-Instead of a proper review I'm just going to list my general reactions to Avengers: Endgame. There will be spoilers, so don't read if you haven't seen the movie yet.
-On the subject of spoilers, this movie still works if you know what is going on. But part of the fun with Marvel movies is discovering moments for the first time with a big audience. I understand that Endgame has made over $1 billion, so most people who care about spoilers already saw it. But references to this movie will start to enter social media and discussion. That's how major film events always work.
-I've joked about this on social media, but the whole worry about a bathroom break is ridiculous. The movie does not feel long at all and you will be fine if you use the bathroom before the movie. If you are worried about how young kids will do with a three hour movie, I personally would not recommend Endgame for young audiences.
-Also people really needed to know about the end credits before seeing the movie. To me that is part of the experience, I am always surprised that people don't just wait through the Marvel movies without knowing where the credits sequences are. For this movie I dug how they presented the actor credits like a curtain call (Marvel's credits often have a cool design or presentation, we don't give them enough credit for that). There isn't a traditional post credits tag, just a sound clip. But I think that it works as a thematic callback to the first Iron Man. It is good that Endgame is not bogged down in setting up future movies. This really did feel like an end, and the uninterrupted credits really gives you time to just let Endgame sink in.
-That first sequence with Hawkeye's family was great. Age of Ultron is my favorite Marvel movie and I've always defended the character in the MCU. This set his role up perfectly. But I was surprised they didn't name his daughter Kate, that would have been a home run.
-Rocket's reaction to Stark thinking he was a Build-a-Bear was one of the only traditionally funny parts of the opening. Terrific delivery from Bradley Cooper, but it highlights how bleak and different this opening feels.
-The opening part of the movie was really interesting because it had to function as both payoff to Infinity War and set up to the complex Endgame. They did a good job balancing some great character moments (Nebula bonding with Stark, Stark confronting Cap) along with the most efficient action set piece I think I've ever seen. It comes so quick and feels empty, which is a perfect set up for how the character's feel at the beginning of the movie.
-I love that Thanos just keeps the gauntlet on his hand at all times, even though there is no reason to. What a douche.
-Also is this the only decapitation in a Marvel movie? I think so. Like I said, this is probably the least child friendly MCU movie.
-The five year time jump was smart. Overall Endgame really pays off Thanos' victory by letting us see how it affects the characters. This movie doesn't just reverse what happened, there was a real aftermath that means something. Spending a year thinking about the snap in Infinity War the audience was set up for the sense of loss that was prevalent throughout this movie.
-It felt like Cap was running the support group to honor Sam. That scene where Cap sees him talking to veterans in Winter Soldier is part of what makes Falcon feel like a hero he'd respect.
-This is definitely Scarlett Johansson's best outing as Black Widow. She's been such a reliable utility player since the third movie that we often take for granted how good of an actress she is in this role. Endgame gave her a lot to play and we see the impact the character has had on the others.
-I don't understand how society seems to be functioning so well. Like we see sad things and informed that it's different, yet Chang is still employed as a security guard despite the population being cut in half. I'm glad the movie didn't try to overexplain every small detail, because it really doesn't matter. I just tried to figure it out and found it amusing.
-Like everybody else, Paul Rudd gets to show how good of an actor he really is. He gets to be comic relief in the main ensemble, but him coming back to discover an empty world is a really strong performance.
-Stark's second chance is perfect development for him and adds a real sense of the world moving on from Thanos. He has something at stake and that really adds a lot of weight to the movie. We also get to see Stark relate as a likable person for the first time in a long while. Since Age of Ultron he's been overly controlling, this humanizes him again.
-Professor Hulk is funny but a great development for Banner. I really didn't get what they were doing with Banner not being able to Hulk out in Infinity War (for the big battles I logistically understand why they used the Worf Effect with him). And the explanation doesn't make it entirely work for me. But Banner becoming a complete person fits the overall theme of Endgame. Also it is hilarious seeing Ruffalo act like such a dork as the Hulk. This is a great solution for how they can use the character going forward (just have Ruffalo use mocap for his appearances).
-Speaking of Professor Hulk, Endgame really deserves a Best Visual Effects Oscar. All of the different technologies (not to mention makeup and costuming) coming together is really astonishing when you think about it. It feels like all of these characters inhabit the same world and connect believably, despite a lot of them being animated, deaged, etc.
-They waited until the right time for Stark and Steve to make up. Glad they didn't force it sooner. Also, Stark's car has a logo that says, "e-tron."
-I get that they are referencing Ronin with Hawkeye's new costume, but I would have rather seen them just follow David Finch's design. I'm not always a fan of how they try to make the comics costumes practical.
-I was worried about Thor's development when I first saw it revealed. It felt like a cheap joke and kind of out of place. But as things progressed it became my favorite development. In Infinity War we see how broken and unstable Thor has become and how trying to be the serious warrior doesn't work. He starts this movie by killing Thanos and it is meaningless. But the idea that a Thor who lets himself go and indulge on life is really clever. This may be who Thor really is rather than the hero he always tried to live up to.
-A film scored by Alan Silvestri features a line calling Back to the Future, "a bunch of bullshit." Somehow that doesn't seem sacrilege.
-And the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor goes to Chris Hemsworth for recapping Thor: The Dark World.
-The Time Heist is insane. Like it is insane that it exists in the biggest mainstream movie of all time. It is fan service, a clip show, the legitimization of Back to the Future Part II... and boy does it all work! The first viewing I just could not get past how bonkers it was, the second viewing I just enjoyed it and was moved by the legitimate character work going on.
