Although many years have passed since the release of "Avengers: Endgame", watching this film again can still trigger profound insights.
In 2019, the timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) reached a critical point, with the release of "Avengers: Endgame" marking the end of the series' Infinity Saga.
As the culmination of 11 years of careful planning, "Endgame" can be called one of the most magnificent movie-watching experiences in modern film history. Rewatching this film five years later, the passage of time gave me a deeper understanding.
Like countless movie fans, I was shocked by the spectacular scenes of "Endgame" when it premiered. Previous MCU movies have been paving the way for the epic ending of "Endgame". The unforgettable and irreversible story developments in the movie have made it perhaps the most influential comic book movie in history.
Five years have passed since "Endgame", and MCU has launched more exciting content. Looking back on this film, I can't help but develop a deep appreciation for its unique charm and the wider MCU.
is not a standalone movie
The craze leading up to the release of "Endgame" caused many people - including me - to rewatch the previous movies in order to better integrate into this ultimate movie viewing experience in the theater. experience. As a direct sequel to Infinity War, it occupies a unique place in the MCU timeline. However, when I watched it on its own, I realized how limited the film's impact as a standalone work was.
The story of Endgame follows the conclusion of Infinity War, but it's more interconnected than meets the eye. It ties in well with many other movies and post-credits scenes in the MCU, with plot points that carry over to multiple key moments throughout the series.
As a result, many elements in the movie don't work as well as they should when viewed from a stand-alone perspective. Although "Endgame" is well-made, it is indeed not a movie that can exist independently from other MCU works and produce the same shock.
Time travel ruins everything
A major plot point in the story of Endgame was Tony Stark's invention of time travel, allowing the Avengers to go on that thrilling time heist, collect the Infinity Stones, and reverse Thanos flicked his fingers.
However, as I rewatched the movie with the knowledge of the MCU's recent projects in mind, I realized that time travel actually poses significant problems for the series. Time travel is often notorious for creating plot holes, but the MCU cleverly circumvents this by establishing multiple timelines. However, the practice itself has a profound impact on the MCU's audience.
Throughout the multiverse saga, there are few plot developments that recapture the impact of those in the Infinity Saga. Since the introduction of time travel, the stakes seem a lot lower than before: seeing the Avengers reverse their greatest failure makes everything in the MCU seem less timeless.
In this regard, Endgame's time travel has unknowingly damaged the MCU, and this will be easily felt by anyone rewatching the film.
is not destined to surpass
Revisiting Endgame, in many ways, evoked those same emotions I felt when I first watched it in the theater. It is still a grand visual feast, integrating all the unique appeal of MCU.
The sense of power that comes with seeing so many heroes rally at the last minute in an effort to reverse Thanos's fate remains as strong as ever, and the record-breaking success of "Endgame" is a result of the enthusiastic response to its charm from audiences. Strong proof.
Watching it again, a fact that cannot be ignored became crystal clear: mcu could never replicate the success of "Endgame." A big part of 's appeal comes from its promise of something unique and new - seeing so many heroes come to an end in the Infinity Saga.
Other films in a similar position, such as Avengers: Secret Wars, will be at a distinct disadvantage because they lack that sense of novelty and will be constantly compared to Endgame.
"Avengers: Endgame" is such a film that no one has ever seen it before, so much so that any similar follow-up is bound to feel inferior.
Lots of plot holes to be fixed
Since the release of Endgame, the MCU's movies and TV shows seem to be constantly backtracking on its events. There's some truth to that, after all it's a huge event in the series, but when I rewatched Endgame I couldn't help but be reminded of some of these references.
Whether it's Hawkeye, Eternals , or Spider-Man: Far From Home , they all contain references to Endgame, many of which point out minor issues with the film's story.
These quotes immediately came to mind when I rewatched Endgame. The "Thanos was right" graffiti in Hawkeye and The Eternals having to explain why its heroes couldn't step in to stop Thanos both underscored Endgame's legacy by acknowledging these issues directly within the series. Plot holes, which make small flaws all the more obvious.
Although I hardly noticed these problems at first, with the launch of subsequent MCU works, some related problems have become more and more obvious.
The Ending Is Actually Counterproductive
The ending of Avengers: Endgame is unforgettable, with several major developments emerging in the middle and later parts of the film. Some of the most substantial plot points include the deaths of major characters and the retirement of other characters, and these moments still pack as much punch as they did back then.
