Avengers 3000.
(WARNING: For the first time for 'Films For Fridays', here is a spoiler review for 'Avengers: Endgame' to celebrate its epic re-release with a whopping whole six minutes (believe me, you can do a lot in six minutes) of extra footage. We have a non spoiler review too if you have been living under a rock though. So if you haven't seen the 'Endgame', look away NOW (Arnold Schwarzenegger voice))!!
181 Mins. Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bradley Cooper & Josh Brolin. AND, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chadwick Boseman, Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Zoë Saldana, Evangeline Lilly, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Letitia Wright, Vin Diesel, Cobie Smulders & Samuel L. Jackson. ANNNND, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tessa Thompson, Rene Russo, John Slattery, Tilda Swinton, Jon Favreau, Hayley Atwell, Marisa Tomei, Taika Waititi, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Robert Redford, Natalie Portman, Linda Cardellini & Benedict Wong (is that everyone?). Directors: Anthony & Joe Russo.
BULLSEYE! Or should that be Hawkeye? Jeremy Renner looks on as the arrow of Clint Barton's daughter in this verse meets it's mark. "Good job Hawkeye," he says passing the bow and the Disney+ show over as he high fives his kid Kate. 'Green Book's' Linda Cardellini calls them over for Hot Dogs ("who has hot dogs with mayonnaise"? I do Clint! That's who!) to which he asks her to pick up sticks. But as he turns around to see her reclaim her arrow from the tree she almost felled, she's gone in a gust of wind that looks like the Autumn leaves below. Shivers run down our spines in the cinema collectively as his laughing disbelief quickly turns to arrow head focussed anger, as he looks to the park bench and the rest of his family are gone to the same sorrowful ashes to dust. "Babe"?! He asks before running and "get inside kids" whistling towards the park bench. "Boys...BOYS"! That ominous thunder snaps as out heart breaks (even though we knew it was coming) in the foreshadowing distance of his retirement home. As that iconic Marvel comic flipping identity intro plays in red to the most emotional pre-credits scene in M.C.U. history, that leaves us with a lump in our souls. Now we know what the Hawk was up to during his ankle bracelet reveal house arrest deal after Iron Man and Cap traded hands in 'Civil War' for 'Infinity'. Relaxing with his family and teaching his young apprentice with his same vision the tricks of his trade as he plays with her hair in her eyes like a good Dad. Doing the beautiful stay at home thing before Thanos' rudely interrupted that all with a devastating click of his fingers. Arguably as heartbreaking as the final blow in 'Infinity War' or the 'Ant-Man and The Wasp' post credits scene, Marvel's Robin Hood turned into Ronin with the hood. Samurai slashing his way through Tokyo in an outstanding, one-shot sword fight in the neon downpour, met in the street like Bill Murray under the umbrella of Scarlett Johansson. Slicing and dicing a mob of gangsters and Japanese legend and Marvel Yakuza boss (in something that levels up the stairs like a boss level in a Japanese video game) Hiroyuki Sanada (who also met a similar formidable fate in the land of the rising sun and Hugh Jackman's Logan in translation run in 'The Wolverine') like that poisonous fish from 'John Wick-Chapter 3' that almost killed Homer Simpson with Wick style subtitles. Prepare for war. Parabellum. This is the real avengence of earth's mightiest heroes. Dusting off their capes after not feeling so good.
