Movie Review: Avengers: Endgame · 12:04am May 1st, 2019
This review will be spoiler free. So with that out of the way, allow me to say that Infinity War is by far and away one the most mind-blowing movies I've ever seen. To see the culmination of 10 years of movies was something I never could've ever fathomed. When I left the theater, I was stoked to see what was in store for what's now Avengers: Endgame.
Now that I've seen it, I wish I could time travel and tell my past self to not get his hopes up.
Set after the events of the aforementioned Infinity War, the Avengers are reeling from their loss against the mad titan Thanos. But, there's a glimmer of hope for them. Time travel. From there, we get what's easily one of the most embarrassing displays of storytelling in a Marvel Cinematic Universe film.
To say that the story of Endgame is its biggest fault is akin to saying that the plot to a Transformers film is typically not that great. I'm going to be honest: I loathe time travel stories. With the exception of Rian Johnson's brilliant film Looper, I've never seen time travel done in a way that isn't nonsensical.
Endgame is by far and away one of the most egregious time travel films. Ever.
It'd be entering major spoiler territory to get into the intricacies of the film to discuss why the time travel is asinine, but it becomes increasingly distracting with how the film tries repeatedly to explain how it works and ends up creating new questions. To answer this new question, Endgame throws in a joke in about Back to the Future or some other film as if to say, “Don't think about it; enjoy the flashy special effects!”
Then it creates more questions not long after.
Now as for the rest of the story: it's… fine. The first act is rather slow, but appropriately somber. It's my personal favorite act of the film as it's the only one that feels like it understands what type of film it wants to be: pessimistic, somber, and emotionally powerful. On the flip side, the jokes and quips remind me a lot of Age of Ultron. This is a consistent problem with the film and I'll get to it later.
The second act is a complete disaster. I don't understand how the movie managed this, but felt like the extent of the writing here was, “have characters do the timey thing and introduce plot hole after plot hole.”
It… can't be discussed without spoiling the film, but I know for a fact that I'm in the minority for this. Perhaps I'm over thinking things or perhaps I missed a detail. Heck, maybe I genuinely don't get the plot. Whatever the case, I found the second act to be a mess.
The third act is by far and away the most consistent part of the film, but it's also the most dumbfounding as it creates a few gargantuan plot holes that it seems to brush off like they were merely dust particles. If these aren't answered in future films, I think I'm giving up on the entire MCU since this is X-Men levels of stupidity.
Moving on however, the second biggest issue I had with the film was, as stated before, its humor. Endgame is a pretty funny movie. I laughed quite a bit. This, on its own, isn't an issue. I'd be disappointed if this movie took the Zack Snyder route and was devoid of levity.
The problem I have is how it was placed.
I've heard some compare this film to The Last Jedi as there always seems to be a joke to ruin a serious or heartfelt moment. I can't vouch for that as I haven't seen The Last Jedi, but having seen a few reviews for it and had it described to me: I wouldn't say it's on that level. However, there are a few moments where otherwise really emotionally powerful moments are broken. I'll say right now: most involve Thor, whose character feels really lackluster and feels like a walking, talking joke after how great he was in Infinity War and Ragnarok.
I'll also say that there's a joke involving him early on that made me want to eat another pair of shoes.
Anyways, enough ranting. Endgame wasn't all bad. Acting wise it's extremely good. The performances across the board are fantastic—save for Brie Larson whose resting bitch face is on display and should be put into the Smithsonian Museum as a relic for future generations to admire. How an actress who was so great and lively in a film like 21 Jump Street and Room, winning an Academy Award for the latter, can be so lifeless in a film as emotionally fueled as this is beyond me. Thankfully only in the film for maybe 5 minutes at the most.
The film's best performance is easily Robert Downey Jr. who does a stellar job as Tony Stark. Seriously, his performance alone is almost worth the price of admission.
The Russo's do a fantastic job of capturing the desolate feel of the world with each shot of the world. It honestly makes this film feel like I Am Legend at time. Perhaps that's part of the reason this film's ending made me want eat my shoes.
Speaking of the ending, I'll concede that Endgame has one of the most exhilarating climaxes in recent memory. It's by far and away one of the most fantastical, grandiose spectacles I've ever seen and it puts to shame every other MCU film's climax. Bar none.
Overall, I want to stress that I understand that nothing I say can deter anyone from seeing this film. At all. If you're a fan of the MCU like I am, I encourage you to see it. It's the culmination of everything you've been waiting for. I'm merely here to share my opinion since, well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rather heartbroken that I found the film to be everything I dreaded it'd be. An unworthy, surprisingly lackluster follow-up to a film I see as the pinnacle of how cinematic universes can work. It takes everything that's been built with the MCU and squanders it by creating a story that opens up so many plot holes, questions, and ridiculous paradoxes that it makes my head spin like a pulsar.
Nevertheless, if you do it: I hope you like. If you have seen it: I hope you liked it more than me.
Final Score: 2/5
I can hear the hounds.
It's weird to find a negative review of this movie. All I have to say.
When are you going to do more fic reviews?
Sometimes I feel bad that the only MCU movies I’ve seen are the first two Iron Man movies and a third of Doctor Strange and the second half of Guardians Of the Galaxy
5051837
I did my best to like it, but I simply couldn't. I honestly was tempted not to post this because I figured I'd get flamed for it.
Also: fic reviews will resume very soon. It's been an extremely busy few weeks and real life has been kicking my ass quite a bit. Sorry!
5051838
I highly, highly, highly recommend you watch Ant-Man.
5051838
You should also watch The Winter Soldier, Civil War, and Infinity War.
5051841
Is the next fic review blog focusing on a cluster of fics, or that Lost Sun one? Or (maybe) even the beginning of Pony of Vengeance?
5051848
A cluster. The next multi-chapter story review will be after The Lost Sun.
5051841
OH. MY. GOSH! How DARE you insult this cinematic mastepiece! WHy The scene with I haven't actually seen it yet lol alone is worth, like, ten Oscars! You should be ashamed of yourself >:(
5051855
I sadly knew people like that.
I understand some of your frustrations. Though I still really enjoyed the movie.