I’ve had a chance to see Avengers: Endgame twice now, and since the spoilers are everywhere and the film has now been out long enough, I’m going to rant about my opinions of the film. All in all, ti was a great, powerful movie, and anyone who has followed the MCU from the start probably feels the same way. That said, there are a few things (both positive and negative) I wanted to throw out there. There is no real order to my ramblings – there are just being written as I think about them.
First and foremost – Romanov/Black Widow. Are you fucking KIDDING me? The biggest badass female character in the MCU, not to mention the only original female Avenger, not only gets killed off, but it happens before the big fight scene with Thanos and his army at the end. This was, by far, my biggest criticism of the film. I understand the whole idea behind the Soul Stone, but come on!
I do love how the film opened. A simple scene with Hawkeye (who had been MIA since the events of Captain America: Civil War) having a picnic with his family when they all disappear suddenly after the snap. Straightforward, effortless way to bring back the one Avenger missing from Infinity War. Plus, when we do see him again single-handedly taking out cartel members, we understand.
What happened to the subplot of Hulk not wanting to come out during Infinity War? Is that what Professor Hulk was all about? There was no real mention of this in Endgame, although when the “Professor” is first introduced, he mentions how he took two losses, both as Hulk and Banner. But there was no real mention of why Hulk wouldn’t come back during any of the battles after Heimdall sent him back to Earth. I guess I could have missed it. Ant Man’s “I’m so confused” Line was spot on, though.
Speaking of Ant Man, I love how he was used, and how the quantum realm played such a pivotal role in the overall storyline. Without it, they don’t go back in time to get the stones, they don’t bring everyone back, the 2014 version of Thanos doesn’t intercept a memory of present day Nebula’s, and the final battle doesn’t ensue. Plus, Paul Rudd was pretty damn funny throughout. Their pop culture references to the many time travel films over the years was brilliant comedic fodder that perfectly added to the humor these films often contain.
I wonder how much it cost in payroll to get Michelle Pfeiffer, William Hurt, Ken Jeong, Marisa Tomei, Cobie Smulders, Samuel L. Jackson, and (possibly) Natalie Portman to pop in for their unspoken cameos?
The return of several beloved characters from past MCU films (pre-Infinity War) was a nice touch as well. Along with the cameos listed above, we got another taste of The Ancient One, Valkyrie, Happy Hogan, Korg, Laura Barton, Alexander Pierce, Frigga (Thor’s mom), Howard Stark, and Peggy Carter. Missing from the party were Odin, Vision, Heimdall, and Phil Coulson (who we know is still alive because he stars in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). I guess even at three hours, you have to cut somewhere.
Fat Thor Lebowski was awesome, I don’t care who you are. The Asguardians of the Galaxy would be a nice touch if they can get Chris Hemsworth back for one more go as Thor for the next GOTG movie.
Don’t try to understand the whole time travel thing they got going on here. Just don’t.
Anyone else wonder where the Captain Marvel end credit scene went? Fury’s pager is seen being studied by the survivors, as they try to figure out who he was calling. Then she appears at HQ asking about Fury’s whereabouts before it ends. Cut to Endgame, and Marvel just appears in space to save Tony and Nebula with no real explanation as to where she came from and whether or not she actually returned to Earth first. I guess it was just supposed to be assumed that Fury’s call got to her and she knew where in space to find Stark? Again, with a three hour movie, I guess some cuts were necessary. Of course, writers/directors/producers may have just gone on the assumption that everyone saw Captain Marvel, and that scene was never supposed to be part of Endgame.
Finally, getting one final “I am Ironman” before Stark dies sent chills up and down my arms both times he said it. I think we all went into this film realizing that we were going to lose a major player. Although after killing off Romanov, perhaps people let their guards down to the idea that not one, but TWO originals would die. I wasn’t too shocked by it, and Stark making the final snap to kill Thanos and his army made perfect sense. The MCU began with Ironman in 2008, so it should end with Tony Stark pulling one final heroic feat.
BEST ONE-LINERS OF THE FILM
STARK TO ROCKET: “Honestly, until this exact second, I thought you were a build-a-bear.”
RHODEY: “That’s cute. Thanos has a retirement plan.”
LANG: “Somebody peed my pants. I don’t know if it was baby me or old man me. Or … ME me.
ROMANOV: “I get emails from a raccoon. So, nothing sounds crazy anymore.”
KORG: “Thor he’s back! The kid on the TV just called me a dickhead again.”
LANG: “So Back to the Future is a bunch of bullshit?”
STARK: “Mr. Rogers, I almost forgot, that suit did nothing for your ass.”
Eric Woods, Author 