Movie Review: Avengers: Endgame

PLOT: 

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’s actions and undo the chaos to the universe, no matter what consequences may be in store, and no matter who they face…

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Big payoff. 11 years. 22 movies. It has all been leading up to this epic confrontation between the Avengers and the Mad Titan, Thanos. Was it worth the wait? Some will say yes and some will say no. I am a member of team yes. While I would have liked a more direct confrontation with a Thanos that was more in line with the source material, I can’t complain with what we got. The stakes couldn’t have been any higher for this epic conclusion. Honestly, the MCU could end with this film and I don’t think anyone would complain.

Lighten up. With such high stakes, you would think this would be a very dark and serious film with little to no levity. In true Marvel fashion, there are plenty of moments that will make you chuckle and lighten the mood. Everything can’t be all gloom and doom, even in the face of utter destruction.

Tug on the heartstrings. I know that I am a little late with this review and the spoiler embargo and been lifted, but I still won’t put any in here, out of respect for those that have yet to watch this film, or may be reading this months or years from now and have forgotten what happened. With that said, if you are an emotional person, you might want to bring a box of tissues with you. The emotional arcs in this film regarding certain characters will surely move you. I have been referred to as a robot, due to my lack of emotion/compassion, but even I felt something for one of these characters’ storylines and how appropriately it was handled.

What didn’t I like?

Rules of time travel. There are numerous time travel myths out there. For me, I prefer the Back to the Future rules but, of course, this film took those rules and threw them out the window…Tony Stark even jokes about it with Ant-Man. It isn’t so much that this film uses different time travel rules, but more that it is a bit of a douche when mentioning the other universes that use time travel and making all the work that was put into developing said rules seem fruitless.

Girls, Girls, Girls. In the climactic battle, there is a scene where a character, who shall not be named, gather to protect them. This came out of nowhere, many of these women have had little to no interactions with each other. I know, I know…this was meant to be a reference to the A-Force from the comics, but it seemed more like a fan service moment and/or a cheap girl power attempt. No, I’m not being sexist. I just feel that if they were going to do this, at least give it some build up. There was no hint at this happening and all these women came from all over the battlefield to do this. It just felt forced.

Rescue me. In the comics, Pepper Potts is likable. In the MCU, she started out that way, but over the films, she became more of a nagging shrew. In Iron Man 3, she is given some temporary powers and outfitted in an exosuit to save the world. It was believed that was a one time thing, but lo and behold, here we see her in a suit that doesn’t even resemble her comic counterpart. On top of that, non-comic fans would be totally lost as to why she was wearing armor.

Final verdict:

Avengers: Endgame didn’t disappoint. Yes, there are some issues, like the hour or so that weighs down the middle half of the film, but overall this is a satisfying conclusion to this saga and I am looking forward to where the MCU goes in the future. I mentioned earlier that this would be a fitting end for the MCU. Not that I want it to, but how poetic would it be, with most of these characters having been created by Stan Lee to end with his death (this is his final cameo). That isn’t happening, though. Spider-Man: Far from Home is coming out this summer and following its release, we should know more about what the future holds. As far as this film goes, well, there is no reason to not see it multiple times. I also suggest watching Avengers: Infinity War beforehand to refresh your mind, though.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Captain Marvel

 

PLOT:

After crashing an experimental aircraft, Air Force pilot Carol Danvers is discovered by the Kree and trained as a member of the elite Starforce Military under the command of her mentor Yon-Rogg. Six years later, after escaping to Earth while under attack by the Skrulls, Danvers begins to discover there’s more to her past. With help from S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury, they set out to unravel the truth.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Sense of humor. A big controversy surrounding the film before it was even was released revolved around Brie Larson not cracking a smile in all the images we saw of her as Captain Marvel. Rest assured, this is not the case. Larson cracks jokes left and right and seems to be enjoying herself as a superhero. For me, this really works because Captain Marvel isn’t really that interesting a character. Giving her some personality was a wise decision.

Tone. Keeping on the train of thought, I was going into the mindset that this was going to be a serious, feminist-type flick. Thank goodness this wasn’t the case. Yes, there are some female empowerment moments, but these are not shoved down the audience’s throat. There is a light tone to this film that works. Also, the nostalgia factor is high for someone who came of age in the 90s. I doubt we would have had those Easter eggs had this been given a more serious tone.

Stan Lee. The great Stan Lee passed near the end of the year. Rumor is he filmed a bunch of cameos before his death, so that we won’t miss him. Actuality is his cameo in this film, Spider-Man: Into the Multiverse, and the upcoming Avengers: Endgame were his final times on film. Interesting how he plays himself in this one, reading the script to Mallrats. Also, i have to mention the beginning. Normally, when the Marvel logo music rolls we see the Marvel characters, Captain America, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, etc. This time around, though, it was all about Stan Lee, a fitting tribute to the man who created or had a hand in creating long before anyone ever thought of a Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What didn’t I like?

Nick Fury. We know Col. Nick Fury as the badass, no-nonsense head of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the man who started the Avengers initiative. Watching him as a young agent, you would never guess this, as he is more or less glorified comic relief. Realizing that the years and time take its toll and change a person, the elements of who you become are still there, and with this version of Fury, I was…and still am struggling with how this guy is going to become the Fury we all respect. Conversely, Agent Coulson, same guy we’ve known from the first Iron Man all the way to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. So, perhaps there is something else that happens to Fury that changes him, but for now I’m left scratching my head.

Oh Captain, my Captain. Marvel is banking on Captain Marvel being a big to-do in the MCU. Also, they want her to be a big selling point for girls (totally ignoring Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Shuri, and the Dora Milaje). Apparently, she is supposed to be the most powerful being in the universe, from what I’ve been reading. I argue that Thor has more power, but that’s not point here. I give Brie Larson props for the training and all she went through for this role, but I don’t see her as Captain Marvel. I see someone more along the lines of Charlize Theron, Jessica Biel, etc. Carol Danvers has lived a life and it has made her a hard woman. Watching Larson, I couldn’t help but think of a girl playing dress-up. Having said this, while I still protest that she does not have the right body type to play Wonder Woman, I have come around on Gal Gadot. Perhaps the same will happen with Brie Larson.

Kree-Skull war. The war between the Kree and Skrull is such a big event in the comics that i find it strange that it was crammed into just this one film. Surely we’ll be getting more, right? If not, then surely there are other stories that could have served to give us Danvers’ origin, right? As it stands, we have been introduced to the Kree in Guardians of the Galaxy and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the latter of which also has mentioned Skrulls (I can’t recall if any actually appeared, though). So, general audiences are pretty much aware of these two species in the MCU. Hopefully, this was just the beginning, though. Who knows, perhaps the Kree-Skrull war is where the MCU will be heading after Thanos’ defeat.

Final verdict.

Captain Marvel defied my expectation. I have never been excited for this film because of the blandness of the character and the way everyone has been using her as a feminist icon, for the sole purpose of her being a female superhero. That being said, other than having to leave the theater very early on with a stomach issue, I rather enjoyed myself. This isn’t the greatest entry in the MCU, but it is far from the worst. I’m probably going to give this another go, but as it stand in my head right now, it is most assuredly worth your time.

4 out of 5 stars