Note: The following review is spoiler-free, so you can proceed without any worries.

Let's travel back in time to 2008. Iron Man just hit cinemas, and the world was first introduced to what would eventually become the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe - and it all began in that one-minute end credit scene that held a tremendous amount of weight. Fast forward over 10 years, and 21 films later, to Avengers: Endgame, the sequel to Infinity War and the end of the road for the MCU - well, at least for this phase. After being quite blown away by Infinity War, I was hoping that Endgame would at least match its quality and deliver a solid conclusion to a lot of character arcs. Little did I know that it would exceed my expectations in almost every way.



Endgame picks up after the events of Infinity War. The world, and naturally the entire universe, is still dealing with the aftermath of the Decimation. The Avengers must once again muster up the courage to right the wrongs of the past and take on Thanos, the greatest adversary that any of them have ever faced.

That's about all the information I can give you in terms of the story, and I won't be talking about anything deeper than that. However, I will say this: the film has a deceptively clever way of twisting and subverting expectations, to the point where the plot becomes extremely unpredictable, and you're left on the edge of your seat in anticipation for what happens next. Credit has to go to Anthony and Joe Russo who command their directorial duties and vision with an iron fist, as well as screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely who know when to dial the action down, and let the emotional moments and meaningful character interactions soar.

...the film has a deceptively clever way of twisting and subverting expectations, to the point where the plot becomes extremely unpredictable...

Endgame is a far more character-driven story than I initially anticipated. Sure, it has the superb action that we've come to expect from Marvel, but more importantly, it aims to strike emotional chords in almost every scene in which the characters express themselves. There's a fine line that the Russo's walk here, and it feels well earned after spending over a decade with these characters that we've all come to know and love. It presents a new set of physical challenges for them, but in turn, allows them to confront their own personal challenges in order to have that "hoorah" moment (like Thor arriving in the battle of Wakanda) - and trust me, those moments are plentiful in Endgame.



For the first hour of the film, the tone is set, and it's immediately different to Infinity War. In fact, they're hardly comparable movies. Endgame is a gloomy affair that takes its time to revel in grief, tragedy, and loss in its first act before ramping up the stakes and tension to what can only be described as a highly elaborate heist flick. The tone is almost daunting for a Marvel movie, and I really appreciate that the filmmakers were able to squeeze every ounce of emotion out of these characters, putting them at their lowest in order for them to naturally grow and evolve as the plot speedily darts towards its incredible, euphoric climax.

Speaking of climaxes, Endgame needed to nail its third act - and I can boldly say that it's the most spectacular I've ever seen in a superhero movie to date. No punches are held back, and the movie throws one big climactic moment after another in quick succession - all leading to an incredibly powerful, emotional pay-off that will go down in cinematic history. There's a couple of personal nitpicks that I do have with the direction that certain characters take, and some instances of misplaced humor (mostly revolving around Thor) - but in hindsight, it didn't bother me much once I realized what story the Russo's were actually trying to tell. In the grand scheme of things, minor inconveniences just barely dent the juggernaut machine that is Endgame, but they are grating and will surely be divisive for some.



At just over three hours long, Endgame never felt bloated or needlessly stretched out at all. I even had to check my watch in the third act to make sure I was really in the endgame (pun totally intended) because it only felt like an hour had gone by. By the time the credits rolled, I just wanted to sit there and watch the film for five more hours - and I easily could have. A fast pace is maintained thanks to how quickly the story leaps from one important scene to the next, and is only further helped by some of the best fan-service that the Marvel Cinematic Universe can offer. Seriously, there's a lot of fan-service, but in the context of the plot, it makes complete sense and provides Marvel fans with plenty to smile (and cry) at.

By the time the credits rolled, I just wanted to sit there and watch the film for five more hours...

Skepticism might've been rampant about a certain theory, but without spoiling it, I will say that the Russo's do somehow manage to make a very compelling case for it. Endgame sets up its own rules, and even casually pokes fun at the ridiculousness of the act, but there's a sound reasoning behind why they're doing it, and how they're going about performing certain tasks. It's something that's commendable given the flimsy nature in which films use this one specific plot device - with only a few really succeeding without becoming overly convoluted.



The acting is top-notch and arguably churns out some of the finest performances from any of the actors and actresses in the MCU yet. Robert Downey, Jr. is absolutely fantastic yet again as Tony Stark, but noticeably less of an a-hole. It does reflect his character arc quite a bit, going from genius billionaire playboy philanthropist to, well, genius billionaire playboy philanthropist with a heart. Chris Evans is also great as Captain America, and like Civil War, his relationship with Tony is at the center of most of the film. After all, they are the frontmen of the Avengers, so naturally they'd receive most of the limelight for the end of the era. However, other notable roles should not go unnoticed. Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson also turn in surprisingly terrific performances, specifically Renner who shines as the underdog of the A-team, and the new anti-hero, Ronin. Josh Brolin is equal parts menacing and sympathetic as Thanos, though isn't really in the spotlight as much as he was in Infinity War. Some might find this disappointing, but Endgame isn't necessarily a movie about overcoming evil, but more about overcoming inner battles first and foremost.

Avengers: Endgame is one of the best superhero movies of the decade; an event in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that carries the weight of 21 films worth of stories, characters, and defining moments. It was never going to be an easy task for the Russo's, but they've done it. Endgame is a wild rollercoaster of spectacle and entertainment - one that toys with expectations while keeping an extremely effective emotional core permeating through every scene. Marvel has managed to deliver a bold achievement in comic book movies that will forever be the new bar set by concluding superhero sagas in film.