‘Avengers: Endgame’ Review: A Spoiler-Free Review

It’s hard to believe it has been 11 years since it all began. And now it’s finally ending. It’s hard not to get emotional about it, but I’ll try my best in this spoiler-free review. (And by spoiler-free, I mean I won’t discuss specific plot points – but I will discuss general themes and characters).

The film picks up following the horrific events of last year’s Avengers: Infinity War. The universe is in ruins, half of all living things have vanished into thin air – and the world is trying to move forward. But that’s a lot easier said than done for anyone who has lost a loved one. If there’s anyone that can undo what Thanos did – it’s the Avengers. But is it even possible? And if so, at what cost?

Avengers: Endgame is a long film, clocking in at just over 3 hours. But never for a second does it feel long. From beginning to end, I was thoroughly engrossed the entire time, not wanting it to end. And knowing that before it did, we would surely lose at least some of the characters we know and love. (Side note: Between this film, and the last season of Game of Thrones, I feel like we’re all just expecting the worse, but there’s still a tiny part of us hoping that maybe it will all be okay?)

In the end, it’s impossible not to reflect on what these characters mean to us. Sure, we knew them before 2008, but the MCU gave faces to our favorite characters – these actors ARE these characters in the same way that Elijah Wood will always be Frodo. Saying goodbye to this chapter of the MCU with Avengers: Endgame is hard but incredibly satisfying.

What makes this film so enjoyable is that Stark, Rogers, Banner, Thor, Barton, and Romanoff are more than just superheroes – they’re family. Their chemistry and delivery of every line of dialogue render these characters fully formed. We’ve gone through the good and bad with them with each of them, and this story is no exception.

I don’t consider it a spoiler to say there’s a rather major fight scene at the end of the film. And it has to be in the running for one the best action sequences of all time (to me it’s the clear frontrunner). But the effects and choreography of this scene is like watching a seamless dance. It’s pure magic and creates a powerful climax for the film.

As a proud nerd sitting in the audience, there was a distinct sense of pride that washed over me. For all of us that got made fun of for reading comics or liking nerdy things in our adolescent… Now, those very things we were made fun of for – we’re watching save the world. They’re standing up for what they love and believe in – and frankly, it’s just a helluva an empowering scene to watch.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

So where do we go from here? Is this really the end? Don’t worry my fellow fans. Avengers: Endgame only marks the end of the Avengers as we currently know them. There’s a Black Window film coming (Freaking finally!!! This one is suspected to be a prequel or origin story, but details are being kept under wraps), Spider-Man: Far From Home is out this July, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is happening, The Eternals is in pre-production – and you can, of course, expect Black Panther 2 and Doctor Strange 2.

It may be the end of an era, but it’s not the end of stories for our favorite Marvel characters. We’ve got multiple rich timelines to explore – and you better believe Disney is going to keep exploring them. Maybe some of our Avengers can meet up on-screen with the X-Men? With Disney’s purchase of Fox – we have a whole new lot of characters to explore.

Alright, wrapping up this tangent with my hopes and thoughts on the future of Marvel on the big screen. Overall, Avengers: Endgame is not only the ending that this story deserved but also a film that stands strong entirely on its own. The Russo Brothers, the writers, the cast – everyone involved with this film – could not have done a better job. Rich with humor, emotion, action, and too many incredible new cosplay opportunities to count (There’s going to be some great Thors at DragonCon this year), Avengers: Endgame is everything that fans want it to be. So grab your tissues, and get to the theatre. This review may have been spoiler-free, but there’s no way you’re not going to hear what happens if you don’t go see the film this weekend.

Avengers: Endgame Review:

Grade: A+

Feel free to post your thoughts on the film (including spoilers) in the comment section below. This is the end of the spoiler-free zone!