GRAPHIC BY CAROL LI By COLLEEN GAPUZAN
STAFF WRITER
To all the MCU cast and crew, we love you 3000.
It’s the end of an era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and fans across the globe are mourning the end of one of the world’s all-time greatest cinematic phenomenons.
On Apr. 24, Marvel released its last installation of the Avengers series, which already broke numerous box office records, including the 10th highest-grossing film of all time.
In the MCU, the culmination of 10 years and more than twice as many films, Avengers: Endgame promises closure where its predecessor, Avengers: Infinity War, imposes an infinite amount of chaos.
In one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, Avengers: Endgame picks up the pieces from the infamous cliffhanger that left viewers globally famished for the past year. To recap, the prior installment, Avengers: Infinity War, ended with intergalactic super villain Thanos erasing half of all species, including most of the Avengers, leaving the whole universe in tatters.
In the three-hour cinematic excellence, Endgame multiplies the scale tenfold by bringing back the focus to the surviving Avengers in the ultimate fight of redemption and resurrection. The focus transitions to the camaraderie between Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the entire MCU in a mission to defeat Thanos and save the universe, complete with iconic humor, heartbreak, unforgettable action and a whole wave of nostalgia.
With half the cast wiped out of the population, Endgame allows an immense amount of character development between the core Avengers, along with newer additions to the MCU family such as Captain Marvel (played by Brie Larson). The film submerges into each superheroes’ personal life and backstories, as the audience enters an emblematic time portal into the characters’ history and their subsequent motivations. For example, Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, radiated in portraying a strong, fearless female lead. By taking the initiative to assemble the other Avengers who have seemingly lost hope, including prime leader Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, Black Widow goes above and beyond fans’ expectations into ensuring the reunion of the year.
Additionally, another character who undoubtedly stood out was not Iron Man himself, but rather, Tony Stark. Initially being hesitant in aiding in the Avengers plan, Stark’s real life unfolds as the film provides an in-depth knowledge of his true persona and motivation. As one of the primary leaders, fans are shocked to see Stark with a different persona initially, but are then able to witness his significant character growth throughout the film. The movie places the spotlight on Stark’s love for his family (past and present), which increases the fans respect for one of the world’s most beloved superheroes, while simultaneously bringing on the full waterworks.
Alongside the action, Thor and Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk, took center stage in succeeding the role of the film’s comedic relief. Both characters take on the more witty route throughout the motion picture, from nostalgic references to slightly cringeworthy, yet memorable one-liners.
Indubitably, it would be a crime for Marvel’s ultimate love letter to its fans to be incomplete without—you guessed it—Captain America. The film generously allows fans to take in the origins of the Avengers’ beloved leader, and witness a more intimate, softer version of himself. Captain America’s character development definitely shines throughout the entire movie, featuring a chock full of reminiscence that pays homage to the earlier films.
Besides the characters, it’s safe to say that calling the last installment a thrill ride would be a total understatement. The movie overall packs a punch (well, multiple) and no single action sequence should go unnoticed. Directors Anthony and Joseph Russo create a stunning piece of art that captivates fans from the first scene to the last, allowing every single movie-goer to submerge into the film’s entirety in the best way possible.
Between tears and laughs, significant movements were highlighted including heavy women representation. Many of the MCU female leads had a notable platform in exhibiting feminist attributes including, but not limited to, Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Nebula, Gamora, Okoye, Scarlet Witch and Hope, to name a few. Ultimately, each had empowering impacts on women and forever changed the status quo for female superheroes.
In summation, from the exceptional complexity of the plot that will undoubtedly go down in history, to the unforgettable characters that started it all, to the overall in-depth nostalgia, the MCU has definitely succeeded in creating the ultimate sequel for every Marvel film ever.
If you haven’t seen Endgame yet, for the sake of your sanity, please watch it—or the notorious spoilers will get to you first.