Avengers: End Game
Marvel still knows how to do superhero movies better than anyone ever. This movie is light years better than Aquaman, Justice League, Dawn of Justice or anything in the DC pantheon except possibly Wonder Woman.
But for all the noise and crashing and bashing and loop closing; for all the praise and money it's going to get, it was -- to me -- second tier Marvel. I know you have to suspend the rules when you're watching a movie where a woman can fly, a guy can shrink himself to the size of an ant, a guy can turn himself into an angry green ogre, a guy sails in from space with a magic hammer and another wizardy guy can spin travel portals with his fingers. Even so, I had a major problem with the basic concepts of this movie. I was unmoved by the motivations.
You'll either see it or you won't so I'm not going to recap the film. Not going to give any hints as to the ending. I'm just going to fit it into my own pecking order.
There are top tier films. The movies that left me awed and agape; the films that I didn't really want to end.
Iron Man
Thor: Ragingcrocs
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Avengers
Those movies were note-perfect in my mind. Completely satisfying.
Then there's the second tier. Good, but not great movies. Enjoyed them, but they weren't the epic masterpieces the others were. Some were just too busy, some had too much noise, some thought too much of themselves. All had something that kept it from being elevated.
The movies I put here are
Ant Man 1 and 2 (although both were closer to the top tier than some of the others)
Guardians 2
Iron Man 2 and 3
All Captain Americas
Captain Marvel
Spiderman Homecoming
Thor: Dark World
Infinity Wars (Although this is probably closer to the bottom)
And then there were the ones I considered sort of duds. Not duds in the Aquaman/Justice League abysmal sense, but just not quite there. Either essentially forgettable, mishandled or completely overhyped.
Black Panther was a terrible Marvel movie. It was stupid. It was insulting. I'll never watch it again and I could have done without it completely.
Age of Ultron was a misstep. A hugely successful misstep but an overly busy, excessively noisy, outlandishly destructive error.
Thor just didn't work. I really appreciate how they've retooled the character and given him humor and life but the first Thor movie didn't even really hint at that promise. Some bad directorial choices and a bust with the choice of Natalie Portman.
Endgame falls somewhere toward the bottom of the second tier. It's going to make ass tons of money. It will be praised to the high heavens by almost everyone. My truth, however, is that in comparison to Iron Man, Guardians and those others at the top of the list it just falls way outside the cut. I've seen it, I'm glad I did, but (like Ultron) I have no interest in sitting through it again.
Your pretty much dead on with this my only disagreement was Infinity War for me I would put in the top tier.
Endgame was definitely not top tier but I enjoyed most of it.
I thought the first hour of the movie was one of the best Marvel movies ever, including the drama. The second half of the movie was a bit meh, and reached on things.
I especially didn't like that Stark was killed. I get it RDJ is done with the roll and it was a fitting ending for the man that started it all but, like Jarhead said it does worry me where they are going with it #metoo. Natasha and Captain basically out weren't a big deal to me.
I was disappointed with the lack of screen time the "dead" now resurrected Avengers had, almost seemed like an afterthought.
The story was a reach with the time travel, but overall I wasn't disappointed with it because I didn't really know how they were going to undo the events, Time had to be figured out in some manner.
Loved fat Thor (I really hope Hemsworth continues the character that he has created and molded) It took him at least 5 movies to get it right and it is great. Looks like he may be in Guardians III which would be awesome. To me Thor is what made this movie great. From his dealing with Captain Marvel to getting back Mjolnir he was definitely the best part of this movie.
Was not really crazy for how they used Hulk/Banner, was really hoping for Ultimate Hulk. I thought they copped out on his story line. Not really explaining why Hulk never showed up again in Infinity Wars.
Was glad they didn't make Captain Marvel all powerful. Also like Jarhead said the #girlpower brief scene was fucking lame.
Didn't really care for the final battle with Thanos, like I said thought it was a bit underwhelming.
Overall though I did like the movie, not really sure where I wanted them to go with it so I wasn't disappointed. It is certainly light years better than any turd Lucas film or DC has put out.