Endgame
This is the longest of the MCU movies and was the first film to reach over a billion dollars during its opening weekend in theatres. It also became one of the highest grossing films of all time. And if Infinity War had almost everyone in it, this one has even more.
It opens with Clint practicing with his daughter, Lila (you can see the ankle monitor on his leg, like Scott had), with the two boys playing and getting ready for lunch. Clint turns for a second and when he turns back, Lila is gone. Then everyone else; picking up with the snap from Infinity War.
We find Tony and Nebula on the Guardians’ ship. They are trying to limp home to Earth, but now the engines have failed and oxygen is running low. Tony leaves a recording for Pepper, if she even survived the snap; he’s wounded and knows he’s dying, but he was hoping to pull off one last surprise. He lays down and we see Nebula make him comfortable. But a bright light soon fills the screen; Captain Marvel has found them and brings them home to the Avengers compound, to be greeted by Steve, Natasha, Rhodey, Bruce, Thor, Rocket, and Pepper. Steve is the first to reach Tony. “I couldn’t stop him,” Tony admits. “Neither could I,” Steve tells him. Then Tony stops; “I lost the kid.” “Tony, we lost,” Steve tries to help with Tony’s guilt. Then Pepper comes over and is very happy to see Tony alive.
Tony is very thin, sitting with what’s left of the Avengers as they discuss what is going on, reviewing the list of everyone they know to be gone with the snap. But when Steve asks for any information, Tony gets upset. He warned them that Thanos was coming years ago and had built Ultron originally to put a suit of armor around the world, but he got backlash. And because of the rift between Tony and Steve, Steve was not there when Tony needed him (and Tony doesn’t know that Steve showed up and there was a battle in Wakanda). Tony would rather talk to Carol, since she’s new blood, but passes out in front of Steve.
So Carol decides she’ll give killing Thanos a try (and considering how she handled Ronan and the other Kree, she stands a good chance). Thor also wants a shot at Thanos again, since he wasn’t able to stop the Titan before. Nebula knows where to find Thanos. The rest of the Avengers find the garden and attack; the plan is to use the stones to bring everyone back. Thanos’ entire side is now charred. But they discover that he used the stones to destroy them; they’re gone. Thor cuts off his head. And the Avengers have to…move on.
Five years pass; Steve is holding a support session, encouraging others to move on with life. Then we see a van in lock up shake; the equipment in the back lights up and Scott emerges. Once he gets free, he has to discover what happened. He finds memorial stones put up and desperately searches for Cassie’s name, instead finding his own. So he goes the last place he saw her and Cassie is indeed still alive, but five years older and now a teenager. She’s surprised to see her father alive, but this gives Scott an idea. He finds the Avengers compound, mainly manned by Natasha while the others are out on missions. Rhodey brings up that Clint has been out and about and not really a part of them, but Natasha still wants updates (and we actually see her on the verge of a breakdown when she has a minute alone; proving she’s not unflappable).
Scott suggests that quantum physics may hold the answer; what was five years to the rest of the world was five hours to Scott in the Quantum Realm. So, since time moves differently, maybe they can enter the Quantum Realm at one time in history, but leave it at another time; translation: time travel. Steve suggests they need another brain to weigh in on this; they drive out to Tony’s house. His last five years have been better; he has a four-year-old daughter, Morgan [who is adorable and plays with her mother’s helmet; and Tony is totally sweet with her.] So Tony is not keen to risk his second chance.
So they go to find Bruce, who has fused with the Hulk and is now big and kind of green, but retains his ability to speak academically. While it’s outside his area of expertise, they persuade him to give it a try. And the first try…has some issues; Scott jumps in ages, becoming a teenager, an old man, and a baby, before returning to himself.
In the meantime, Tony found a picture of himself and Peter (from behind the scenes) and decides to try a few simulations and comes across one that works. But he tells Pepper, he could set the work aside. She knows he won’t be able to rest if he does that. So he heads to the compound and returns the shield to Steve, or else Morgan was going to turn it into a sled. He makes it abundantly clear that he has some ideas, but they can’t jeopardize what he has now. The rest of the team is assembled.
Bruce and Rocket head to New Asgard in Norway to find Thor, who has let himself go, wallowing from his failure. Rocket lures him with the promise of beer. Natasha goes after Clint, finding him in Toyoko, executing criminals. Scott cautions everyone that they only have enough Pym Particles for one round trip each, and ultimately one test, which Clint volunteers for, even after Bruce tries to set everyone straight on time travel (and I don’t get the science myself, so I’m not going to try to explain it). It works; Clint lands at his home and hears his children arguing, but he’s brought back before he can see them, though he’s got the baseball glove in his hand.
