The hype is palpable as expectations soar high. “Avengers: Endgame” is a three hour extravaganza, showcased on a vast canvas so reminiscent of its predecessors. It is an emotional and logically fitting finale to the epic Marvel saga that began nearly a decade ago.
Every living superhero; Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert DowneyJr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), The Hulk (MarkRuffalo), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel(Brie Larson) and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) along with War Machine (DonCheadle), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Rocket (Voice of BradleyCooper) and many others are roped into the narrative.
This fourth and final Avenger saga is the 22nd film of theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and it wraps up the Avenger series rathersmoothly. It’s the battle of all battles, where the Avengers unite to confrontthe antagonist Thanos (Josh Brolin) who believes that he is invincible and hasnearly erased 50 per cent of all the living creatures. This is the crux of thenarrative.
Despite the exposition of Thanos wiping out the 50 per centof the population, not being shown but only mentioned verbally, the take homelessons are sincere, thus making the film relatable.
There are numerous sub-plots and back stories that tie uploose ends. Narrated in a non-linear manner and complicated with a timemachine, the plot is episodic and has three very distinct acts; the first therealisation that Thanos with the Infinity Stones would control the universe,the second the assembly of the Avengers and the third the confrontation. Eachact, despite appearing forced is treated uniquely.
The narrative begins on a slow, sombre and steady note. Thecharacters along with their history are intrinsically woven into the tale andit is here at times that the film appears to drag. The film picks up momentumby the climax and again drags during the denouement.
The mega setting of the well-choreographed, action sequencebetween team Thanos and the Avengers is breath taking and amazingly enthrallingbut short-lived on screen. Moreover, fatigue seems to have seeped into thisMarvel’s cosmic world. The visuals appear to have lost lustre because they arere-tread of what we’ve already seen. So in totality, there is a fair balance ofbrilliant as well as dull moments.
But what keeps you glued to the screen is intrigue of howthe narrative will unfold. So, in spite of this being the finale, one is surethat this edition is not the extinction of MCU. While, from all appearances,this may have been the end of the journey for some characters and theirstorylines, but the seeds of many offshoots appear to have been planted alongthe way. Expect new tales to unfold in the forthcoming seasons along withcharacters that may shine.
The razor sharp edits are flawless as they seamlessly blendmotion capture frames with the computer generated images. The 3D effects andelaborate background score are bonus to the viewing experience.
Overall, this spectacular film would be a fans delight.