Hiya!

Part of the journey is the end. Well, it certainly feel that way! The Marvel Cinematic Universe has ballooned from just a series of silly movies featuring comic book heroes to a full blown event that encompasses pop culture today. But it does feel like Marvel is closing the book on it for now as Avengers: Endgame feels like a definitive ending, at least for right now.

There is a ton of things to like in Avengers: Endgame… but there were a few things to counterbalance them. That doesn’t sound right, actually. I liked everything about the movie! Well, that’s not true. There are only three things I really disliked in Avengers: Endgame. The other couple of stuff I’m going to mention… I just wished they did it better.

So, here are five things I really liked and five things I didn’t like too much while watching Avengers: Endgame!

Oh, by the way: SPOILER ALERT!

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On “Holy Crap Moments…

I really liked… Captain America being worthy to wield Mjolnir

I rarely hear a crowd in the Philippines give off an audible gasp of awe. We’re generally polite in that we usually keep really quiet in the movie house so as not to disturb others watching the movie. Avengers: Endgame had so many moment where this happened though and I didn’t mind it one bit. There was the one with the heroes who were affected by The Decimation return. There was also that awesome scene where Captain America finally said “Avengers… assemble.”

But the biggest gasp I heard is without a doubt was when we saw Thanos about to plunge Stormbreaker into Thor’s chest but Mjolnir whacked The Mad Titan and fly right into Captain America’s hand! I should know because I gasped along with everyone when it happened!

There’s just so much to like about this moment! They already hinted that Captain America was almost worthy since he did nudge it a inch in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Sure, Vision stole a lot of his thunder, so to speak, as he android lifted it with ease. But seeing Cap use Thor’s hammer so effortlessly blew my mind!

But I didn’t like… the “Girl Power” scene

I liked what they did with Captain Marvel here. Mostly because she didn’t do all that much but she still got to strut around and display her power by utterly destroying Thanos’ ship. We also got to see her go toe-to-toe with Thanos and almost defeating The Mad Titan until he used the Power Stone to get the upper hand.

They did ruin it somewhat when they had to show that “girl power” image with all of the female Marvel heroes hamming it up on the screen!

Being a female myself, I have nothing against showing off strong women in a movie genre that is usually dominated by males. What I don’t like is how “in your face” it came off! It could’ve been done more naturally with Captain Marvel getting the new Infinity Gauntlet while the other female heroes had her back. They could’ve showed them one by one, showing off their fighting prowess and abilities like when Black Widow, Scarlet Witch and Okoye teaming up for the first time in Infinity War.

Instead, they were just clustered in this one specific scene and it looked like they were pandering to the female audience. As if Marvel was saying “See? We have strong female characters! See how many of them they are! See?” It’s because of how artificial it came off is the biggest reason why I disliked it. Not because of the message that they do have strong female heroes but how it didn’t come off as something that would happen. It actually broke my suspension of disbelief in that moment. Thankfully, we got that rather awesome fight between Captain Marvel and Thanos and that brought me back into the experience.

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On the deaths…

I really liked… Thanos unceremonious decapitation when Thor when for the head

Am I the only one who were expecting more heroes to bite the dust in Avengers: Endgame? I thought that Captain America and Thor were going to finally get the big sleep here! So I was surprised when there are only three major deaths when it’s all said and done. A lot has been said about Iron Man/Tony Stark making the biggest sacrifice and finally getting some well deserved rest. He may have had the best death scene in Avengers: Endgame but it wasn’t my favorite.

My favorite death was when Thor finally went for the head and chopped Thanos’ head clean off.

This scene is fantastic for so many reasons. One, it shows Thor’s frustration and guilt since he could’ve stopped Thanos during the events of Infinity War. Two, it sets the tone for the first part of the movie and shows DC how to execute grim and dark without being overbearing. There’s a feeling of defeat because the Avengers were ultimately defeated at this time. Third, it’s a genuine surprise. I expected a long drawn out battle with Thanos but, instead, we got a very weak Thanos who doesn’t even try to fight back. It’s a really great shock to they system.

As much as how emotional Tony Stark’s heroic death was, I just have to put Thanos quick death above it since it’s a brilliant and risky move that pays off.

But I didn’t like… Black Widow’s sacrifice

Of all the female characters to kill in Avengers: Endgame, Marvel offs the next female to get her own movie?

Black Widow’s death was a huge punch in the gut for me. I liked the character from her very first appearance in Iron Man 2 and Black Widow only got better after each subsequent film. Not that I wanted Hawkeye to kill himself to get the Soul Stone and I know Natasha was the more logical choice since she didn’t have a real family while Clint had one who was going to be waiting for him if they succeeded to reverse the Decimation.

Still doesn’t ease the hole this scene bore into my heart.