So, the theory and practice work. Now, they need a plan to retrieve all the stones, primarily when and where. It delves into a college cram session, summarizing the history of each stone in relation to who had contact with it, and Natasha finally notes that if they pick the correct year, three stones are in New York. That’s their jumping off point. Steve gives them a rousing speech: “Get the stones, get them [people they lost] back. One round trip each. No mistakes. No do-overs…Be careful. Look out for each other. This is the fight of our lives. And we’re going to win. Whatever it takes. Good luck.” (And we even hear the theme return.)
Bruce lands with Steve, Tony, and Scott in New York City, 2012, during the Chitauri invasion. Bruce will go to the Sanctum to retrieve the Time Stone. He meets the Ancient One, who separates him from the Hulk again and speaks to Bruce. She’s not keen on giving up the stone, explaining that time will then branch out once the stones are removed and the events are changed [this notion returns in Loki]. He finally convinces her when he admits that Stephen Strange gave up the stone. So maybe, Strange was right about something, so the Ancient One hands the stone to Bruce, after he promises that they will return the stones once they’ve used them.
The other three head to the Avengers Tower to retrieve the Mind Stone in the scepter, and the Space Stone in the Tesseract. We see more of the aftermath of events. Steve retrieves the scepter and manages to get it away from Rumlow and his team by whispering “Hail Hydra” in Sitwell’s ear. But 2012 Steve spots him, thinking he is Loki in disguise (Loki does love to mimic Captain America) and the two fight. Older Steve even has to deal with his younger self quipping “I can do this all day.” “Yeah, I know,” the older version sighs. When the younger Steve has the older Steve in a headlock, older Steve whispers “Bucky’s alive,” to shock his younger self into letting go. Then he knocks him out, and has to agree with Scott and Tony, that his ass is America’s ass.
At the same time, Tony has Scott trigger a heart attack in Tony’s younger self in order to create a distraction to get the case with the Tesseract. That bit goes fine. But Hulk finally smashes through the bottom stairs and the case goes flying, with the Tesseract landing at Loki’s feet. [Which, SPOILER, is how the Loki series starts], Loki picks up the Tesseract and vanishes. Past Thor is able to restart Tony’s reactor with Mjölnir and save him, huzzah. But they still have to get the Tesseract. Scott reminds them that they don’t have the Pym Particles to go back in time again and still get home. Tony actually has an idea and Steve trusts him enough to go with him.
Thor and Rocket go to Asgard in 2013 during the time when Jane is there with the Aether inside of her, the Reality Stone. But Thor struggles with being back in Asgard and on the day that his mother dies. He manages to run into his mother and she realizes he is from the future, and gives him words of wisdom: “Everyone fails at who they are supposed to be. The measure of a person, of a hero, is how well they succeed at being who they are.” Thor may be a failure, but that makes him like everyone else. Thor wants to warn his mother about what will happen to her, but she refuses. Rocket in the meantime, manages to extract the Aether. Thor has them wait a moment and holds out his hand. Mjölnir flies into it. “I’m still worthy,” he murmurs, with a few tears [so heartwarming.]
Nebula and Rhodey head to Morag to intercept Peter Quill when he gets the Power Stone in 2014, Rhodey simply knocking him out. However, Past Thanos discovers something is going on because the two Nebulas are connected through their memory files. Future Nebula is sucked on to Thanos’ ship with her past self, along with Gamora and Thanos. Thanos accesses her memory and discovers future events, including his death. Past Nebula will return to the future, portraying her Future self.
Steve and Tony head to Camp Leigh in 1970 (briefly seeing Stan Lee drive by). Steve will go after the particles, calling Hank’s lab and getting him out. He ends up hiding for a minute in Director Peggy Carter’s office and glimpses her through the window. Tony goes down to retrieve the Tesseract and runs into his father, who admits that his wife is pregnant. Tony, calling himself Howard Potts, gets a few minutes to speak to his father and share advice. They connect as men who just want the best for their children and wonder if they do the right thing.
Clint and Natasha go to Vormir and meet the Red Skull guardian and face the same dilemma that Thanos faced with Gamora. Except they both suggest sacrificing themselves. Clint wants to atone for his actions the past five years and Natasha insists that Clint has a family to return to. They fight, falling over the edge. Natasha saves Clint, them pushes herself free, and Clint can’t grab her. He has the Soul Stone now, but at a great cost.
