an arc for each character. Some of these characters had room to change or mess with the character arc and some did not, especially when it came to the ending of those arcs.

“Avengers: Endgame” and the Avengers series of films as a whole always had a lot to offer and to deal with as a film. It is often easier to deal with one of two main characters and not five, six, or seven, all begging for screen time and needing it to develop great characters. I think Marvel took a great tack in handling all these characters and films.

Marvel essentially said the origin stories and individual films are to explain and build the characters and the Avengers films are to build the story, especially the overarching story of the Marvel universe. The few characters the Avengers films developed were the Hulk, Vision, and Scarlet Witch, although, the terribly-named new television show, “Wanda Vision” will continue to develop Vision and the Scarlet Witch on the new Disney+ streaming service.

“Avengers: Endgame” sorts out its characters and ends some the major arcs at play or ones that were left to be answered from the previous 22 films. Thanos gets his (and we knew he would) not once but twice and in very different ways. Iron Man and Captain America complete the journey they both started and lead. Some characters make it through and some do not. Then a few take the lead while others pass the shield.

The only storyline that is not paid off that I can remember — and still remains unsolved by the end of “Avengers: Endgame” — is one mentioned in the end credit scenes from “The Guardians of the Galaxy 2.” Adam, who? This is one plot line I hope will be the plot of “The Guardians of the Galaxy 3,” a film “Avengers: Endgame” seems to set up at the end.

There have been some gripes from fans but the overall consensus on the film is that it is epically good and pays off everything it can while offering a satisfying conclusions to “Avengers: Infinity War” and ultimately Marvel’s 11-year plan. The actors and characters offer nothing new to their character (except for Thor) or their characters arcs.

“Avengers: Endgame” pays fan service as well, there are many moments to cheer for. There is my favorite, the hammer moment, the tie-in moments to nearly every major characters individual films, Pepper Potts, and the we-have-your-back moment when everyone shows up.

The Russo brothers have done great work with both “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” The Russos accomplished everything you could ask for and in some instances more.

There was so much ground for them to cover in each of the two films and a combined five hours to do so. Then to do so in such a way that you please nearly every one is a cinematic accomplishment for a story as big as Thanos himself. Now will everyone be happy? No, probably not with every aspect of the film. There were parts I disliked and at least one characters storyline ending I did not like. Deaths are not always a bad ending for a character but campy sappy ones can be. I am not sure every single character should get every payoff they are looking for. I mean, sometimes things just do not work out. Paying off every character in a way to service the ideologies or arc of that character feels cheap and easy to me.

The complaints are minimal though.

Paying off everyone is cheap. More Captain Marvel, since you built her to be powerful and integral, and whatever happens next, keep Thor around. Chris Hemsworth and the Thor character has one of the best arcs in film history. Thor has gone from the character that I liked the least, to quite possibly the one I like the most. In “Avengers: Endgame” the love for that character has only grown. Hemsworth continues to develop and demand development of that character from himself, the writers, and Marvel.

If you’re a comic book lover, “Avengers: Endgame” should tickle up some emotions for some key comic book moments, as well as keeping the story in line to expectations. If your just a film fan, it should exceed expectations by combining and completing storylines in a very unique and satisfying fashion.

The three-hour run-time leaves something to be desired, especially if you have to pee in the middle act of the film, but 3 hours is at the cusp of being in the theater for too long a time. However, “Avengers: Endgame” feels like a swift three hours and although you notice it in the middle, you forget by the end.

An this is because the Russo brothers bring emotion and emotionally heavyweight moments to the table along with tons of action, and both keep you on your toes. The second you get bored with one, the other is there to lift the film back up.

“Avengers: Endgame” is the culmination of effort, planning, and storytelling at its finest, and you never feel slighted or cheated. The film completes an epic arc that until now was unheard of in cinema. “Avengers: Endgame” accomplishes everything Marvel set out to do.

So now what? New Avenger? A-Force? Asgardians of the Galaxy? Who knows? But one thing I do hope is that Marvel takes the time to plan it out just as they have with phases 1-3. Otherwise the new bar may be DC-level disjointed and underwhelming with no clear plan.

Go see “Avengers: Endgame” and hope Marvel’s next phase will be just as good as the conclusion. Before the next phase of Marvel truly begins though, we get the next Disney film headed to concluding a saga, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” If “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” can accomplish half of what “Avengers: Endgame” did in it’s conclusion, then “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” will be the next great film. Here is hoping at least. 

Disney is crushing it lately though. I mean, they did make $1.2 billion in four days worldwide. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” fans get ready and on this particular Saturday, May the 4th be with you.

 

IRATE SCORE: 4.5/5

 

Jason Guyer is an avid moviegoer and works in the graphics department at the Eagle Times. For questions or comments he can be emailed at [email protected]

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