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Prior to the press screening of the new blockbuster most anticipated film so far for 2019, AVENGERS: ENDGAME the Disney official introducing the film made a request that the critics do not spoil the key scenes of the film and to respect the Marvel Universe fans. As it turns out, there are many, may things that could be kept from the fans, even from the very start, on the slightest of details So this critic will try to be as discreet as possible.
The film opens with Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) having a picnic with his family. He is teaching his daughter the bow and arrow while the wife the boys baseball. It is a beautiful idyllic setting. Suddenly, the daughter disappears followed by the rest of the family. It is an excellent beginning that connects the audience to humanity despite the film being based on super heroes. It is soon revealed that half the Universe has been destroyed by the villain Thanos (Josh Brolin), an intergalactic despot from Titan who collected the 6 infinity stones to do the job. This explains the disappearance of Barton’s family. In order to say the destroyed half of the universe, the Angers band together and come up with an elaborate or impossible (but always possible in movies) scheme to reverse the damage done.
Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) suggests travelling through time in a quantum time machine to undo the deed. The concept involves immense risk, which means it can be done in a movie. Directors Joe an Anthony Russo slowly but surely introduces the other Marvel super action hero Avengers. Iron man (Robert Downy Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans looking super dashing) are the two action heroes given the most attention and they are shown at loggerheads in terms of ideas. Iron Man, the leader and benefactor of the Avengers is a self-described genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist while Captain America is fugitive superhero and leader of a faction of Avengers. Almost every other marvel hero seen in films in the past decade make their appearances including Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), the Hulk (ark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth who is simply hilarious as the overweight drunk), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and a host of others in minor parts like Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Vision (Paul Bethany), Falcom (Anthony Mackie) and others way too many to mention.
The action sequences are more than aptly executed with the directors playing it smart to play up the human parts of the story. There are moments that will bring audiences to shed a tear or two. The logic of the story does to always make sense. For example the logic of time travel is difficult to follow and the Infinity Stones also do not make much sense in the flow of things. But these are fantasy elements that should be present in futuristic action films.
Marvel and Disney make good again in their latest action superhero outing compared to Warner Brothers who seem to make one blunder after another. Everyone at the press screening stayed to the end of the closing credits (lasting a full 15 minutes or so) hoping to see some surprise. Is there one? Sorry, no spoilers even for this point. Stay to the very end to find out.
Festival Reviews 