Jeri Jacquin
Coming this Friday to theatres is
the highly anticipated finale with an iconic team from directors Anthony and
Joe Russo, Marvel and Walt Disney Studios with AVENGERS: Endgame.
That's about the most I want to
tell you about AVENGERS: Endgame and why is that? Well, I don't want to spoil
anything about the film for those who have been waiting patiently and to back
me up is this letter from the Russo brothers that circled the internet.
It reads as follows:
To the greatest fans in the world,
This is it. This is the end. The end of an
unprecedented narrative mosaic spanning eleven years and eleven franchises. For
all of you who have been on this journey with us since the very beginning,
sharing every high and low with your family, your friends, your classmates,
your co-workers. Investing so deeply in every character and storyline.
Laughing. Cheering. Shedding tears. Giving so freely of your thoughts and
emotions
In spirited dialogue, theories, fan art
and fan fiction. Please know that the two of us, along with everyone involved
in Endgame, have worked tirelessly for the last three years with the sole
intention of delivering a surprising and emotionally powerful conclusion to the
Infinity Saga.
Because so many of you have invested your
time, your hearts, and your souls into these stories, we're once again asking
for your help.
When you see Endgame in the coming weeks,
please don't spoil it for others, the same way you wouldn't want it spoiled for
you.
Remember, Thanos still demands your
silence.
As always, good luck and happy viewing….
The Russo Brothers
#Don'tSpoilTheEndgame
This is important for people to
read because AVENGERS: Endgame is the end of eleven years of storytelling and
eleven years of a journey that has brought comic book fans to the theatres and
at the same time created new comic book readers. After seeing it for myself, I
agree with the Russo Brothers and ask the same of all those who are reading
this.
In 2008, we were all introduced to
IRON MAN, Tony Stark and the only man who will ever be this character to my way
of thinking - Robert Downey, Jr. I didn't know much about this character and
turned to my two sons to talk about it. I knew Iron Man's place in the world of
comics and knew what he looked like but that's about it. Robert Downey, Jr.
gave me a quick lesson which was not a surprise to me.
Seeing this first offering was
fantastic and I remember thinking at the time that I wouldn't mind seeing more
of Tony Stark. I had no idea that somewhere in the world someone else was
thinking the very same thing as the universe (to be tagged the ‘Marvel
Universe’) was about to get oh so much bigger.
Then came more Marvel characters
with THE INCREDIBLE HULK, more IRON MAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA
Adding the final piece of the
puzzle, we meet the new CAPTAIN MARVEL. All of this guiding us to this Friday's
inevitable finale of AVENGERS: Endgame.
As each film came to the big
screen, the crowds of people became bigger and bigger and all for different
reasons. The most interesting thing about these Marvel films is that everyone's
reason for becoming part of the theatre experience is different but the
kid-like excitement is the same and generationally shared.
That is what Marvel has brought to
everyone who has experienced the comic-book-to-screen phenomena. Each character
has something that we all can relate to in some way or another. Their stories
of struggle and reconciling love and loss is relatable and heartfelt. We want
them to be our heroes and cheer for them to save our planet time and time
again.
So, for AVENGERS: Endgame what can
I tell you? The film picks up with what has happened after Thanos snapped his
Infinity Stone-laden chunky fingers and what the left-over Avengers are doing
in this new reality. Each is now dealing with their losses and the wish that the
world were right again. That is where a plan to make that right happen is
formed.
Sounds easy right? Hardly, because
everything done by the Avengers isn't a straight line from chaos to success.
Obstacles get in their way, twists and turns are put into play and stories have
an opportunity to be told. There is also so much raw emotion in the entire
three hours of the film, there are giggles, jaw drops and I do so highly
suggest bringing tissue.
At the premier for the film, Chris
Evans aka Captain America says about AVENGERS: Endgame, "It’s a double
edged sword in that you have this wonderful fan base but also the pressure to
satisfy the people who's taste is from the source material. You can't deviate
too much and they deserve this."
The ever so charming and
never-aging Paul Rudd says, "I can't believe we are finally going to see
the movie. I'm excited for audiences to experience the culmination of these films
and see where this thing has landed and have a satisfying emotional roller
coaster ride experience."
I'm giving Robert Downey, Jr. the
final say about how he feels with, "I'm excited, nervous and have such
pride. We are fans and that is the reason this has been such a great
adventure."
I have always found it difficult
to watch a film where there is a huge cast because I always want to see more of
one character over another, not the case with the AVENGERS films. Don't get me
wrong, I do have my personal favorites in Tony Stark and Loki (I love a smart
smart-ass and a smooth talking Asgardian what can I say!), but the AVENGERS
cast mesh in the sense that each has a job to do and they don't screen-hog to
do it.
The MCU is one of action,
adventure, storytelling, lessons to be learned, friendship, loyalty, chaos, a
lot of destruction, those who want to see the world burn and superheroes that
make it their life mission to stop it and all of this brought to a hungry
audience who want more. That's what Marvel does and will continue to do.
Although AVENGERS: Endgame is a finale in this particular chapter of that MCU,
there are so many more stories waiting in the wings to be shown to us on the
big screen.
This weekend I suspect that
theatres on our particular universe and planet will be bursting at the seams with
fans waiting to spend three hours with their closest super hero friends.
AVENGERS: Endgame is a film to be experienced with your family, friends and
every person in what ever theatre you find yourself in. I don't think anyone
who has invested so much time and emotion into these films will be
disappointed.
There is so much to take in and so
much to prepare for. Here are a few suggestions if I may: 1) Lay off the
liquids a few hours before the film so you can have plenty of popcorn and drink
during the film, 2) take a deep breath and exhale slowly from the moment the
theatre goes dark and then remember to breathe often after that, 3) bring
tissue…lots and lots of tissue.
They started this together and
each scene attempts to bring closure for fans so embrace every moment of the
film. Clearly AVENGERS: Endgame was made with love, fun and a sense that the
creators wanted to give fans everything – the good, the bad, the cheering and
the sad. AVENGERS: Endgame is going to give everyone exactly that.
In the end - each of these
Avengers has something to lose, something to gain and a world that needs to be
set right.
