Avengers: Endgame

The two best scenes are spent way too early in the film, with the first being the opening one with Clint's entire family disappearing in the snap and the second being Thanos' death. Perhaps it was a tad too easy, but it was definitely satisfying. However, if that felt too easy, then Stark & Nebula's deus ex machina in the face of Captain Marvel is akin to cheating.

After Thanos' death the film drags its feet up until the final battle. Hypnotizing pace with a lot of emotions (an effort on my behalf to not use the word "whining") for the snap's aftermath, until we get to the time traveling. Most of the stories didn't feel nostalgic but rather like a highlight reel minus the highlights. Jumping back to the present and the chemistry between the characters still feels way off. The untold/off-screen/implied resolution between Cap and Stark being a prime example of things that could have been covered instead during those two hours (I am guestimating as I didn't keep time).

The final battle tries to create an epic feeling into it but there are a lot of things wrong with it. Before all that though, lets talk about a series of unfortunate decisions that would make Snicket blush:
* Fantastic disservice to Thor who starting from Ragnarok became perhaps the most likeable character in the MCU. Having him on the sidelines for so long was bad, showing him all out of shape and in such a pathetic state from which he never recovered was simply atrocious. Thor's guilt should have made him the most determined player in the group but all that dissipated once he took Thanos head and thus the God of Thunder turned into a comic relief.
* Why oh why does Cap have to wield Thor's hammer? Was it supposed to be his big moment since we later see Stark take on the responsibility of saving everyone? It felt completely out of place. Stick to your own *bleep*ing thing Cap. We don't care that you are worthy to rule Asgard after it was destroyed and 20 minutes before you say goodbye to the franchise for good.
* Pepper Pots in a suit. Just because. Out of the blue. We don't care if she wears the suit in the comics. Build up to it. Make her earn it. You see her have a talk with Tony about building the time machine and next time you see her she has an Iron Man suit on.
* Obligatory scene with all the female characters banding together in one big shot. Lasted 10 seconds. What was the point? To make women feel empowered? Give them more screen time then.
* New Hulk seems less intelligent, more goofy and less enraged. Sounds like a loss on both of the now reconciled sides.
* The Black Widow/Ronin soul gem scene was so cliche from the start and if you are going to kill Romanov, make sure she is the one that gets all the screen time beforehand as a sendoff. We focused so much on Hawkeye up until that point that had he been sacrificed it would have at least been a proper service to the character.
* So many characters exist for the sole reason of getting an homage and the result feels forced. Pretty much every semi-major player aside from Odin gets a line which takes away time from more important characters (like Dr Strange).
* Thanos' hollow snap was something everyone saw coming a mile away.
* Captain Marvel is too overpowered and even more absent. Had she not been included in this and introduced in the next phase would have been preferable as nothing would be different aside from the writers being forced to find a more creative way to bring Stark and Nebula back. Her role in this was exaggerated ever since they played the post credit scene in Infinity War.
* The pass-the-gauntlet game was not only not well done but it lightened the atmosphere in a moment when a more serious approach would have been more fitting.
* Bucky was the obvious choice to replace Captain America, not Falcon. One has the exact same background as the Cap and struggling for an identity and a way to atone himself, the other is a hero on his own right. The fact that they felt Bucky was needed in the background of that scene and had to nod to give his approval speaks volumes.
* Why the hell do we get Mjölnir back since Thor already has Stormbreaker? Oh yeah that's right. So freaking Cap takes it.
* Did we get Gamora back just from a different timeline? That kind of sucks because we had already said our goodbyes. If we did, why is Starlord still searching for her?
* If I wanted to nitpick I'd also mention that since the Eternal one said that once just one infinity stone disappears from her timeline everything will turn to ****, what does that mean for the main timeline where Thanos destroyed all six? Does that make ours the darkest timeline? (Community joke, it ties in with the next one)

I am not an absolutist. There were some good choices in there as well:
* Very enjoyable to see Shirley and Chang from community present in this. (Abed and the Dean have also featured in previous Marvel films)
* Ronin as Hawkeye's new persona is amazing.
* Stark gets the goodbye I hoped for and the one he deserves. He goes out with a legacy and a true hero.
* Cap getting the stone in the elevator by whispering Hail Hydra was brilliant.
* Confirmation that Dr Strange will be the greatest sorcerer supreme was a nice touch.

Removed a segment as I originally misread one of your comments.



* Obligatory scene with all the female characters banding together in one big shot. Lasted 10 seconds. What was the point? To make women feel empowered? Give them more screen time then.

People are really going to make a thing out of this, huh?

Marvel is the one that made a thing out of it by so blatantly putting a scene like that in. I am all for equality which is why I want to see female characters get more screen time. I just happen to believe that the road to equality comes from inclusion, not segregation. Anyone who sees that glimpse of a scene and feels empowered is for me deluded. Manipulated is more like it. "Here is a 3 hour movie. Ladies you get 10 seconds just for you". **** that.