DISCLAIMER: This review will be spoiler-free in order to protect those who haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame from key plot points (but if you haven’t seen it, what are you doing?)
Eleven years ago, Marvel Studios released Iron Man and changed the film industry forever. Over a decade later, and 21 other films starring other comic book characters, the saga finally came to an end. Avengers: Endgame lit up screens on Apr. 26 and has proven to be one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s finest films.
The movie follows a broken Avengers team, half of whom where killed following supervillain Thanos’ snap from Avengers: Infinity War, an act which destroyed 50% of all living creatures in the universe. Now, it is up to the remaining heroes to reverse the reality and bring back all those lost in the decimation. For the Avengers, the stakes have never been higher and not only is the state of the world at risk, but the entire universe itself. “I felt like the movie expressed the stakes really well and it seemed like a very serious situation for all the characters,” senior Kevin Jordan said.
Avengers: Endgame solidified just how iconic and memorable these characters are and cemented their impact into pop culture. Previously deemed this generation’s Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has defined the childhood of millions of people across the world, including myself. Watching the Avengers first team up to defeat an alien invasion when I was 12 was mind-blowing and seeing how characters like Iron Man, Captain America and Thor have traveled full circle has been an incredibly sentimental journey for myself and millions of other Marvel fans.
With their final installment in the MCU, the actors bring their A-game to ensure that Avengers: Endgame goes down as their finest performances in the franchise to date. Chris Evans embodied the spirit of Steve Rogers/Captain America as he lead the team into their most difficult battle, Paul Rudd added levity and humor to the movie as Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Robert Downey Jr. cranked out his best performance of Tony Stark/Iron Man, following eight appearances in prior installments. “[RDJ] was amazing, obviously. His performance made me cry,” senior Lilly Greenberg said.
The Russo Brothers, Joe and Anthony, return as directors for Avengers: Endgame after directing its predecessor Avengers: Infinity War as well as Captain America: Civil War and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Their resume proves that they have a firm understanding of the characters who appear in the films they helm and their knowledge allowed them to end the arcs of a variety of heroes in realistic and proper ways.
Along with the Russos, the film’s crew consisted of thousands of other hard-working innovators who dedicated months of their life to produce the best product possible. From stunt coordinators to location managers to personal trainers, the multitude of individuals involved in the production of Avengers: Endgame prove just how much effort is necessary to create such a successful movie.
As of May 10, Avengers: Endgame has made $2.3 billion at the worldwide box office and the film has shattered records since its release, including highest opening weekend box office gross, and is only a few hundred million dollars away from passing the all-time record for most money made in theaters, currently held by 2009’s Avatar.
What Endgame was able to accomplish in just two weeks is a testament to the talents and abilities of the filmmakers as well as the enthusiasm from the fans of the franchise. Avengers: Endgame will be remembered in history as one the most culturally-significant phenomenons of all time and I find myself incredibly grateful to have contributed to the film reaching such heights.
