grimorie | [initial reactions] Avengers: Endgame

I just finished watching tonight here are some of my thoughts:

This really was a finale, and I think in a grand scheme of things, really does feel like a series finale. I think people who worked on TV has some special insights into it, in a purely technical level this was an accomplishment.

I finally have the Captain America III movie I really wanted (He's worthy!).

Thor and Bruce are still my guys and they had really great beats and yet a the same time I also felt, especially with Bruce, the Russo's aren't that interested i him as someone beyond the beats they play him. Whedon should stay far away but at the same time I felt like he got Bruce Banner as a character (which I think all goes out the window in Avengers 2)-- 'My secret is, I'm always angry.'

It was a great distillation of Bruce and who he is-- he's like a Vulcan. A slow simmering fire of repressed rage and is now, not even that.

His crucial decision to be both Bruce and Hulk happened off screen and I'm just really -- why.

His emotional beat was all about Natasha dying and boy.

Boy. Boy. Boy.

Let me talk about that doozy. They were trying so hard to make sure we all know it's her choice, that she would do anything to get the people they lost back. So she decides to jump to her death but not before she and Hawkeye fight over it. Hawkeye almost succeeds but not before Nat pulls one final trick and dies.

And do you know what?

Fuck. That.

I don't care for Hawkeye the MCU character nor do I care about the actor and so this choosing between Clintt and Nat? I choose Nat over Clint anytime because I'd rather it'd be Nat's story we follow. Nat who fought to get Clint back and lost him still, and is even more motivated to kill Thanos or never allow Thanos a final victory.

Also, there was a long swathe of time where it was just dudes.

I am glad for Carol's hair cut but, emotionally it really did feel like this was filmed prior to Captain Marvel, things that I resonated with Carol felt off because at that point Brie Larson hasn't done Carol Danvers. And the brief scene where Fury was there in the same place as Carol? They might as well be strangers.

Although the nod with Rhodey felt like a nod to Carol and Rhodey's comic book relationship.

I did love the all girl showing but it's also funny because of all the people to play interference with, it's with Carol 'I Belly Flop on War Ships' Danvers.

I really like the relationship between Nebula and Gamora but confused if past!Gamora stayed or she got slingshotted back to the past.

Thor being depressed and letting himself slide into bad habits, shifting positions with Valkyrie was... I get it and I love the moment with his mom but man. It's so obvious who the Russo's care about, and who they don't care about.

Steve and being worthy and after the long twilight of Civil War, I finally got him back. And the way he just wouldn't stop or stay down. I had chills where Steve was all alone standing against the tide and then and then 'On your left.'

That was beautiful and gorgeous, and finally: 'Avengers, Assemble!' finally felt earned.

I love what Steve chose to do for the rest of his life and deciding to be with Peggy, finally. (Also I love bringing Agent Carter into the MCU continuity. JARVIS!).

I still have this timey wimey headache about it all though. And it ends with Sam as the new Cap!

Tony's ending felt fitting to who the character is.

Marvel Studios and Disney are gonna earn boondoogle amounts of money from this.