After 21 films in 11 years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it culminates with Avengers: Endgame.
The film takes place in the immediate wake of 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War with megavillain Thanos (Josh Brolin) having wiped out half of Earth’s population and the original Avengers — Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) — seeking to bring back their fallen comrades by any means necessary.
Along with surviving supporting players Nebula (Karen Gillan), James Rhodes/War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), plus new old ally Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), our heroes embark upon an ambitious quest to achieve the improbable.
In the spirit of this unity, three brave Xpress movie reviewers now assemble their own skill sets in the name of world peace and quality criticism. — Edwin “Turn Signal” Arnaudin
In approaching Avengers: Endgame, I wished to be the tasty Popsicle stick in the mud and the lone voice of dissent. As much as I love the concept of the “underdogs” taking back not only the world but the universe from the menacing hands of a self-serving villainous bully, this is still partly a confessional.
I haven’t consistently been the biggest fan of comic book superhero films, as impressed as I am by them. Some movies, however, speak to you beyond those boundaries of genres, directly tapping into what actually moves people.
I believe the biggest challenge with this film is its length. I have been lulled to sleep a few times in my life with the classic and brilliant Gone With the Wind. This film is quite different in the way it takes you “all over the universe” in every sense of being and feeling. It makes you proud to be a human being — or any creature, for that matter — who cares enough to seek change and/or betterment for all, particularly generations to come.
I was more enthused initially by others’ enthusiasm, as one would get wrapped up in the infectious frenzy of their favored local sports team. As far out as this film is, the whole time it managed to bring radical right back to where it belongs — at home with its roots.
Family conflicts, loss, belief in the impossible and uniting for “the cause” — this is everybody’s film. I absorbed others’ laughter, tears, shock, disappointment and triumph as we sat there gliding upon chemtrails of victory. As impressive as the CGI is along with the plot and layering of the characters, it’s ultimately about the heart and soul striving to be a part of something greater than just self.
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