On Thursday, May 1, 2008, my father and I saw the first public screening of Marvel Studios' Iron Man, which changed the way I viewed the potential of big-budget summer action films. Now 11 years later, Avengers: Endgame provides an engrossing and satisfying finale for the first three phases of the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Avengers: Endgame is a rare film where its three acts feel tonally different, but mesh together quite well. Without spoilers, this is a very serious film, yet comedy-enriched, like Infinity War but the opening paints a very grim picture of life after the previous events from Thanos. Marvel wisely chooses to not overstuff the film as much here, as this story centers around the original six Avengers' attempt to reverse Thanos' annihilation of half of life on the universe. We've never seen the Avengers so defeated in this film, and the actors deliver franchise-best performances all around.
Many will be quick to compare 'Endgame' to The Lord of the Rings, which I believe is a worthy honor for the achievements seen here. The epic scale these legendary films operate in lends them to an exclusive club, but the emotion and narrative focus that they deliver is equally impressive. Endgame is a film for the masses but also for the diehard fans. Devotees to this 11-year universe such as myself will delight with tears at the intimate references Endgame makes to the extended MCU, whether it's about 'cheeseburgers' or 'Cap's dance.' As Tony Stark says in the film, "Part of the journey is the end," and the Russo Brothers, Kevin Feige, and company deliver a historic conclusion to this groundbreaking genre. While the bittersweet ending leaves me sad for all we are losing with this film, Feige's craft of delivering what we don't expect, but need, excites me greatly for the future for the MCU, as it always presents larger-than-life superheroes as everyday humans dealing with problems.
RATING: 10/10
Sean Kelso is a junior in Columbia College and the editor-in-chief of CUFPe.