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On callbacks to previous movies

I really liked… Captain America’s elevator scene and him hailing Hydra

This is probably one of most clever scenes I’ve seen in film. Not only does this scene bring us back to the first Avengers film but it ups the meta by not only mirroring a scene from another Marvel movie but also a controversial storyline!

You know the scene. Captain America travels back to the events of the first Avengers film after the battle’s been won. He goes into the elevator that filled with SHIELD agents, such as Crossbones and Agent Jasper, who are actually Hydra agents. You think that Cap will throwdown with them like he did in the awesome elevator scene from Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

But no. Cap already knows they’re Hydra so he dupes them into thinking he’s working for them by whispering “Hail Hydra” to Jasper!

This was incredibly smart writing! My expectations were subverted but, since it shows that Cap is smart and can use his brain to get him out of tough situations, I was exhilarated by it. I also have to add that I’m familiar with the very controversial comic storyline where it was revealed that Captain America had been a Hydra sleeper agents for the longest time. Using a scene that everyone hates in the comics in a way that people will love is just so clever on so many levels!

But I really disliked… the little boy from Iron Man 3 being at Tony Stark’s funeral

Tony Stark’s funeral at the end of Avengers: Endgame was probably one of the most melancholy scenes I’ve seen on film ever. It was incredibly sad to say goodbye to Iron Man, who was the catalyst of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, it was also touching to see all the people who he encountered gathered to mourn him…

…waitaminute. Who’s that long-haired kid?

Apparently, the teen is that kid from Iron Man 3 who helped Tony Stark while he was on the run. Who the heck invited him? You have Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, who have fought alongside Tony Stark multiple times, and you invite the kid he met that one weekend? I bet I wasn’t the only one scratching my head thinking I missed a movie or something because I had to look up who he was on the Internet afterwards!

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On drastic changes to the characters…

I really liked… Fat Thor

This one was a tossup between Professor Hulk and Fat Thor. Professor Hulk was great because, as he puts it, it’s the best of both worlds. It brought a whole new dimension to the “Hulk Smash” persona of the hero. But there are a couple of reasons why Fat Thor won out.

First, Fat Thor is a far cry from the confident God of Thunder we got in previous films. He’s still shook up from not killing Thanos in Infinity War when he had the chance and now he’s much more pathetic. He’s both played as comic relief as he is vastly different from his earlier incarnations in the Marvel movies but, at the same time, you do feel sorry for him and you can understand what he’s feeling.

But the thing that really won me over with Fat Thor was that he never changes back to Fit Thor throughout the film! I’m sure he could’ve zapped himself with some Asgardian magic and he’d lose the keg and regain his six pack but it’s how they just roll with his fatness that makes it feel just a bit more real.

But I didn’t like too much… Hawkeye becoming a killer

Man, Hawkeye must’ve had a rough five years! I wonder how long it took him to realized that his entire family was wiped out because of the Decimation. I bet that’s why he decided to hunt down the bad people who weren’t affected by the Decimation because he felt it was unfair they get to live while his family didn’t.

I would’ve liked his change much more if he didn’t immediately lose his emo demeanor once he returned to the Avengers fold.

If he retained that killer attitude for a few more minutes and then change back to his old Hawkeye self once he figured out that they can save his family, it would’ve worked much better. But he didn’t. It’s like he went on a five year phase and he got it out of his system as Black Widow tracked him down. But I don’t hate it because I love the new look and the sword is badass!

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On emotional moments…

I really liked… Iron Man finally hugging Spider-Man

There were so many times I felt tears streaming down my face during Avengers: Endgame. But the one where bawled out loud was when Tony Stark finally hugged Peter Parker. It was a short scene but this was building for so long. In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter thought Tony Stark was reaching out to hug him but Iron Man was actually reaching for the door. In Infinity War, when Spider-Man was turning to dust, Peter reached out to grasp onto Iron Man but Tony Stark didn’t really hug him but to catch him.

But in Avengers: Endgame, they did finally hugged!

But it’s not just that they finally hugged! It’s the wealth of emotions you can see on Tony Stark’s face when he sees that Peter Parker is alive and well again before he does finally wraps his arms around Spider-Man. It’s a well played scene and it gets me every time I think about it.

But I didn’t like too much… Captain America passing his shield to Falcon

I really loved how they closed out Captain America’s story in Avengers: Endgame. He got to live a normal life with Peggy Carter in the past. But now that he’s an old man, he has to pass the shield, mantle and legacy of Captain America to someone else.

He gave it to Falcon.

And while I understand why he did it, I just wished he gave it to Bucky/Winter Soldier. Winter Soldier seems better equipped to be the new Captain America as he also was enhanced to be the best soldier possible. The problem is Winter Solider is a known terrorist in some parts of the world. Black Panther may have forgiven him but the rest of the world probably hasn’t.

Falcon is a good fighter, true. But he’s not a super soldier like Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes.

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Byee!

What are your favorite and least liked moments from Avengers: Endgame? Let me know what they are in the comments section below!