The Movie Waffler New To DVD - AVENGERS: ENDGAME | The Movie Waffler

New To DVD - AVENGERS: ENDGAME

avengers endgame review
The Avengers must assemble once more to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe.

Review by Musanna Ahmed

Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Josh Brolin

avengers endgame poster

We’re in the endgame now. 10 years and 22 movies in the making, Marvel’s Cinematic Universe comes to the end of an era with Avengers: Endgame, which provides unassailable conclusions and heralds fresh beginnings. This is a major victory for epic crossover storytelling (and corporate synergy). The grand finale does not disappoint - it is a spectacle for the ages, taking event cinema to an unprecedented level. This is one of the most exciting blockbusters ever made.

Discussing the plot in a non-spoilery review is nigh impossible, as this is different to what was generally expected. What I will say about the narrative is to forget your preconceived notions, forget speculating with your friends, and don’t think too much about what you want out of Endgame - screenwriters Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus do better than to write the predictable and the expected. Fans of the MCU should let the experience consume them purely, for here is a three hour extravaganza entailing shocks, thrills, laughs, action, tragedy and Audis, apparently the only car make to have survived the snap.

avengers endgame review

How Endgame will play to those precious few who haven't seen most of the movies for whatever reason and are being dragged along with their friends or family members - or simply curious to be part of the cinema-going audience that will result in the surpassing of Avatar’s global box office figures (surely, it will) - is tough to figure, because this is terrific entertainment but not really designed as a standalone flick in any way.

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If I was to hazard a guess, it’s going to be less effective to those particular crowds not only because of their lack of emotional attachment to these superheroes but also because they may not be able to take the hootering, hollering and clapping from audiences sat around them. Endgame is exactly that type of movie, giving fan service to the maximum and programmed to feature as many cool moments as possible, whether by way of an awesome action shot or simply a pair of beloved characters reuniting on screen. Fans are serviced in ways they can't even imagine either, for the aforementioned reason of the plotting being more subversive than they can expect.

avengers endgame review

Why Endgame is really good is because of how much catharsis the Russo brothers imbue into making smaller moments memorable as well as the large set pieces; there'll be plenty to talk about regarding intimate interactions as well as the big battle stuff. But why Endgame is great is because of the delightfully satisfying and surprising ways in which it fills in the blanks left between the previous films, enhancing all the stories that came before it, adding greater depth to the grand narrative that began all the way back in World War II with a scrawny Steve Rogers.

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The MVP is composer Alan Silvestri, who should absolutely be mentioned alongside the Russos and the cast in making Endgame as incredible as it is, obliterating any old criticisms of the lack of remarkable symphony in these movies.

avengers endgame review

With emotions running high, obviously the cast are required to do a greater job and Robert Downey Jr delivers his greatest performance as Iron Man in his devitalised state - but still with a few quips at the tip of his tongue - performing some of the best acting of his career. The cast collectively ensures that the feeling of impermanence is clear and present, giving this instalment a real gravitas in its poignant depictions of loss and regret in the relationships with our loved ones, and how we cope in the aftermath. I never thought I'd use the following descriptor for a movie in the MCU, but Endgame is beautiful.

Avengers: Endgame comes to UK DVD/blu-ray September 2nd.


2019 movie reviews