Grade: A++++
Author: Billy Madden
It’s not too often that movies come along and are less like movies and more like events. Avengers: Endgame, the culmination of 11 years and 22 movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is one of those. The madness involved in getting a Thursday night ticket was well worth it.
THE GREAT AMC CRASH OF 2019
I’m an AMC A-List subscriber. That means I’m not usually waiting around to get a ticket. When pre-sale tickets were made available in the wee hours of the morning, I assumed they would be difficult to obtain, though that was an understatement. I have never experienced so much chaos purchasing a movie ticket before.
At the exact minute tickets were made available, the AMC website and their app crashed. I tried and tried to load them for several hours with no luck. I decided to go back to sleep in hopes that Thanos’ snap on AMC’s servers would be alleviated. After some rest, the servers still amounted to dust. Thinking outside of my panic, I decided to go old school and went straight to an AMC theatre, thinking of purchasing a ticket at the kiosk. I wasn’t the only one who came up with this workaround. After waiting in line for an hour, I finally had a coveted Thursday night IMAX ticket! Whatever it takes: me and fellow fans took that motto to heart when purchasing tickets.
It was clear to see that this movie was going to break some box office records. At the time of this posting, Endgame made a record-setting $60 million in Thursday night previews. If the sales alone aren’t enough evidence the fans love this franchise, the #ThankYouAvengers hashtag currently trending on social media should.
THE THREE-HOUR TOUR
As the length of this movie is the same as the drive time from San Diego to Los Angeles, I made sure to take care of “business” before the film started. As an additional precaution, I had nothing to drink during the movie. Once seated in the theater, I knew I was in for a good time, looking around at the eager faces of my fellow Marvel movie fanatics.
What makes Endgame a winner is the script and editing. This movie must have been an editor’s nightmare because so much information was thrown into it. It had to have been a chore to keep it around the three-hour mark. Still, they more than pulled it off. They brought sheer perfection. Everything is so tightly written you do not want to miss a second of the film. Every scene has a purpose, and everything is delivered at breakneck speed. There is not one wasted shot with this beauty.
With such a gargantuan cast, nobody steals the show; the movie feels more like a team effort. The actors pour their hearts and souls into this gift. Of course, everyone has favorite characters, and I enjoyed Bruce Banner / The Hulk the most. Thor was a very close second. Among many others, both brought the funny and were just a joy to watch in their respective roles.
THE THANK YOU
You will laugh, you will cry, and you will be on the edge of your seat. As the action unfolds, you will be cheering loudly, along with other fans. My hands are sore from all the clapping I did throughout the movie. I can only equate the sensation to cheering on your favorite sports team at a live event.
Endgame is exactly what Marvel fans have been waiting for. From music to line delivery to scene shots, the entire film felt like a thank you from the entire franchise to the fans for their dedication over the past decade.
Avengers: Endgame IS the movie you have been waiting for, and it does not disappoint. Easily the most fun I have ever had in a theater. This is one event you cannot miss! Assemble your friends, do whatever it takes, and join the epic battle.
Rated: PG-13
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Screenwriters: Stephen McFeely, Christopher Markus
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Chadwick Boseman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sebastian Stan, Katherine Langford
Genre: Action, Adventure
Summary:
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.