Avengers Endgame Review

Part of the journey is the end, and what an ending this was. After 11 Years and 22 Movies, this Saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has come to a conclusion. Everything that has been created has truly been building to this moment, especially with the epic cliffhanger ending of Avengers Infinity War. This movie also served to conclude character arcs and storyline threads that began between 7 to 11 years ago beginning with Iron Man 1 in 2008. Endgame does this in a spectacular fashion with this epic thrill ride that is due to the excellent world-building and dedication to character empathy and development that highlights the best that this franchise has to offer.

The movie starts off on a strong note as we see Clint Barton (Hawkeye) spending time with his family while teaching his daughter how to shoot an arrow. As soon as Clint turns around, he notices that everybody disappears which explains the sudden silence. Barton notices something strange happened to his family. As we all know, they were erased by Thanos' snap. Going into the movie, many people including myself figured that Hawkeye's family would be dusted by Thanos. Right away, things got real, but not as intense as the opening scene for Infinity War. Then, we see Tony Stark and Nebula in Space after leaving Titan. Shortly thereafter, we see Tony in a much weaker physical state after being in Space for 21 Days. Tony turns on his damaged Ironman helmet to send a message to Pepper Potts about how his experience has been in Space. We also see clips of him and Nebula building something on the Benatar ship. We also see Nebula helping Tony heal and giving him something to eat before we see him starving. As he looks out the window of the Benatar, there is a light shining. It is revealed to be Captain Marvel as she brings the ship back to Earth. Tony reunites with the Avengers as they go over why they lost. There was no love lost at all between Stark and Steve Rogers (Captain America), as Tony is still upset that Cap was not there for him when he needed him. He also shares his own experience fighting Thanos before passing out. Captain Marvel arrives as they go over the plan to find Thanos. Nebula shows the Avengers where Thanos is located as they proceed to fly to his location. Next, we see Thanos retired on a farm picking fruit and making breakfast. It is pretty clear that the snap took a huge toll on his body as the left side of his body is severely damaged. The Avengers ambush Thanos and hold him down before killing him. Thanos reveals that the Infinity Stones were destroyed when he did the snap. Thor proceeds to cut off the arm that has the damaged Gauntlet. As Thanos is getting ready to give Nebula an apology, Thor slices his head off. He simply went for the head before quietly walking away, still filled with guilt. Fast forward 5 years later, and we see what Earth's Mightiest Heroes have been up to. Things pick up in San Francisco, as we see a rat crawling into the Van that holds the machine for the Quantum Realm. The rat presses a button for Scott Lang (Ant-Man) to come out of the Quantum Realm. When Scott comes back to reality, he notices that things have changed drastically. Scott goes to a Memorial to see if his Daughter Cassie's name is on the list, but he finds his name there instead. Scott finds his daughter, but she has grown a lot since that time has passed. Meanwhile, we see Captain America holding an intervention meeting with some of the survivors of the snap as he tells them to move on. One of the people in the meeting were one of the Russo Brothers. Another person in the meeting was Jim Starlin, the creator of Thanos. Scott later arrives at Avengers Headquarters to tell them about the Quantum Realm and find a way to bring everyone back from the snap. Steve asks if this has to do with a Time Machine, and Scott says "Yes". This leads them to the one man that can help them. Cap, Ant-Man and Black Widow go to Ironman's House as it is far away from the City. Here we see Tony living a quiet life in Superhero Retirement with his Wife Pepper and their Daughter Morgan. When Antman brings up Time Travel, Ironman shoots it down as he sees it as a "Back to the Future" ripoff. Tony holds Morgan and tells Steve that this is his second chance and he cannot waste it. After being turned down by Tony, they go to the next best source, Bruce Banner "aka Professor Hulk". Here, we see that Bruce has blended his personality with the Hulk after not being able to get the Hulk to come out in 5 years. When the idea of Time Travel is brought up, Bruce tells them that it is not his specialty but he would try. After the Time Travel Experiment fails, Tony sees Steve standing outside as he arrives at Avengers Headquarters. Stark clearly knew that the plan backfired when Scott was turned into a baby during the process. Tony gives Cap his Shield back as he decides to forgive him for what happened in "Civil War". Stark decides to provide his expertise on time travel to help his fellow Avengers in their time heist to retrieve the Infinity Stones in order to bring back those that were erased by Thanos. Generally, the movie was a time heist for the Stones. Tony and Steve get the team together to find the locations for the Infinity Stones and what timeline they are in. In 2012, there were three stones in New York (Time, Mind, Space). In 2013, the Reality Stone is in Asgard. In 2014, the Power Stone is in Morag (Guardians of the Galaxy) while the Soul Stone was in Vormir just like