Dear Marvel fan, this is the movie you’ve been waiting for. Avengers: Endgame is ostensibly the direct sequel to 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War. We’ve waited one year with bated breath for a resolution to the cliffhanger of that film. In a much larger sense, it’s the impressive culmination of 21 films that all began when Iron Man first debuted 11 years ago in 2008. It was a daunting task. There were many goals, but for me the three most important were to (1) fashion a chronicle that could coherently juggle a myriad of superheroes with various backstories (2) remain emotionally invested in each one and (3) maintain interest without relying on haphazard conflicts that can often degenerate into a bloated slog. (see Avengers: Age of Ultron). I’m relieved to say Endgame satisfies every one of these objectives.
A good review shouldn’t recapitulate the plot. As such, I won’t be revealing spoilers contained within this new episode. However, I will assume you have at least seen Infinity War which is essentially Part 1 to the continuity of this film. If that’s not the case, and the denouement of that story still remains a mystery, congratulations on abstaining from every single form of social media! Furthermore, please stop reading here and come back after you have watched Infinity War first. Ok ready? We begin after half of all living things in the universe have been snuffed out by the mighty supervillain Thanos (Josh Brolin). Among those left to deal with the aftermath are the six original Avengers. There’s Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner).
The situation is dire. The loss of life is even more calamitous than a decimation as that word is, by definition, only 1/10 of all living things. The Avengers have lost many of their closest friends. Understandably they are a doleful bunch. Being the do-gooding champions that they are, they set out to recover the Infinity Stones from Thanos so they can reverse his actions. Sadly he has already destroyed them. The first hour is abnormally solemn, a somber rumination on coming to terms with what has happened. The characters now exude a world-weary exterior. There is a poignancy in the first third that sucks you into the developments that unfold later. The movie isn’t afraid to gradually lay the groundwork for what must ultimately be done. The Avengers devise a plan to undo the damage that Thanos has caused. Hint: the conclusion of Ant-Man and the Wasp provides a crucial element. The narrative takes its time but once the events of the 2nd hour begin, the payoff is all the better for it.
Endgame is surprisingly moving. Working from a screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony, rely heavily on past films and alliances. Given that, this will unquestionably please die-hard fans. Having seen every installment will surely add to your experience. Endgame includes a profusion of moments to delight those people, a consideration now known as fan service. The bad news is that this not an adventure for newbies or even the casual moviegoer that may have seen, oh let’s say, less than 5 of these productions. Your enjoyment directly depends on an appreciation of formerly established alliances and circumstances. Tony Stark/Iron Man is a key personality. His relationship with Steve Rogers, Pepper Potts, and Peter Parker all provide touching high points. I, like the rest of my theater, was visibly affected by the sentiment. Conversely, newcomers are likely to sit stone-faced, shrug and wonder why the rest of the theater is in tears.
The narrative brings out the humanity in these beloved individuals. They may be all-powerful, but they still care for one another. The drama frequently relies on previously articulated interpersonal connections. For those that have been on this journey since the very beginning, this entertains on every level. There’s gratification is seeing this branch of the franchise tied up in such a satisfying way. The spectacular climax fully captivated the 12-year-old in me. It was a complete and utter wow – the visual manifestation of the epic battles in my wildest imagination as a child. Along the way, we’re treated to a lot of developments over the course of a 3+ hour movie. Amazingly, it never drags. The script brings closure to many personalities while always providing interesting happenings on screen. Endgame‘s take on the Hulk and Thor present enjoyable character changes that really made me smile. The return of Queen Frigga of Asgard (Rene Russo) is particularly poignant. This isn’t the termination of the MCU mind you, but it is the concluding phase of the Infinity Saga which handles the exit of several cherished favorites. I’ve seen every single entry in this series. The Russo brothers clearly embody a genuine love for this franchise. Sure, this is merely a fantasy about superheroes. The plot isn’t deep or essential in any spiritual or metaphysical sense. However, the production generates the wave of feelings that this fan craves. In that respect, Avengers: Endgame is an emotional catharsis that totally delivers.
04-25-19
In Mexican folklore, La Llorona (Marisol Ramirez) is the legend of a “weeping woman” who drowned her children in a blind rage. The act was to take revenge on her philandering husband, but once she realized what she had done, the river had already carried them away. After her death, she was prevented from entering the kingdom of heaven until she found them. Thus, she continues to wander the night looking for children whom she mistakes for her own.
Laika needs help. The studio specializes in fastidiously mounted, exquisitely produced stop-motion animated features. They receive critical raves but are increasingly ignored at the box office. Their latest effort debuted at $5.9 million which set a record for the lowest total ever for a film to open on more than 3,200+ screens. It helps that Laika is owned by Nike founder Phil Knight who has the power to subsidize their efforts. Knight’s son Travis is President and CEO. To be fair, their movies have never been huge money makers, but they can turn a profit. The darkly twisted yet lovely Coraline made a substantial $75 million at the box office in 2009. Their stop motion technique is liberally enhanced using computer-generated effects and 3D printing. Some critics have blamed a lack of audience interest on Laika’s approach, but that doesn’t ring true. The finished product is not dissimilar to Pixar’s or Disney’s computer-animated style. I admire the meticulous craft that goes into making Laika’s art even when the production doesn’t charm me (The Boxtrolls). I really want Laika to succeed because they make gorgeous looking pictures. Missing Link likewise is visually stunning, but overall a relatively low point in their filmography.
It’s been 30 years. Pet Cemetery was ripe for a remake. Oh pardon me, that’s S-E-M-A-T-A-R-Y. Although a hit in the spring of 1989, the original isn’t held in particularly high regard. Additionally, author Stephen King has never been hotter. His novel It was reworked for a second time as two theatrical features in 2017 and 2019. Even accounting for inflation, Part 1 became the biggest box office success of a Stephen King property ever. This critic wasn’t a fan actually. I’d have to go back to 1408 to find something based on the author’s work I enjoyed so I wasn’t highly anticipating this. I’m happy to say that this is the best Stephen King adaptation in over a decade.
It takes a special kind of talent to twist an uplifting story and turn it into a depressing slog. The animated Dumbo (1941) is widely considered one of Disney’s 10 greatest animated films by published critics who make it their business to rank such things. That’s not my opinion it’s simply a fact. How director Tim Burton was able to take a heartfelt animated treasure and pervert it into this soulless shell of a disgrace is almost incomprehensible. For the purposes of this review, however, I’m going to try.
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