Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home: MCU Double Feature
It’s been quite awhile since the first part of the MCU Double Feature, I apologize for the delay! There was a lot of other things I really wanted to talk about before returning the MCU (especially since there’s nothing new for the MCU until next year), but regardless! Last time we talked about Antman and the Wasp and Captain Marvel, but this time we’re getting into the real endgame of the Infinity Saga!
Avengers: Endgame
A film for the ages, the biggest blockbuster of all time, Endgame closes the book on the first chapter of the MCU perfectly. There’s so many things you can say positive about Avengers: Endgame that it’s kind of incredible to believe that Marvel pulled it off. The Russo brothers pulled it off! From the beginning, before the film had even released its first trailer, the majority of people knew where the plot was going to go: Scott comes back from the Quantum Realm and the remaining Avengers use it to go back in time and correct their mistakes. But, Marvel managed to take this plot that everyone knew, and turn it on it’s head with one sentence: 5 Years Later.
For fans of the franchise, this was a rumor for quite some time. How would Marvel make the Decimation matter? Would a time jump be in play? How long with Marvel jump into the future? That was answered in the first act and set the stage for an incredible heist film, focusing on the original Avengers and some of the lesser used members of other films (such as Nebula and Rhodie). It’s exciting see the original Avengers come together one last time, travelling through their history to create a better future. Visually it’s a beautiful film, with set pieces that feel alive and absolutely are a treat for the eyes.
I wouldn’t be able to speak about this film though if I didn’t mention the performances of all the major leads: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, and Josh Brolin are all incredible in this film. I’m convinced there’s no one who could play these roles better than them, and for that I’m excited to know that the next phase of the MCU will leave their characters behind (at least for now). It’s an impactful story choice that leaves the window open for more exploration, while also showing the change that is coming with a fresh start in Phase 4. Endgame is the best Avengers film, and arguably one of the best films in the entire MCU, with the emotional weight of a decade of films behind it, this is everything fans wanted from the saga-capper when the Avengers first came together in 2012.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
If Avengers: Endgame was the conclusion to Marvel’s Infinity Saga, Far From Home should be considered the epilogue, giving us a glimpse as to what will come next for Phase 4, and the true weight of the events that came before. At the start of the film, we’re shown a poorly edited In Memoriam video for the lost Avengers. Immediately the tone of this film is clear, while the events of Endgame will be addressed, they won’t be handled in a completely serious manner. We’re shown the return of everyone from, as it’s called in Far From Home, The Blip. Everyone simply reappears where they were when they disappeared (with Feige stating Banner was smart enough to return those in dangerous situations to a safe location). It’s an interesting start, but the opening isn’t the best part of this movie.
The best of this movie comes when Peter finally arrives in Europe with his classmates and meets a superhero from another universe: Mysterio played brilliantly by Jake Gyllenhaal. The master of illusions, Mysterio is another excellent villain showing for the MCU’s spidey villains. Arguably, these Spider-Man films have had the highest standard for villains of any of the MCU solo films, and for that, the films are all the better. With some of the best visuals in the entire franchise, Mysterio’s brand on villainy brings a new element to the table with his illusion technology. The way he confronts our hero isn’t in a purely brute force way, but more psychological and it’s all the better for it.
Leaving the best for last, Tom Holland and Zendaya bring to life one of the best comic book relationships fans have come to know over the years. MJ and Peter are still a bit awkward, unsure how to express their feelings, so as a result, the film plays on this awkwardness, making their relationship and expression of interest in each other that much more playful. They have excellent chemistry, and Tom continues to portray the best Spider-Man and Peter Parker. Zendaya’s MJ is a different, but excellent take on the character that helps to separate her from the other more comic-book accurate adaptations. Overall, Far From Home is a great palate cleanser from Endgame, and one of the best Spider-Man stories we’ve seen in film.
Conclusion and the Future
With Spider-Man back in the MCU after a month-long fiasco between Sony and Disney, one can only hope that his future is safe, but I’m not so sure. For myself, I don’t see Spider-Man being a focal point in the MCU moving forward. What’s good though is that his story doesn’t end on a cliffhanger without a true ending, hopefully, Feige and Co will create a satisfying end to his story in this universe before he transitions to Sony’s budding Spiderverse. Outside of Spider-Man, I’m really excited about the future of Marvel’s universe, with a soft reset allowing a variety of new heroes and stories to come to the forefront, without belittling prior films. I also can see Phase 4 as a great entry point for many younger fans who may have missed the past decade and want a good starting off point. The MCU is an incredible endeavour and allows for generation after generation of fans to find a piece they enjoy.
