INTRODUCTION
Only read this if you’ve seen the film. Don’t ruin other people’s experience and your own. I’m writing this here as I want to express myself, that’s all.
Not doing a proper review, just divided into 3 sections. Highlights, Questions and Nitpicks.
For those of you who saw the film, holy hell.
For those of you haven’t seen it, stop and go watch it first. Seriously, even if you’re a casual fan only.
HIGHLIGHTS
Hawkeye’s Family
Succinctly captures the devastation one would feel about the loss of family. Brutal.
Thanos’s Death in first act
Holy shit that was the first major surprise of the film. The Avengers actually defeated Thanos. And yet - it was a hollow victory. This helps reestablish the stakes at the start. Brilliant.
Chill Hulk & Plus Size Thor
Both of these characters go through major changes and both were played for laughs but it also went deeper than that. Both reacted in different ways. Bruce accepted what happened and moved on. Thor couldn’t. Fantastic demonstration of how trauma impacted different characters, these two at their most extreme.
Back to the Future is BS
The whole discussion about time travel is fantastic. They used film shorthand to make sure we won’t be arguing too much about how this works. And yet... (see below for Time Travel questions)
Surprising Past Character Appearances
Frigga, Jane, Hank Pym, Howard Stark, The Ancient One, Jarvis, Peggy Carter... these were unexpected and while they seem inconsequential or small, having them appear gave the universe and history a richness and vastness on screen. Frigga’s appearance alone makes me want to rewatch Thor The Dark World, one of the lesser Marvel films!
Rocket slapping Thor
HAH!
Community cameos
Anyone notice Chang and Shirley? And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, the Russo Brothers produced a beloved sitcom called Community. It added to my enjoyment and they were small enough to not distract.
Smart Hulk Politely Smashes
Hilarious best. In fact, the whole New York section was probably the most fun and lighthearted section.
Cap hails Hydra
The elevator ride 2.0. The audience roared when we saw what happened and roared again at Cap’s brilliant exit line. SO. SMART.
Cap vs Cap
This scene was just a perfect cherry. Cap deflating his iconic line was perfect. And yes, that’s America’s ass.
Hawkeye VS Black Widow
DAMNIT! Was expecting them to somehow solve that, you know, Solomon’s wisdom, the fact that they were saving each other to show how self sacrificing they are. DAMNIT! Ultimate friendship goals.
Cap holds Mjolner
HELL YES! This elicited the biggest cheer cuz GODDAMN! Cap wields Mjolner like a pro. Which leads to...
Cap vs Thanos’s Army
That moment was like a painting. One man against an army. Perfect. Until we get...
You Want More?!?
EPIC. Everybody was there except SHIELD and seriously no need. Because we know SO many players on the field, this was like a LOTR battle except more stakes and emotion as we empathize with so many of them.
The Future is Female
THAT shot of the heroines, ready to fight. In perfect contrast to the all male hero line up at Black Widow’s wake. Don’t tease though, let’s actually see a similar line up in a future Avengers film Feige!!!
Peter Quill kicked in Nuts
Can we all forgive Quill now? He just got kicked in the nuts by someone he loves. Oh “it was either him or a tree.” PERFECT.
Captain Marvel
Juuuuust right. Argue Deus Ex Machina all you want, her return is like Gandalf returning in the Two Towers. And Thanos hitting head of Captain Marvel and her not flinching was brilliant.
And... I... am Iron Man
I didn’t note too many highlights with Iron Man yet his death is the most devastating ones. It’s Tony Stark’s journey that is the most human. Cap can have all the awesome moments, Iron Man has my heart and tears. “I love you 3000.” That’s going to be quoted so much now. Robert Downey Jr left an awesome legacy.
Old Cap
Was that Chris Evans? This wasn’t a Harry Potter Deathly Hallows situation, the moment worked well.
LOOSE THREADS / QUESTIONS
Time Travel
My understanding is that time travel doesn’t impact the present/future. Plucking the infinity stones from the timeline will make alternate timelines but if they’re put back, it’s fine and will revert to just 1 timeline. Still...
Loki Escapes
Loki has the tesseract. Does this mean that Loki created an alternate timeline from there as he has an infinity stone? Also will the upcoming miniseries be based on this Loki or another past Loki?
Dead Thanos 2014
Did Tony kill Thanos 2014 or put him back where he belonged to not mess with the timeline? That’s a big change.
My theory: even if Iron Man killed Thanos, the infinity stones bring back will put the timeline threads back. So dead Thanos 2014, Loki with Tesseract, Hydra knowing Cap knowing about Hydra, all fine.
Gamora 2014
Was she wiped from existence too or did Tony discard her? That was left a tantalizing mystery. I’m assuming Gamora 2014 is still alive and on a view screen at the end with Starlord, he has “Searching for Gamora” visible. Is he hiding this? And did Nebula not tell anyone?
Cap’s Time Travel Film
This is a gift for the imagination. Caps adventures as he returns each infinity stone. Imagine him facing off with the Red Skull once more. Imagine Cap in space. Imagine Cap dealing with HYDRA before they were found out. Brilliant.
Cap’s Passing of the Shield
So Sam is now Cap. And it’s fitting. But is that shield new? Or the original plucked from the past? Also Bucky not getting it, from the mannerism of Bucky, it feels like Old Cap filled Bucky in on the details before, like Bucky remembering with new memories.
Spider-Man and 5 years
Also left to ponder. Spider-Man returns to school and half of his classmates will have graduated. The other half are still his age. Hope this is addressed in the next film.
The MCU
This is now a VASTLY different world, now everybody knows about aliens and superheroes. There’s been trauma and new technologies.
Signature of Cast at Credits
Having the signature of the cast seemed an odd choice at first but then these 6 have been in there the longest and for at least 3 of them, it will be their final film. If they undo it, would be very disappointing.
No End Credits Scene
I liked this choice. Gives the film a sense of finality. The film was exhausting in a good way. Didn’t need a morsel for the future.
NITPICKS & MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
Gamora and Nebula Face Thanos
Wish we had them face Thanos as he dies. Closure is important.
Time
Do aliens have the same sense of time as earth? I wish the henchman guy just said “future timestamp” and left it vague and not said “years.”
Thanos
Not a nitpick but something I can sense others may complain about. This wasn’t Thanos’s film. He’s “just a bad guy” but for me this works as this film is about the heroes fighting and figuring the impossible. Don’t care about Thanos, I just wanted the Avengers to defeat him and bring everybody back.