in Infinity War. Ironman, Cap, Ant-Man and Professor Hulk go to 2012 to retrieve the Stones from New York. Thor and Rocket go to 2013 to get the Reality Stone. War Machine and Nebula go to Morag to get the Power Stone, while Black Widow and Hawkeye go to Vormir for the Soul Stone. During the journey to get the Power Stone, we see Gamora and Nebula from the 2014 GOTG Timeline. Not only do we see those versions of Nebula and Gamora, but we also see the 2014 version of Thanos. This was the Thanos from GOTG Vol. 1. However, this Thanos is more aggressive than his later 2018 counterpart because we see him with a Giant double-bladed sword along with the same armor that he had in Infinity War. Thanos uses Nebula's memory to not only see what happens in the future but to also see the Avengers. This Warrior version of Thanos is in a race against time. When Bruce Banner goes back to 2012, he encounters the Ancient One as he tries to get the Time Stone. She warns Banner about what happens when the Stones are out of place and tells him to return them to their original timeline when he is finished. Ironman, Captain America, and Ant-Man also go to 2012 to the events of the first Avengers Movie. They are able to get the Scepter, which contains the Mind Stone. However, they are unable to get the Space Stone, because of the 2012 Hulk's interference which opened the door for Loki to use it. However, they find a Plan B by going to 1970. Interestingly enough, that is the year that Tony was born. During their journey back in time, Tony encounters his Father, Howard Stark. Steve also encounters Peggy Carter at least 25 years after the War against Red Skull & Hydra. Tony was able to finally say goodbye to his Dad while successfully retrieving the Tesseract. We also see a young version of the Original Ant-Man himself, Hank Pym. Meanwhile, Thor and Rocket go back to Asgard for the Reality Stone. Not only do they successfully capture the Reality Stone, but Thor has a touching conversation with his Mother before she is set to die. On the way back to the Future, Thor summons Mjolnir before he and Rocket leave. However, things did not turn out so well on Vormir as Hawkeye sacrifices Black Widow for the Soul Stone. When everyone comes together with the Stones, they realize that Natasha has died in the past. After taking time to mourn, the Avengers come together with the Ultimate Gameplan. This Gameplan is a Nanotech Infinity Gauntlet made by Tony Stark himself. Professor Hulk takes it upon himself to snap his fingers to bring everyone back because of the Gamma Radiation in his blood that can take the Power from the Infinity Stones. After Bruce brings everyone back, things look very calm for a brief moment. That is until Thanos travels to 2023 to blow up Avengers Headquarters. Hawkeye takes the Nano Gauntlet as he runs from Thanos' aliens. He is approached by 2014 Nebula as she takes the Gauntlet from him. However, 2023 Nebula shoots her as he escapes with the Gauntlet. Meanwhile, Ironman, Captain America and Thor (The Big 3) approach Thanos as he sits waiting for them before attacking. The Final Battle made up for the lack of action in the first half of the movie. This version of Thanos is clearly more ruthless with the way that he uses his sword. He holds off a blast from Ironman and Thor combined before destroying them. Thor calls for Stormbreaker, but Thanos takes it and drives it into his chest. The biggest surprise comes when Captain America wields Mjolnir and gives Thanos a run for his money. However, the Mad Titan is able to get the best of Cap when he destroys half of his Shield. Steve hears a signal as Sam Wilson (Falcon) says "On your left". Suddenly, Dr. Strange's portals open as all of the characters that were dusted by Thanos return for the final battle. T'Challa gets the Nano Gauntlet from Hawkeye and runs through the Battlefield like Barry Sanders before giving it to Spider-Man. Peter holds off the Alien Army until Captain Marvel and the other Female Heroes assemble for an obvious pandering scene. Things really kick off when Cap calls for Mjolnir and yells "Avengers, Assemble". Thanos points his Army to battle. Captain Marvel destroys Thanos' ship. The battle between Captain Marvel and Thanos was interesting, as it showed how powerful she really is. After a failed headbutt, Thanos takes a Power Stone and knocks her out. Dr. Strange raises his finger as a signal to Ironman. As Thanos powers up after putting the Infinity Stones together, Ironman rushes to Thanos to grab the Gauntlet. Thanos pushes him back so that he can snap. However, the snap doesn't work because Stark took the stones out of the Gauntlet when Thanos pushed him out of the way. When the Infinity Stones assemble on Ironman's hand, he delivers the game-winning snap as he says "And I am...Ironman". Ironman snapped his fingers to wipe out Thanos and his Army before taking his last breath as he slowly died. Everyone comes to Tony's House to pay tribute by attending the funeral at his Home as the Avengers go their separate ways. Thor leaves Asgard for Valkyrie to lead while teaming with the Asgardians of the Galaxy. However, Starlord has started his search for Gamora after he encountered what was the 2014 Version of her during the Final Battle. Captain America returns the Infinity Stones and Mjolnir to their proper timeline. However, Steve returns to the present time as a Senior Citizen after making a slight tweak to the timeline. Rogers gives the Shield to Sam Wilson as he passes the torch of Captain America.

