The aftermath of Avenger’s Endgame: A casual fan’s outlook on blockbusters…
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed belong to the author and is not a reflection of The Knockturnal site
Let’s just get one thing out of the way; Endgame isn’t the end-all-be-all story the advertisements would want us to think. It could be more accurately described as a celebration of the first Marvel Fever Wave.
By the end of this movie, many more seeds are planted for the upcoming films that is designed to lull us into paying more premium dollars for the upcoming second, third and fourth Marvel Fever Waves.
Yet as a casual fan, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Am I the only one experiencing superhero fatigue?”
For the past eleven years, the rise of Marvel’s dominance over the pop culture conversation has been, as Thanos would put it, “inevitable.” With an average of 3 movies coming out for the past three years, the shadow of the next Marvel movie is always just around the corner. And yes, Avengers is worth the premium dollar. Not only visually speaking is it an awe to watch the scenes unfold but it is also a testament to the vision that Kevin Feige, MCU’s official executive producer, has to hone a cohesive and well-crafted story. To add on top of all that, the fact that this movie universe is adamantly increasing its focus on female empowerment and celebration of diversity really does help to get this movie to the finish line.
This movie is designed as a love letter to fans, people who have invested over a decade of their lives to this cinematic universe. The three hour run time makes sense as it encases many Easter eggs for fans to enjoy and to the film’s credit; Endgame has a lot of ground to cover. It takes huge risks with its storytelling and focuses on the emotional fragility and humanity that even heroes experience.
I walked out of the theatre with a temporary afterglow of a story well told. Yet this was quickly replaced by a sense of superhero fatigue. As much as I have loved and enjoyed this movie series as a casual fan, it has become quite overwhelming to think about following all the upcoming announced superhero movies from Marvel and other franchises.
Superhero blockbuster movies aren’t going anywhere soon. But it has left me wondering the same thing another pop culture critique has posed; If every film is the next big blockbuster, no film is the next big blockbuster.
Have you watched Endgame and will you be watching it again?
I’m not quite sold yet…except maybe to check out the official America’s ass again.
-Summer Luk
