A five star, spoiler-free review of AVENGERS ENDGAME, which I haven't seen
For all that the Marvel Universe has provided us with intensely cinematic moments over the years (who can forget Captain America single-handedly pulling a helicopter back down to ground, or the screwball chemistry between Iron Man and Pepper Potts?), the franchise has come to resemble nothing so much as a rollercoaster ride. And what a ride it has been. Now, with Endgame, as the carriage trundles along the tracks towards its final destination, don't expect any decrease of pace, but on the contrary loop-the-loops and precipitous drops galore. Whoosh!
The last time we saw the Avengers, at the end of Infinity War, there were a number of complications that the gang faced, in a variety of ways. Fans of the MCU will recall that Thanos (Josh Brolin, having the time of his life) had set about his wicked business of attacking the Avengers, in a manner which we'll skate over here, save to say that it left the gang in a certain state at the end of the film. Who, if any of them, survived, and what was to be done in terms of countering the villain, was very much up in the air. Talk about a cliffhanger.
Endgame picks up pretty much where its predecessor left off - that is, in a state of high drama. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr., bringing his usual star quality to a role that now feels as familiar as a beloved pair of shoes) and the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo, as charming and ironic as ever) are among those who, it's safe to say, survived whatever skirmish the previous film had set in motion. Now they, and members of the crew including Black Widow, Thor, and the Jeremy Renner one, must gather together once more to mount a combined resistance to Thanos.
Much of the films' attraction has rested on the chemistry and derring-do that the stars bring to their roles. The franchise has represented nothing so much as an assertion of good, old-fashioned star quality, with stunning and talented celebrities inhabiting their characters with a great deal of charisma. In contrast to DC, the Marvel imprimatur has always been about lightness of touch, bringing to mind the swashbuckle of Errol Flynn and the irony of 007. Endgame manages to synthesise all of these elements marvellously, providing fans with all the bravado and insouciant repartee they could possibly ask for. It would spoil the joke to repeat it here, but Thor's quip as he prepares to face an assailant whose identity it would be criminal to reveal, had the audience screaming. Elsewhere, there are welcome returns for some familiar faces, and blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos from some fan favourites, including one appearance by somebody most unexpected. Finally, new recruit Captain Marvel (Oscar-winner Brie Larson) brings a welcome acidity to proceedings, creating a sensational frisson with one of the other Avengers, in scenes that will delight new converts to the series.
This isn't to say that the film trades only in lightness, and of course MCU adepts will know that the franchise is also at its best when it leans heavily into the sturm-und-drang of its apocalyptic set-up. Part of the Avengers' appeal has always been that they realise the enormity of their calling - which invests proceedings here with requisite seriousness. One unexpected reunion finds a superhero showing unsuspected vulnerability, which audiences may not have been prepared for by past films. Early reports that this film would feature the permanent death of one or several protagonists cannot be confirmed, but suffice to say that tissues will be in short supply by the film's ending. And what an ending it is - the narrative is both satisfyingly concluded, and open to further adventures by the film's endpoint, in a way that is bound to please everybody.
Of course, beyond the unexpectedly emotional narrative arc, the films have always been celebrated for the whizz-bang bravura of their action setpieces, and Endgame is no exception. The Russo Brothers once more juggle a number of competing superheroes (including Ant-Man, reprised by the perennially puckish Paul Rudd) in some breathtaking battle sequences that reach a peak of excitement towards the latter stages of the film. One early battle is particularly thrilling, with several Avengers all converging on the scene of action and bringing their particular powers to bear on the fight. As the skirmishes reach ever higher pitches of intensity, and the magnitude of each battle amplifies, so the directors are able to expand their vision to include more and more combatants, with Avengers combining in declensions that have seldom been seen before.
Whether the franchise has reached its conclusion with Endgame, or whether the carriage has merely acceded to a peak whence it will hurtle around the rollercoaster with even more accumulated speed, is left deliciously open at the end of this latest iteration. MCU fans are in for a treat.
The last time we saw the Avengers, at the end of Infinity War, there were a number of complications that the gang faced, in a variety of ways. Fans of the MCU will recall that Thanos (Josh Brolin, having the time of his life) had set about his wicked business of attacking the Avengers, in a manner which we'll skate over here, save to say that it left the gang in a certain state at the end of the film. Who, if any of them, survived, and what was to be done in terms of countering the villain, was very much up in the air. Talk about a cliffhanger.
Endgame picks up pretty much where its predecessor left off - that is, in a state of high drama. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr., bringing his usual star quality to a role that now feels as familiar as a beloved pair of shoes) and the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo, as charming and ironic as ever) are among those who, it's safe to say, survived whatever skirmish the previous film had set in motion. Now they, and members of the crew including Black Widow, Thor, and the Jeremy Renner one, must gather together once more to mount a combined resistance to Thanos.
Much of the films' attraction has rested on the chemistry and derring-do that the stars bring to their roles. The franchise has represented nothing so much as an assertion of good, old-fashioned star quality, with stunning and talented celebrities inhabiting their characters with a great deal of charisma. In contrast to DC, the Marvel imprimatur has always been about lightness of touch, bringing to mind the swashbuckle of Errol Flynn and the irony of 007. Endgame manages to synthesise all of these elements marvellously, providing fans with all the bravado and insouciant repartee they could possibly ask for. It would spoil the joke to repeat it here, but Thor's quip as he prepares to face an assailant whose identity it would be criminal to reveal, had the audience screaming. Elsewhere, there are welcome returns for some familiar faces, and blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos from some fan favourites, including one appearance by somebody most unexpected. Finally, new recruit Captain Marvel (Oscar-winner Brie Larson) brings a welcome acidity to proceedings, creating a sensational frisson with one of the other Avengers, in scenes that will delight new converts to the series.
This isn't to say that the film trades only in lightness, and of course MCU adepts will know that the franchise is also at its best when it leans heavily into the sturm-und-drang of its apocalyptic set-up. Part of the Avengers' appeal has always been that they realise the enormity of their calling - which invests proceedings here with requisite seriousness. One unexpected reunion finds a superhero showing unsuspected vulnerability, which audiences may not have been prepared for by past films. Early reports that this film would feature the permanent death of one or several protagonists cannot be confirmed, but suffice to say that tissues will be in short supply by the film's ending. And what an ending it is - the narrative is both satisfyingly concluded, and open to further adventures by the film's endpoint, in a way that is bound to please everybody.
Of course, beyond the unexpectedly emotional narrative arc, the films have always been celebrated for the whizz-bang bravura of their action setpieces, and Endgame is no exception. The Russo Brothers once more juggle a number of competing superheroes (including Ant-Man, reprised by the perennially puckish Paul Rudd) in some breathtaking battle sequences that reach a peak of excitement towards the latter stages of the film. One early battle is particularly thrilling, with several Avengers all converging on the scene of action and bringing their particular powers to bear on the fight. As the skirmishes reach ever higher pitches of intensity, and the magnitude of each battle amplifies, so the directors are able to expand their vision to include more and more combatants, with Avengers combining in declensions that have seldom been seen before.
Whether the franchise has reached its conclusion with Endgame, or whether the carriage has merely acceded to a peak whence it will hurtle around the rollercoaster with even more accumulated speed, is left deliciously open at the end of this latest iteration. MCU fans are in for a treat.
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