This was certainly the conclusion that we deserved. This Infinity Saga felt like one Giant Story and each of these movies were Chapters. Ironman 1 was the first Chapter and Endgame was the Finale, as this is the perfect exclamation point. Infinity War provided more intense action and cliffhanger, but Endgame untied certain loose ends so that we could receive much-needed closure. This movie did not even have a Post-Credit Scene. Overall, I was very pleased with this Movie and it was what I and many others expected, if not more. I would give this 5/5.

Ironman: Franchise Star of the MCU

With the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War on the Horizon, I would like to take this time and reflect on the Character that has essentially opened the door for the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his debut film in 2008. One of the Founding Fathers of the Avengers himself, Ironman.

Ironman has always been one of my favorite Marvel Superheroes, next to Spiderman and Wolverine. However, his stock skyrocketed when Marvel released his Movie as the very first film from their Independent Studios in May 2008. From that point, the floodgates have opened for Marvel Studios to release other movies such as Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Avengers, etc. It would change the course of Movies for Marvel Comics and the landscape of the Marvel Brand.

When it came to casting, there was nobody that was a better fit for the Tony Stark/Ironman Character than Robert Downey, Jr. I believe that he is the ultimate fit out of any other actor portraying a Superhero. From the haircut, the humor, you name it. Robert was tailor-made to play Ironman. There have been many actors who fit their roles like a glove (Chris Evans/Captain America, Hugh Jackman/Wolverine, Chadwick Boseman/Black Panther, etc), but none have fit the mold the way that RDJ has fit Ironman.

Speaking of the Original Movie, I would like to take a journey through Ironman's Movie Catalog and start off with where it all began:

Iron Man (2008):