Glowing like Cap's wide eyes the first time he sees space and appearing like the Avenger solar saviour she was just a solo month before, Brie Larson's brilliant Captain Marvel saves Robert Downey Jr's charismatic cinematic universe catalyst Iron Man from certain (delayed) death. The torch is officially passed to this beacon of hope who also has a Moby Dick like moment like Tony Stark bringing the party to New York in the epic finale ensemble assemble. She also unflinchingly channels that Mamba Mentality when NBA star Matt Barnes tried to inbound the basketball to Kobe Bryant's face as she meets Thor and his arm out, called Stormbreaker hammer. Which may have something to do with the iconic haircut she sports on her throne taking end to this game of epic Winterfell like battle royales. "I like this coupling", Marvel fans said when they saw Danvers' cheeky smile and knowing wink to Hemsworth's hench-pressed Norse God. That was until new Asgard somewhere in the Norwegian Highlands allowed us to be reintroduced to his 'International', 'Men In Black' co-star and Queen on Pegasus horseback, 'Creed' star Tessa Thompson's knockout Valkyrie ('Ragnarok' reunited like with director Taika Waititi's loveable rubble, Korg). And the memes and fan art social media trends in love with Carol that followed. Much to the dismay of that look she shared in 'Endgame' like the comics with Don Cheadle's war ready, machine army gunner Rhodey. Following that losing his family, his world. Killing his sister and seeing his brother killed for the umpteenth, ultimate time (or not if the trickster Tom Hiddleston branches off to a whole new reality that Tilda Swinton's classic cameo was telling Hulk for Disney plus). Killing Thanos himself as he finally went for the head. Not to mention "the last time I trusted someone" losing an eye, Thor let it go. Like Lebowski go dude. Or should I say bro? But save your jokes. Because Hemsworth's portrayal of this wounded warrior proving he was still worthy thanks to some wise words from the witch counsel of his mother and the wonderful queen that is Rene Russo made for one of the most moving moments in the movie as she mouths goodbye. The hurt, confused happiness in his eyes as he can still wield his hammer. Tears of laughter were replaced with ones of joy. But we can't wait to laugh out loud at his Asgardians of the Galaxy team-up movie morons with his rabbit and tree friends of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. Kicking names and taking ass with Bautista's Drax and Pom's Mantis. Meanwhile his friend from work, Mark Ruffalo went back to school as Bruce Banner put the brains and brawn best of both worlds together for the CGI incredible, Professor Hulk. And a delightful deleted scene for this re-release alongside a beautiful Stan Lee tribute that has a 'Die Hard' fan service glass trap reference scraping the sky. Although we still want that soulful solo movie like the Lou Ferrigno seventies show. Whilst his former love interest with her own solo movie on the origin way Black Widow sacrificed it all for the team she kept together after Thanos wiped out half of all living creatures. Don't sleep on Scarlett Johansson's red dead assassins creed of redemption. Her final bow, "depends on how hard you hit me" tussle with Hawkeye like they were still more than friends is broodingly beautiful. Although they should have left that trailer moment of spaceship hand to shoulder solidarity from the two in the movie like you may see in this extra footage recut. From blonde back to the blood red that iconically surrounded her head like the rogue Black Widow's rouge locks after she fell to the death depth of the same Red Skull Vormir, soul stone canyon that Josh Brolin tearfully threw Zoë Saldana's Gamora down. Scarlet is a screen starlet turned icon for heroic young women of our time. The blue 'Avatar', trek star Zoë is back in this multi-verse timeline too. Giving even more to that sister story with character development, arc stealer Karen Gillan. Ready to take down her blue man group planet blockbuster with the ultimate comic-book team and iconic frame of all the women of Marvel teaming up for the highest grossing movie of all-time that has already sank James Cameron's 'Titanic'. Infinity iceberg dead ahead! On your left.
