Endgame: More opinions

So it's been a month and a half since I've seen Avengers: Endgame, and it's safe to say my opinions have changed. A lot. There definitely will be spoilers, so be warned. Because I have a lot to write about, I'm going to write a paragraph about each major issue or character ending I didn't like.

Let's start with Steven Grant Rogers. His ending makes me mad every single time I think about it. Steve spent 3 movies, like 15 years, looking for Bucky. He agreed to be tested on by the government because of Bucky because he didn't want his best friend to get killed doing something stupid. When Bucky "dies", Steve goes into the ice because he really doesn't want to live in a world without his pal, his buddy, his Bucky. In Winter Soldier, he lets Bucky beat him within an inch of his life because of a promise. In the same movie, Peggy Carter tells Steve to move on like she did, saying she lived a full and happy life, and hates that he hasn't been able to do the same. They even used that soundbite in one of the Speaking of Winter Soldier, I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that the men who gave Steve so much characterization and depth were the same ones that destroyed all of that. In Civil War and leading into Infinity War, not only does Steve have a relationship and shares an apartment with Peggy's niece, he gives up everything for Bucky Barnes because he believes in Bucky. So to have Steve leave Bucky without any onscreen warning, and see Bucky realize he isn't worth all that to Steve, is heartbreaking. Peggy Carter got to live her life, her mini-series is amazing, and to have her spirit, drive, and general badassery be reduced down to Steve Roger's love interest is so rude. The ending was so out of character and random. I would've rather watched him die, especially since I've been mentally prepared for his death since Age of Ultron.

Next up is Thor. I really appreciate how they showed how all the bad things in his life affected him, but using it as a punchline multiple times was definitely not appreciated. From the quips about his new weight and his alcoholism to Rocket slapping him in the midst of a panic attack, it was handled so poorly. I will give Chris Hemsworth props for making the Russos keep him in the fat suit the whole movie to really push the point that Thor is not okay and he's been through a lot of stuff. I've seen a lot of varying opinions about the decision to give Valkyrie the kingship at the end, and I have to say as much as I want to love her as a King of Asgard, I can't. Thor is passing along the position because of his mental issues and alcoholism to someone with the same issues and alcoholism. It just doesn't work. I believe there was recently confirmation of a Thor 4 movie, which I desperately hope Taika Watiti is directing because he killed it with Thor Ragnorak.

Now let's talk about Nebula. I should preface this by saying I don't like the Guardians movies that much. They just seem to stick out too much in an otherwise gritty, dark universe. And I hated how much time was spent on Nebula in this movie. It just didn't work. In my mind, when I think of an Avengers movie, it's the main six, Fury, Agent Hill, and Agent Coulson. And having her there, getting more time than Natasha, was really disrespectful. Nat died and didn't even get a funeral but we can get unwanted and unneeded exposition on a character who is only important because of a subplot? They easily could've dusted her and kept around teen Groot if they needed another Guardian. And killing Gamora just to bring her back made her death seem very worthless and just for the shock factor.

Speaking of killing off generally loved female characters in place of their worse male counterparts almost purely for shock value, Natasha Romanoff. Her death was not at all needed. Yes, she has done plenty of bad things in her past, but Clint was the one being a serial killer for 5 years because he was mad a titan killed his family. A family that was hastily set up to force Clint into the Ronan storyline for possible future movies. In addition, watching the women team up to protect the gauntlet from Thanos was really cool, but Nat deserved to be there at that final battle, protecting her home and family, instead of a man with 12 arrows.

Let's touch on Professor Hulk now. I hated it. The whole thing about Bruce Banner is him and the Hulk are absolute opposites. If I ever buy this movie (which I might only do to continue to say I own all the Marvel movies), I will absolutely skip all parts with him. It just looked so bad and so CGI and dedicating a too long scene of him taking a selfie with the director's children (instead of a Nat funeral?) was too much. He couldn't even fight in New York.

Finally, it's time to talk about the saddest part of this movie. Let me begin by saying although I have strictly Team Cap loyalties, I still love Tony Stark and look up to him. Both times I've seen this movie, I have sobbed at Tony's death scene, all the way through to the credits. Tony's story is so relatable, at least the emotional side of it. When they basically redeemed Howard Potts, I almost saw red. It was so far from okay. In addition, the fact that they killed him after finally getting the life he wanted and the one he absolutely finally deserved and excused it by saying "They got married, they had a kid, it was great. It’s a good death. It doesn’t feel like a tragedy. It feels like a heroic, finished life." I strongly disagree. You don't kill off a character, one that has helped build such a strong story for so many people around the globe, right after he achieved his happiness. I would've much rather seen Steve die than Tony. I will say the funeral scene was gorgeous, and absolutely what he deserved. All his loved ones, and those he eventually forgave like Bucky, all in one place, at his home, was gorgeous.

I know I've written over 1000 words about why I hated this movie, but there were some moments I did enjoy. When Captain America picked up Thor's hammer? That was an amazing moment to share with a theater full of excited fans. And all the cinematography was gorgeous. The visual of Steve standing all alone on a hill, on the land where his former home was, the broken shield strapped to his arm, facing an entire army and ready to fight until his very last breath, was the Steve I look up to. When all the portals opened, and the army stepped out behind Steve, ready to avenge their world.

I can't believe I didn't put this in the first draft, but Sam Wilson absolutely deserves getting the shield and becoming Captain America. Not because he's black, not because Bucky can't do it, none of those stupid reasons. He is the embodiment of America, all the goods and bads, he's got military experience so he can fight, and he has always been so loyal to Steve. Watching Sam and Bucky finally get the character development they deserve in the new show is going to be amazing, and Sam is going to be a wonderful leader.

Quote is taken from https://comicbook.com/marvel/2019/05/07/avengers-endgame-spoilers-tony-stark-iron-man-dead-joe-russo/

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