The team returns and discover the cost. They all grieve Natasha in their own way, but they have a mission to continue as well. They place the six stones into an Iron Man gauntlet. Thor offers to be the one to try it, wanting to atone for his mistakes (and in the midst of the drama, we get the levity of Rhodey saying that Cheez Whiz is flowing in Thor’s veins; honestly, it’s more likely beer, but Thor wants to claim lightning.) Bruce is the one who takes it and everyone suits up when he tries it. He succeeds in snapping, but it burns his arm. There is a brief second that they wonder if they succeeded. Scott sees something in the window and Clint gets a call from his wife. But Nebula, the past version, has opened a portal and let Thanos and his ship through. A rocket hits the compound and causes a massive explosion.
Rhodey, Rocket, and Bruce are trapped and try to save each other. Clint grabs the gauntlet and keeps it away from some creatures. On Thanos’s ship, Future Nebula admits to Past Gamora that they did become friends and sisters. Gamora frees her and declares they should stop Thanos. And the big three, Thor, Steve, and Tony, all face off against Thanos. He’s just sitting in the crater he created, waiting for them. It’s a trap, but their mission is to keep the stones away from Thanos. Thor summons both Mjölnir and Stormbreaker and declares “let’s kill him properly this time.”
Thanos mocks them that they could not live with their own failure and that brought them back to him. And he has a new plan; to eliminate all life and remake it. The three attack, working together. Tony is the first knocked out. Then Thor goes after Thanos and gets knocked around. When Thanos picks up Stormbreaker and is ready to slice Thor, Mjölnir knocks Thanos aside and returns to Steve’s hand. Thor knew it was possible [and audiences go nuts]. Steve uses hammer and shield against Thanos, but eventually, the hammer is knocked away and Thanos strikes Steve’s shield again and again, chipping it. Steve is flung away and lays still for a minute.
Inside, Future Nebula tracks down Past Nebula, who tries to get the gauntlet off of Clint. Past Gamora tries to talk sense in Past Nebula, but her heart is resistant and Future Nebula shoots her before she can hurt anyone else. Outside, Thanos’s army descends, intent on destroying the planet. Steve stands up, tightens his shield and is ready to face Thanos again, alone. Until he hears a voice in his com, Sam, saying “on your left.” A gold portal open. Okoye, T’Challa, and Shuri emerge. Then Falcon flies out. Other portals open. Strange emerges with the Guardians and Peter Parker. Behind them are armies of Wakandans, Asgardians, sorcerers, there’s Bucky and Groot and Wanda and Valkyrie…everyone. Thor rises. Pepper lands in front of Tony in her own Iron suit. Scott emerges from the rubble with Bruce, Rhodey, and Rocket. The theme returns and Steve calls to everyone “Avengers…Assemble!” (though the “assemble” is softer, but it plays really well) [and again, the crowds in the theatres go nuts!]
The armies clash and our heroes work together. Peter is reunited with Tony and Tony pulls the kid into a hug [aww!]. Past Gamora saves Quill and he’s so excited for a moment, but she punches him before he can kiss her. She’s a little disbelieving that she ended up with this guy; as her sister puts it, it was him or a tree. Clint emerges, still with the gauntlet; they’ve succeeded in bringing the lost people back and now they need to get the stones out of this time. He’s to head for Scott’s van, but is behind enemy lines. When he gets knocked down, T’Challa is there to take the gauntlet. It gets dropped and Thanos starts for it, but Wanda lands in his path. “You took everything from me,” she growls. “I don’t even know who you are,” Thanos dismisses. “You will,” she promises (yeah, she’s back and she’s pissed). She holds her own against Thanos and he’s in enough trouble that he orders his ship to shoot into the field, not caring for his own troops. The sorcerers erect shields where they can. Strange is busy taking care of a flood.
Peter scoops up the gauntlet and activates Instant Kill for the first time. When he gets overwhelmed, Steve throws Mjölnir, calling out “Queens, head’s up,” and Peter webs to the hammer and flies off. Pepper grabs him, then Valkyrie. But the bombardment is too strong. Until the guns hastily realign to target something incoming. A bright light tears through the ship. Carol Danvers has arrived. She gets the gauntlet from Peter and all the women converge to help her across the battlefield [and it is totally awesome!]. Unfortunately, Thanos destroys the time machine in the van before she can get there. The blast knocks the gauntlet to the ground and the main three all converge again to try to keep it away from Thanos. He knocks them aside and grabs the gauntlet, but Carol is right on him. He manages to get it on, but she spreads his hand. Not even headbutting fazes her; Thanos has to use the Power Stone to knock her away.
Tony catches Strange’s eye, who holds up one finger. Tony grabs the gauntlet on Thanos’s hand; he’s knocked back. Thanos stands, “I am inevitable,” and snaps his fingers. Nothing happens. The stones flow onto Tony’s hand; “and I…am…Iron Man” (echoing Tony’s last line from the very first movie). Tony snaps his fingers.