However, when I really consider the impact of the ending of Endgame on the subsequent development of the MCU, it seems that the ending of the movie actually backfired.
Iron Man's death is undoubtedly the most unforgettable part of the ending of "Endgame" and has the most profound impact on the future development of the MCU. In retrospect, I also realize that this created an impossible situation for the series: by killing off the MCU's most popular hero in a touching and glorious way, there wasn't a suitable way to resurrect him.
While many believe the MCU might be better off keeping Tony Stark alive, for now, bringing him back again is never an option and would create some strange paradoxes for the series.
the marvel universe is overly interconnected
i love the mcu as much as anyone, especially its vast interconnected storylines that make it the perfect example of a shared cinematic universe. Endgame had a huge conceptual impact on the MCU, and I can't help but think about these questions every time I rewatch the movie.
Although "Endgame" can be said to be the first movie in the MCU that cannot exist independently, it also stands at a key node in the development of the series. However, this is not as good as it seems.
Every time I watch Endgame, I'm struck by how important it is to the entire MCU. Unfortunately, anything that takes place after Endgame seems to assume that this movie is a must-see, and, ideally, viewers should have already seen the entire Infinity Saga.
This makes the entire series necessary to watch each new entry, as its interconnected nature has long since reached a point of no return.
Extremely Unbalanced Treatment of Heroes
Avengers: Endgame may indeed have brought together an unprecedented number of heroes, but as I rewatched the film, I couldn't help but be struck by the glaring imbalance between them.
First off, it's clear that some of the Avengers in Endgame are much more powerful than other heroes. For example, Captain Marvel was a big help in the battle against Thanos, but Hawkeye was much less useful in the battle for Earth.
There are clear power levels in the movie, which play a role in hero balance, but it doesn't work as well as it should.
Endgame's inconsistent focus on characters further upsets this balance. Specific characters are given more focus, which doesn't necessarily reflect their true contribution to the story.
For example, Ant-Man takes up a lot of the movie, even though he does relatively little in the overall scheme of things. This treatment of the characters makes the film feel even more unbalanced, which is hard to ignore upon rewatching.
Its influence has begun to wane
One of the most profound realizations I had while rewatching Endgame was how much my opinion of it had changed since its release. While other Avengers movies, like 2012's "The Avengers," had impactful moments that still felt strong even more than a decade later, "Endgame's" punch seems to have diminished.
Compared to other films in the MCU that focus on heroic teams, Endgame shockingly fails to pack the same punch.
"Infinity War" and even "Avengers 2" still work on all levels, while the sense of finality in "Endgame" has been gradually weakened by subsequent MCU works. While it appeared to be a film that effectively ended the MCU at the time of its release, this ultimately proved to be untrue. The fact that the series is still very much alive and largely unchanged ultimately diminishes some of Endgame's impact in a way that's hard to detect without rewatching the movie.
skipped too much story development
mcu's story featured many heroes, and some of the series' founding Avengers underwent major changes in Endgame. Those lost five years, known as "The Blip," were extremely significant to the characters who lived through them, such as the Hulk, Hawkeye, and Iron Man. However, as I rewatched Endgame, it became apparent to me that the MCU was ignoring some of the heroes' most important narrative developments.
The Hulk's transformation into Professor Hulk was later explored in She-Hulk, just as Hawkeye's time as Ronin was mentioned in Hawkeye.
Tony Stark becoming a father was another big moment that the MCU missed, although it hasn't been mentioned much since his death.
Having so much important development for the MCU's main heroes lost in "The Lost One" may work on a conceptual level, but for an MCU fan looking back on Endgame, it's hard to realize that the series left out so much , this is undoubtedly an extremely frustrating thing.
The character growth is hard to beat
"Endgame" is a film that has a profound impact on the past and future of the MCU. It contains many important moments, so it is safe to say that many viewers did not catch it on the first viewing. Some subtleties.
Rewatching "Endgame" five years later, I was impressed by how well some of the character development in the film was done, even if it was very subtle. The stories of Thor and Iron Man, in particular, stand out for very different reasons.
After Thor lost to Thanos, he was pushed into the abyss of depression by a deep sense of guilt. Only a vague hope of redemption helped him escape from despair. Stark was similarly affected, throwing himself into family life as a way of coping with his loss.
The two heroes' reluctant return leads the team to victory in one of the most subtle and exciting character developments in the MCU. The series has never been able to top that point since, and it became my most positive takeaway from rewatching Avengers: Endgame.
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