Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Writers: Christopher Markus (screenplay by), Stephen McFeely (screenplay by)
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo
I’d like to now discuss Avengers: Endgame, a film that is by no exaggeration a decade in the making. No, I’m not being political in ranking it just above The Irishman. The simple reality is that this is the movie I always wanted from The Marvel Cinematic Universe. And indeed if this was the one truly exemplary experience I had in the theatre this year, it would already have made for a better year in film than the entirety of last year. A pure nostalgia trip bottled in an emotionally impactful thrill ride. Everyone gets their moment, their own awe inducing spectacle.
It teaches exactly what it means to be a hero, the feverish persistence to do what is right no matter the costs. It features some of the best performances from its all-star cast ever put to screen, some of the best special effects ever conceived, and a devilishly beautiful climax. If all superhero movies were this, I could die happily. The greatest flaws are obvious.
If you have no attachment, this is likely not the movie to sell you (seeing as how it pivots entirely around you having a basic understanding of previous events and characters). And naturally the first act is bloated with jargon designed solely to propel us, not to educate us on the world. But what does it matter? It may not be the best movie in the MCU, but it is the best MCU movie. 9/10