By Ryan Keating-Lambert
★★★★★
MINOR SPOILERS
Avengers: Endgame is a poignant, thrilling and revolutionary superhero film, and a well-deserved finale to the MCU’s Infinity War saga. It’s also a ‘greatest hits’ film showcasing everyone and everything we love about the franchise… It’s also three hours long, so plan your toilet breaks wisely.
The Russo Brothers (Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America: Civil War) return for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most pivotal film since the franchise began more than a decade ago. Set directly after the events of Infinity War, Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) must find a way to reverse the effects of Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his lethal snap of the Infinity Gauntlet, which killed half of all life in the universe.
This is the superhero film you’ve been waiting for. Infinity War began the final entry in Marvel’s epic all-star ensemble fireworks show, and Endgame continues that with a poignant, heart-warming and of course, explosive finale – if Infinity War was The Empire Strikes Back of the MCU, then Endgame is the Return of the Jedi… except it’s not. It’s better.
Endgame, rather than rushing straight into the action and revenge, takes its time to carefully lay out the devastating aftermath of Thanos’ snap. We see the heroes take one brutal emotional blow after another, which sets a heavy tone of grief and regret felt throughout majority of the film.
Fans will love the way the characters grow over the course of the film which spans a lot more time than what you might think. Hulk (Ruffalo) is one of the most notably changed and has a fairly significant role in this one, as does Cap America (Evans), Ant-Man (Rudd) and Black Widow (Johansson) – also, they have new uniforms.
There’s no shortage of cameos from past characters either – seriously, my jaw dropped several times. Almost everyone you can think of is there at one point or another and it’s glorious. Think of it as a ‘greatest hits’ tour of the MCU – it’s everything you’ve come to love about the franchise plus a whole lot more.
For those just there for the battle and CGI (which is fantastic btw), you will not be disappointed. The finale is spectacular and probably one of the best battle scenes in action movie history, or at least the best in the superhero genre anyway. Everyone brings something thrilling to the table, but I must admit… I’ve become a massive fanboy of Asgardian warrior Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), who makes one hell of an entrance!
The women are the best part of this film. What Black Panther started with strong female characters, this multiplies by ten. Brie Larsson still feels incredibly awkward as Captain Marvel though – I’m still not sure of what or who she is supposed to be.
Like Infinity War, the comic genius of Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok or James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Endgame is also full of humour and pop culture references. Despite it going into some very familiar sci-fi tropes (*cough* time travel *cough*), it handles them with self-awareness and genuinely brilliant throwbacks to other Hollywood films that kick you right in the childhood.
I would honestly suggest going into this film knowing as little as possible. The trailer, although good, is very misleading, and shows about 10% of the film… Everything you thought you knew is about to change. ALSO, there is no post-credits scene… so don’t stick around after, go to the bathroom instead.
Go and see Endgame this weekend, it is nothing less than revolutionary, and will change your opinion on the standard superhero film, as will the first chapter Infinity War, which is currently available to stream on HBO GO CZ/SK.
Avengers: Endgame is now showing in Czech cinemas everywhere.
Photo: IGN
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