The army disintegrates. Thanos sits and ponders what has happened, but he too vanishes. Rhodey is the first to reach Tony, whose right side is charred. Peter is next to land, pleading with his mentor, “we won.” Pepper comes up behind him and passes him off to Rhodey. She tells her husband, “we’re gonna be okay. You can rest now.” And Tony Stark breathes his last, his reactor going out for good [and I still cry over this scene; I’m crying while writing it]. Everyone behind them on the field has tears in their eyes; Steve, Thor. And Marvel utterly robbed us of a scene they filmed and decided to not keep in, of all the heroes kneeling to Tony, started by Clint, then T’Challa, then Carol and everyone else.
We see Clint reunited with his family, Peter returns to school and greets Ned. T’Challa is with his mother and sister in Wakanda, Scott and Hope are with Cassie. We hear Tony speak one last time; he left a message for Morgan, finishing with “I love you 3,000.” They hold a funeral, with Tony’s original reactor, “Proof that Tony Stark has a Heart,” floating away, and everyone is in attendance. Happy stands behind Morgan and Pepper, alongside Rhodey. Steve, then Peter and May, and Thor. Even Hank and Janet are in attendance, and a grown-up Harley Keener. The Guardians pay their respects, as do T’Challa, Shuri, and Okoye. Carol Danvers stands at the back, with Nick Fury.
Clint and Wanda still mourn for Natasha and Vision. Thor gives the kingship of New Asgard to Valkyrie and decides to go with the Guardians of the Galaxy on an adventure, who are off to find Gamora. Steve volunteers to return the stones, telling Bucky “don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone,” and they fall back to “how can I, when you’re taking all the stupid with you?” But Steve doesn’t instantly return. Instead, he sits by the lake, an elderly man now, and passes the Captain America shield to Sam [and the starting point of Falcon and the Winter Solider]. Steve elected to find Peggy (and possibly start a new timeline, I’m not quite sure), and they finally get their dance.
A great thing they did with the credits is put the original six Avengers at the end of the line-up. Their theme plays and we get a little montage of their scenes and their signatures, ending with Robert Downey Jr [and audiences applaud]. The final sounds from the film are six strikes of a hammer on an anvil.
This film is a roller coaster of emotions. There are funny bits, like Rocket telling the Avengers who haven’t been to space to not throw up in his ship. There are heartwarming moments, like Thor with Frigga and holding Mjolnir, and Tony with Morgan (he has a completely different relationship with her than I’m sure his father had with him, which then makes it more heartwarming to see the two interact later). And the final battle is what we want in a final battle; the heroes get their moments and I find it empowering that we have the women of Marvel team up. And Cap said the line! Admittedly, the writers had to keep Carol away until that moment because she can curb-stomp Thanos and it would be a shorter fight if she had stuck around for more of the storyline. Her contributions are important; she brings Tony back to Earth in the beginning. She almost succeeds with keeping the gauntlet away.
Then we have the heart wrenching death of Tony Stark. And yeah, I still cry because we grew to love this character, and all his flaws, and watch him become a better man and while we know that Robert Downey Jr is still around, it’s the end of an era with no more Iron Man. And I love seeing the character connections to him; having Rhodey, Pepper, and even Peter with him, and setting Peter close to Pepper and Morgan at the funeral. And yes, Marvel should have totally left in the kneeling scene (even though it makes me cry more).
The time travel section complicates matters, well, confuses them, but it opens doorways that the MCU continues to explore and it was the way the writers could get themselves out of the corner they managed to put themselves into. I also do not agree with Steve finding Peggy; well, do I want him happy, yes, but I think he would have had that with Bucky and Sam. Come on, you reunite two best friends and then tear them apart when they don’t even get to enjoy seeing each other in peace that long. And I feel it complicates the timeline in ways that make my head hurt. And it sucks that Vision, Natasha, and Loki were not able to be brought back. On the one hand, the more realistic stories include loss. But come on, Loki appears for all of about fifteen minutes between the two final films. The trade-off I guess is that he got his own show; Vision returns in WandaVision (which was a weird series; and Falcon and the Winter Solider was depressing), and Natasha got her own feature film finally, Black Widow (that sadly, we did not make it through because it was a weird combination of boring in that there were way too many fights and explosions within the first twenty minutes). Again, it was a roller coaster of emotions.
I’ll delve more into the finale in my wrap up on the MCU after I post Spider-Man: Far From Home
In the meantime, what are your thoughts on Endgame?
Dreamer in the Mirror 