-Wonderful seeing Tilda Swinton again. Time Travel confounds me as a concept and I really don't understand how it works neatly in this movie. But she does set up Strange's plan well. I also love how polite Banner was trying to be towards her.
-Thor's moments with Frigga were some of the most touching and uplifting in the movie. After being underutilized in her previous appearances, Rene Russo really shines here. It makes the case why you should take any role in the MCU. Because you might get a chance to come back like this.
-Also coming back, most shockingly to me, the retired Robert Redford! At first I couldn't tell if they used technology to make someone else look like him. But it was him, deaged.
-The way they almost exactly recreated the elevator scene from Winter Soldier made me laugh so hard. Love the smugness from Evans when he gets away by saying "Hail Hydra" and how he knows he can defeat his past self by revealing Bucky is still alive.
-No Loki taking the Cosmic Cube (er, tesseract) does not mean he is still alive in the current timeline. It was a solid joke, but that is most likely where his Disney+ series will follow.
-Glad that Rhodey survived the snap, because Cheadle gets some great moments throughout the movie. Since Iron Man 2 he's made an impact, despite not receiving much focus. On Morag he had an amazing comedic take when he called Quill "an idiot" and shows some real genuineness to Nebula.
-Poor Nebula, just tragic. I can't believe there were people who tried to argue that Thanos was a hero with a point when we've seen how he treats his children.
-When Nebula fought past Nebula and Cap fought past Cap this also felt a bit like the legitimization of Pluto Nash, of all things.
-The seventies scene was great, loved the Pym cameo. We also got a second Community cameo since Infinity War didn't have any. John Slattery's dialogue with Downey was one of the highlights of the movie and really paid off years of development with how Stark's reacted to the legacy and absence of his father. Although I cannot figure out when Dominic Cooper turned into John Slattery (one of those Josh Radnor/Bob Saget conundrums).
-This has been widely pointed out, but James D'Arcy as human butler Jarvis is the only TV character to appear in the films.
-Vormir was my favorite sequence in Infinity War and it stands out again in this movie. The more I think about it, it makes sense for Natasha to sacrifice herself for everyone. That difficult scene was played perfectly where we could see that both Black Widow and Clint wanted to sacrifice themselves to save the other. Someone else commented on Loki's line from the first Avengers about the red in her ledger. She's already done more than enough to make up for her past, she died a hero. The reaction from the original Avengers was a good send off as Natasha is one of the few characters who've had meaningful interactions with all of them.
-This movie didn't undo Gamora's death, but it leaves a really interesting status quo for the Guardians going forward. Wonder if Gunn had any role in that decision.
-It was never about mercy with Thanos. He saw that the survivor's were ungrateful and wanted to destroy everything so he could create a compliant reality. What a douche.
-Cap wielding Mjolnir had to happen and it was awesome!
-Callback to "on your left!"
-That "Avengers Assemble" was just wonderful. The entire major battle sequence was just the best big fireworks show you could hope for. It was crowded and busy, but it played. It really sold the idea of the strength with everyone together. As great as the battle for Wakanda was, the teams were split. This was the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe standing together on a day unlike any other day.
-Yeah, the reveal of Rescue among the heroes meant something. Ending with her helmet coming up was a perfect moment. As many other characters you may have wanted in the mix (S.H.I.E.L.D., Netflix characters, X-Men), it wouldn't have made the impact of paying off Pepper's role.
-The whole battle sequence felt like the opening arc of Kurt Busiek/George Perez's run where they got ever Avenger fighting together. Infinity War was a big crossover event comic, Endgame felt like a true Avengers story.
-There is so much to talk about with the battle so I will just share my favorite two moments. First was Falcon using his wings to stab a giant monster. Second was Thanos taking the power stone out of the gauntlet just so he could punch Captain Marvel with it. Part of what makes Thanos the best villain is that he is the best fighter in the MCU and moments like that are super clever.
-Most everybody knows that Iron Man dies, and it is the best case scenario for that. This was the one who started the entire cinematic universe and it was earned. Him saving the day, dying nobly and final message meant a lot. For the years of complaints that the MCU doesn't have endings, I am glad that they kept developing Stark until this point.
-What is essentially the epilogue of the movie felt necessary. In a way this is probably why there weren't post-credits sequences, we had the reaction in the movie. And it felt like a fitting conclusion, not just for Stark but to everything.
-The funeral sequence was beautiful. Yes that is the kid from Iron Man 3 standing there, that was a cool addition.
-I cannot wait to read a tell all book on what it took to make this movie. All of the negotiations with the budget, other film's directors, the actors, their agents... We have a movie where Academy Award winner and nominees Angela Bassett, Michelle Pfeiffer, William Hurt, Samuel L. Jackson and Marisa Tomei only appear in a single shot!
-Wanda and Clint developed such a great chemistry in these movies, hope they appear in each other's Disney+ series. They could have also referenced Pietro, but that's just me...
-Interesting that there was no tag for Doctor Strange after the funeral
-I wasn't the biggest fan of Spidey in the battle, he grated on me a bit. Then again they didn't try to give everybody focus which was probably a good call due to the size. Ned's response to Peter returning was very sweet though.
-Very curious if James Gunn wants to use Thor in Guardians vol. 3 or if he just have the option to show up in the future.
-The way they aged Chris Evans was incredible. Glad Falcon gets the shield, but looking at Marvel's release dates and the movies they have announced, no idea when he would become Captain America. Maybe Black Panther 2? That would be interesting.
-When Sam asks Cap to tell him about the girl and we see Steve dancing with a woman, I so wanted that to be revealed to be Sam's mom. That way this could all end on a "Your Mom" joke.