This Movie is the Genesis of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It introduced the Origin of Tony Stark much like the Comics. The character and story were very well fleshed out without all of the extra glitz and glamor of the future MCU Films. It went straight to the point of who Ironman was. I saw this movie when it first came out and immediately became a fan. The Opening Scene where Tony builds the Ironman Armor in the Cave became an all-time favorite for me. The Different Modernized Models for Ironman's Armor are an Architect's Dream come true. The Movie was very well executed. We also see Captain America's Shield as an Easter Egg while Tony is putting his Armor on. Robert was at his best because it was something new and original. He was in his element. This movie exceeded Marvel's original expectations and built the foundation of what was to come. Marvel needed to give a strong introduction of the character, and that is exactly what they have with this movie. It was the Marvel Studios version of "Ready to Die"because of the impact that it made. Critically, it is considered by many to be the best Film of the Franchise. It propelled Ironman to another level and made him a household name among the casual mainstream fans. This movie also introduced Post-Credit Scenes, as we are first introduced to Nick Fury (Played by Samuel L. Jackson). Fury arrives at Stark's house to talk to him about the Initiative for The Avengers. The rest is History. Iron Man made $585 Million at the Box Office from a Budget of $140 Million. You could safely say that they exceeded expectations.

Iron Man 2 (2010):

I actually enjoyed this movie as well, because of how it introduced new characters. For me, the sequel was between just as good, and even better than the first movie because of the extra elements that were added. It introduced Tony/Stark's sidekick Col. James Rhodes/War Machine. Don Cheadle took over as Rhodey and was officially introduced as War Machine. I knew that it was bound to happen after I saw the first movie. Another reason why this movie holds a special place for me is that I bought my first Ironman Figure just so that I could take it with me in the Theater. I also had my Ironman shirt when I saw it. I was 21 but didn't care. We were also introduced to Natasha Romanov (Black Widow). There is more humor in this movie than before, and the chemistry flows fairly well. To some, it seems like filler, but it helps to put more of the pieces of the puzzle together. My favorite scene is where Ironman and War Machine fire off their lasers and missiles at those robots. Fury continues to approach Stark about assembling the Avengers. I also enjoyed the Post Credit Scene where Agent Coulson arrives in the middle of the Desert to find Thor's hammer. Box Office: $624 Millon Budget: $200 Million


Avengers (2012):

Here we are, where Marvel's All-Stars have finally been assembled. All of the pieces of the puzzle have been put together at this point to create a Masterpiece for Marvel. From the first two Ironman Movies to Captain America's first Movie to Thor's Movie, along with the Easter Egg clues in both Ironman films leading to this Chapter of the MCU. Nick Fury's Avengers Initiative becomes a reality, with Ironman as one of the Building Blocks to get the plan started. This Movie shows the difference in viewpoints between the Co-Leaders, Ironman and Captain America. Though they tend to clash from time to time, they still know how to come together for a greater purpose. This is where we see the debut of the Infinity Stones. My favorite scene in this Movie is when Hulk and Thor have their battle. It is only a sign of things to come in the upcoming Ragnarok Movie. You also had secondary players like War Machine, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Vision and Scarlet Witch. I also enjoyed the Final Battle against Loki. This movie was very significant because it succeeded where the X-Men Franchise fell short, and that was continuity. Box Office: $1.5 Billion Budget: $220 Million


Iron Man 3 (2013):

This was the story revolving around the Extremis storyline from 2010. Tony receives the Extremis Serum which is an experimental regenerative treatment to allow recovery from crippling injuries. During the movie, Tony goes through panic attacks. Out of anxiety, he builds several dozen Iron Man suits, which causes friction between him and Pepper Potts. A disabled scientist named Aldrich Killian offers Tony Stark and Maya Hansen (Extremis Inventor) a place in his company Advanced Idea Mechanics, but Stark turns him down. Killian later becomes the Mandarin. After defeating the Mandarin, Tony destroys the other Iron Man suits. The shrapnel is later removed from his heart. With the help of Extremis, Tony is able to put his suit together through  The Movie did very well at the Box Office as usual and even received an Oscar Nomination. However, it was not the biggest critically received film in Ironman's Catalog. Still, it was a really nice movie. Box Office: $1.2 Billion Budget: $200 Million


Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015):

