'Avengers: Endgame' Movie Review

Released: 25th April 2019 (UK)

Length: 181 Minutes

Certificate: 12A

Director: Anthony and Joe Russo

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan and Josh Brolin

Last year’s Avengers: Infinity War was a phenomenal crossover that brought the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe together for one massive battle royale. Avengers Endgame; its direct follow-up, is quite dramatically different. Yet, watching this film; not only does it satisfy fans both old and new, it also presents one of the best final chapters ever seen on the silver screen.

Picking up immediately after Infinity War, Thanos (Josh Brolin) succeeded in his plans to wipe out half of all life in the universe, and the last of our heroes have been left to pick up the pieces. Clinging on to the chance that tragic events could be reversed, what remains of the Avengers embark on a harrowing mission across time and space to put a stop to Thanos’s plans before they succeed. With a whopping three-hour runtime, Endgame pushes the boat out to create the definitive conclusion and it delivers on an unbelievable scale. Without going into spoilers, Endgame is comprised of three well-established acts, each of which plays a key role in the overarching narrative.

The first act is sorrowful and emotive, showing the aftermath of Infinity War, and how the remaining heroes have coped with it; it’s a lot slower than other Marvel films but with the shocking ending to its predecessor, Endgame needed this to get across its character moments, which will be discussed in a moment. The second act I can summarize by pointing to a certain time-travelling production from the eighties; as the characters travel through time, you’ll be treated to many brilliant, ingenious twists on older MCU films, the details of which I won’t give away.

Then the final act… it’s terrific, bringing everything together for one final, epic flourish. Avengers Endgame, despite its length, ultimately keeps you engaged throughout, a feat rarely accomplished in today’s modern film landscape.

Everyone in Avengers Endgame gives it their all, without a single weak link; but the biggest contrast with Infinity War is its overall tone. The first act takes its time to establish, where the characters sit and their own ways of coping with their losses in the previous film. While most are serious, others are played for laughs, especially Thor (which again won’t be elaborated on here).

As they move into the second act, we get more unique interactions between the cast, as well as heartfelt peeks into the past. In a way, Endgame consolidates the entire journeys of some of its most revered characters in very meaningful ways, the details of which I’ll leave you to discover.

Yet despite the many events colliding together, other characters get their moments to shine; Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye is far more developed than he ever was in previous flicks and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), alongside Thanos’s daughter Nebula (Karen Gillan) both have key roles to play throughout the narrative. Even Josh Brolin, despite not holding the spotlight this time, has his strong moments as Thanos, particularly in the final act. Both action-packed and emotional moments arrive with the right levity and just like Infinity War, each character is well-balanced out all the way through the plot.

Maintaining the same massive scale, Endgame continues an already excellent technical offering; the music offering a less triumphant set of notes to match the dire situation. Of course, much like the plot, things build up exponentially, mirroring its three-act structure. The second act takes the audience to wide range of environments and backs them up with a new set of dazzling effects for the time-hopping heroes.

The camerawork adapts accordingly to the situation, always perfectly matching the size of the action on show. If you thought Infinity War had a gargantuan scale for its battle scenes, just wait until you see Endgame’s; the work on display here is incredible with the film’s ultimate climax standing as more thrilling and awe-inspiring than anything else seen in the MCU so far.

You’ll be taken aback by all the little details as well, as the film brings back many side characters and plot threads from across the timeline to form a cohesive whole. There really aren’t any weak areas at all in Endgame’s technical presentation; it’s a seamless complement to the already superb action.

Avengers Endgame is a masterful and rousing conclusion to an immensely successful set of films. Somehow the Russo Brothers and everyone involved in the production have crafted a fantastic final chapter unparalleled and unmatched by any other in the superhero business. Know this; if you’re a fan who’s been following for the last ten years, be prepared for chilling moments you’ll never forget.

Rating: 5/5 Stars (Exceptional)