The End of an Era

With the release of Iron Man in 2008, an era began. We began to follow the lives and adventures of Tony Stark, Steven Rogers, Bruce Banner, Thor, and more. Growing up and watching these heroes develop and grow was a privilege. Their growth accompanied my own, which can be said for many young Atlantans.

            What makes these stories even better is knowing that parts of the movies were filmed in Atlanta. If you were lucky, you could go and watch these incredible stories being made. However, that opportunity ended when filming on Avengers: Endgame was wrapped up. As the last film in the Avengers Universe, it marks the end of an era.

            With the movie’s release on April 25th, people around the world got to watch an epic battle with twists, turns, and Easter eggs. Watching that movie in the theaters on its opening weekend was a treat. You could hear the entire theater groaning, cheering, and crying throughout the film.

            We get to see new costumes, new technology, character growth, and the culmination of eleven years of work. All the characters from every aspect of the Avengers Universe came together for this film: the Guardians of the Galaxy, the protectors of the Sanctums, the fighters of Wakanda, the Avengers, Ant-Man, Spiderman, Captain Marvel, and the Asgardians. All the end credits scenes finally make sense.

            The Avengers, or what’s left of them after the Thanos’s snap, are trying to move on when they are given the slimmest of hopes: a daring plan that could go disastrously wrong in so many ways. But, as for the Avengers, they feel honor-bound to at least try despite knowing that having that hope ripped away would be even more painful. Some comedy is thrown in the mix, simply to lighten the mood of the 3-hour film and bring some levity to the situation they are faced with.

            Each of the remaining Avengers work together to travel back to certain moments in time, gathering the Infinity Stones before Thanos so they can reverse the snap that annihilated 50% of all life throughout the universe. Each of these individuals face their own trials in the past, be it meeting with lost loved ones, a defeated villain escaping, or the unexpected loss of a loved one. We see the Avengers thinking on their toes, playing cards they never would have thought to use, and witnessing their own character growth.

            When they complete one step of the plan and move on to the next, something happens that makes it all seem for naught. Of course, our heroes do their best to prevail in such daring odds. It doesn’t look good. However, when we see the after effects of the Avengers’ snap, things start

to look up. We get to see all the characters we thought we had lost, all the heroes who played the wrong hand for the best reasons, all the ones we wished had been spared.

            With these new arrivals, we get scenes that harken back to past movies and comic books. A nod to Captain America: Civil War, a few hints at Avengers: Age of Ultron, a homage to multiple comic issues, and the iconic phrase from the comic books: “Avengers, Assemble!”. These new arrivals make the heroes success possible. But not without a price!

            The first arrival to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony Stark, is the first that died a permanent death. In one of the most intense scenes throughout the movie, Tony Stark sacrifices everything, including a life with his daughter, to save the world. The ultimate hero move. He makes a reference to his most iconic line, delivered at the end of the first Iron Man film: “And I … am… Iron Man,” before snapping his fingers for the victory. Shortly after, as gamma radiation surges through his body, Tony Stark gets to watch all the villains and enemies turn to dust. This victory is the definition of bittersweet. Yes, they won, but look at all they lost and endured along the way.

            Just as we were there for the beginning of this journey, watching Tony Stark admit to being Iron Man, watching Steven Rogers become Captain America, watching the team form through hardship, we watched each of them find their peace and move on to the next stage of their lives.

            Avengers: Endgame wrapped everything neatly and tied it with a ribbon. We leave the theater knowing that Clint is living happily with his family, Thor is finding his place after relinquishing the Asgardian throne, Sam Wilson is becoming the next Captain America, Steve Rogers has lived his life with Peggy Carter, Peter Parker is returning to school. We get to see everyone living their best lives without the threat of Thanos and the deaths of their friends and family hanging over their heads anymore. Our heroes get the peace that they deserve after eleven years of battle, war, hardships, and loss. And with their peace, we, the viewers, get peace as well.