The much-awaited sequel to the Blockbuster that featured Marvel's All-Stars. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner take the Artificial Intelligence from the scepter's gem and use it to create the "Ultron" global defense program. Little did anyone know that they created a monster that would go on a mission to eradicate humanity. Ultron even uses a line from Pinocchio when he says "No Strings on me". Great Disney reference since they have the rights to Marvel. In his mission of destruction, Ultron recruits Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch since they hold Stark responsible for the murder of their parents. The scene where Scarlet Witch plays mind games to make the Avengers fight each other was unbelievable. However, the scene where Iron Man unleashes his Hulkbuster Armor was my favorite. I also like how Ultron was portrayed with his fatalistic ideas. Ultron goes to the base of arms dealer Ulysses Klaue to retrieve Wakandan Vibranium. The movie plays true to the Comics as Ultron creates Vision. Ultron even created his own army of robots to destroy humanity. He is definitely Marvel's brainiac. The Avengers would go on to defeat Ultron and his army. This becomes another layer in the upcoming Infinity War as Thanos is shown at the very end putting on the Infinity Gauntlet to retrieve the stones. Box Office: $1.4 Billion Budget: $316 Million


Captain America: Civil War (2016):

The Battle lines had been drawn. Marvel's Civil War. This movie blew up Social Media with the hashtags #TeamCap and #TeamIronman. Which side of the War were you on? I was #TeamIronman all the way, and this was the most loaded Captain America movie I have ever seen when it comes to characters. We saw the MCU debut of Black Panther as well as Spider-Man. Spidey never appeared in movies exclusively from Marvel Studios, so this was a big deal. The story starts off with a brainwashed James "Bucky" Barnes (Winter Soldier) killing Tony Stark's parents in December 1991 on their way to a Christmas Vacation. Barnes was dispatched at a Hydra base to intercept a car carrying the super-soldier serum. Fast forward to present day, Captain America, Black Widow, Falcon and Scarlet Witch stop Crossbones from stealing a biological weapon from a lab in Lagos, Nigeria. U.S. Secretary of State Agent Thaddeus Ross informs the Avengers that the United Nations will pass the Sovokia Accords (military/law enforcement deployment) which would oversee and restrict the team. The Avengers would become divided. Iron Man approves of the oversight because of his role in Ultron's creation that led to Sokovia's destruction. He also carried the guilt of when a woman told him about how her son was killed in Sokovia during their battle with Ultron. Stark is in a state of regret and wants to undo the damage that he did in the past. Meanwhile, Cap wants to uphold what the Avengers stand for. This movie was a clash of philosophies. On Iron Man's Team, we had War Machine, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Black Widow, and Vision. For Cap, we have Falcon, Winter Soldier, Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man, and Hawkeye. The Movie was very well executed with action scenes that stood out throughout the film. My favorites were the Airport Battle and the Final Battle with Iron Man vs Captain America and Winter Soldier. Iron Man was understandably angry, but Cap was trying to convince him that Bucky was brainwashed and framed for the bombing in Vienna. If Black Panther wasn't sidetracked, I believe it would've been different. Plus, this was Cap's movie. The movie brought in over $1.1 Billion in the Box Office on a $250 Million Budget, making it one of the highest grossing movies of all-time.

Conclusion: Iron Man is the Golden Boy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). From a Box Office Standpoint, he is the Standard by which other Marvel Heroes are measured by. At a time where Marvel had their backs against the wall, they invested everything in Iron Man, and he delivered. The first movie was a Worldbeater in the world of Superhero Movies. Iron Man has been the Centerpiece of the MCU, much like Biggie Smalls was for Bad Boy, LL Cool J for Def Jam and Dr. Dre for Death Row. He has become in many ways to the MCU what Magic Johnson was to the NBA during the 80s. Not to hyperbolize things, but that is the way that I see it. His presence in the MCU elevates those around him. Marvel's highest grossing movies have had his involvement. The Impact of the Iron Man franchise has turned what many consider a B+ Level character into an A+ Icon. This role has saved Robert Downey Jr.'s career and in many ways, his life and turned him into a Megastar. That is why his departure from the MCU after Infinity War will leave a Giant void that would have to be filled in some way. Iron Man has carried the torch for the MCU very well. He may not be the direct face of the entire Marvel Universe (Spider-Man), but he has been the most crucial when it comes to their movies.