"Cap (*radio static*) do you hear me? It's Sam"! The voice is unmistakable as Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange seeing only one in more than a million ways that the Avengers could win this, holding his finger up to a fellow smart Sherlock opens up his Catherine wheel portals and your new Captain America (who else to take the shield Buck?) comes Falcon swooping through to audience cheers and tears. On your left. Along with Chadwick Boseman's world is changing Black Panther king T'Challa, flanked by his warrior queen's Danai Gurira and smarter sister Letitia Wright. The Guardians of the Galaxy lead by Chris Pratt and the homecoming in hugs of Tom Holland's Spider-Man. No longer five years far from home Mr. Stark (but check out an exclusive sneak peak to the Jake Gyllenhaal bromance Mysterio mystery new movie A.I. (after Iron Man) here). Evangeline Lilly's buzzing Wasp next to Paul Rudd's time heist clock resetting Ant-Man. The biggest in this giant, K.O. battle with Brolin's big, bad boss, Thanos. Elizabeth Olsen's ("why was she up there this whole time") Scarlet Witch waiting for her 'WandaVision' with Paul Bettany. The Terminator salvation metal right hand man of Cap's best friend, Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes with you to the end of the line. Even Howard The Duck, quack and you miss him shows up to throw feathers. What? Did you want more? Well how about Goose the Cat, Benedict Wong? Even Gwyneth Paltrow superhero lands in an Iron Man suit to the Rescue. It's an epic, ensemble moment like no other movie in blockbuster history from 'Lord Of The Rings' to an airport in Germany. Only to be gone in the seconds it takes to click ones fingers. As snap quick as an "I am Iron Man" like 2008 later and it's all too late. The man who began it all is gone in a moment we'll rewatch 3000 times because that's how much we love him. We've seen him start a family that's all about juice pops and going to sleep or I'll sell your toys (I dare you not to cry when 'Chef' Jon Favreau talks about cheeseburgers (how about grilled cheese Fav?)). We've seen him emotionally reconnect with his father John Slattery's Howard Stark in the 'Mad Men' 50's. And even finally shake hands with Cap as they do the time warp again. But seeing him save the world one last time is what is the most lasting snap as the waterworks come like a wave even Strange couldn't stop. And the proof that Tony Stark has a heart is in the "wedding" that brings out all the Hollywood and Marvel legends like Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, William Hurt, Marisa Tomei, Angela Bassett and Samuel L. Jackson in a cinematic 'Community' of cameos as the Russo Bros geek out. From the retired Robert Redford, to the late, great, bittersweet hallmark of them all, Stan Lee. Excelsior. Not to forget the loved likes of Winston Duke, Cobie Smulders and a deleted 'Dark World' Natalie Portman scene. But the most epic, emotional moment in this movie and history of the franchise and M.C.U. legacy involves the Captain. And it's not when the all-American, Apple Pie leader takes us back to the original Avengers 'Assemble' and has a hilarious Hydra nod to the dark comics turn, 'Winter Soldier' elevator call-back with a pre-Crossbones Frank Grillio. Or when he shows us America's ass when fighting himself like two animated Spider-Men pointing at each other. He could do that all day. It's when he picks something up like he almost did in 'Age Of Ultron' and uses it to pack a wallop to the back of Thanos' head. "I knew it", Thor says with almost more glee then when he found out he was still worthy. Like a lightening bolt Thor's hammer snaps back and smacks into the hand of none other than the man iconically looking up over his shield. Captain America is worthy of my tears. Because that's when I turned the waterworks on to match my hair standing on end, shouting, "YES"! All for the best moment of the blockbuster (although after feeling extremely anxious and hiding in the cinema, watching 'Endgame' for the third time I literally cried at all the emotional stuff. Happy and sad with no f###s given! This comic book stuff was always my escape before it was "cool". The magic of cinema people). And again as he uses it once more to lead the "Avengers... Assemble" last charge it's a classic culmination of everything comic-book in this geek nerdom history where Anthony and Joe Russo throw everything at us and it all sticks, in perfect balance as all things should be. There's another classic mid-battle banter exchange between Thor and Cap over hammers like in all the other 'Avengers' and so much thunder bolts of lightning Galileo. But after giving all the stones back like only he could and old Cap sitting on a bench looking in frame like he did before the serum, passing the shield to an African-American hero of our time, it's the last dance saved for Agent Carter that's the best. As slow waltzing in the living room with Hayley Atwell's Peggy, Chris Evans' Steve Rogers gives us the ending we and he all deserved. It doesn't get more meaningful or beautiful than not leaving your best girl. And with that it's a wrap for Cap and a series of superhero swan songs that were more than just a phase. Now it's time to get you some of that life Tony was talking about as the metal clangs under the hammer for the last time iron hearts. Tip your caps to that. After going beyond infinity and buzz, that's the 'Endgame' now. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Avengers: Infinity War', 'Avengers Assemble', 'Captain Marvel'.
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