As we all know, it’s Avengers: Endgame (2019) opening weekend, a cinematic event unlike any other. After 20+ blockbuster films over the course of 11 years, this film will mark the end of what we have come to know as the mainstream storyline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With renewed curiosity, and in preparation for Endgame, I revisited Avengers: Infinity War (2018), a film I did not get the chance to write about for The Stute last year. Rewatching Infinity War, especially this close to the release of Endgame, raised a few questions that will definitely be answered upon watching the 3 hour and 1 minute capstone film. While I am a close follower of the MCU, I do not read any of the source material or search for any context outside of the films. As a result of this, my predictions and insights are based solely on the content of the films.
The first major question I had came from the very first few minutes of Infinity War: Is Loki actually dead? Sure, it would be a bit cheesy and a part of me would be a bit frustrated if Loki is still alive since he’s already pulled the fake death trick once before and his character doesn’t necessarily deserve redemption (as a result of being a brilliant villain), but wouldn’t it be such an unexpected and pleasant surprise if he were alive? Loki was always such a captivating character, and Tom Hiddleston’s performance is unmatched. But why would I think Loki is still alive? Thanos (Josh Brolin) chokes him to death and says, “No resurrections this time,” but prior to this moment, Loki had been missing from the scene and suddenly appears from behind some debris, which is suspicious. And even earlier in the scene, Loki looks at Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and says, “I assure you, brother, the sun will shine on us again,” which is oddly profound and seemingly out of character.
Another moment I have always loved but made me stop and think upon this last viewing was when Thanos tells Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), “You’re not the only one cursed with knowledge.” I loved this moment since it connected Thanos and Tony Stark as characters, and I always interpreted it as Thanos telling Tony that he isn’t the only one who feels a sense of responsibility to protect others on a large scale. But then I thought, what would Thanos and Tony literally share knowledge about?
Whose movie will Avengers: Endgame be? Infinity War was undoubtedly Thanos’ movie, as we spent the majority of the time with him or seeing other characters discuss him. Also, Infinity War gave us an abundance of character development and insight into Thanos that we never had an opportunity to in the past. I thought this format of the star-studded film worked out very well, and I’m curious as to how the Russo brothers will approach Endgame.
The biggest question that has been circling in my head: Will Thanos be defeated? A climactic fight scene doesn’t seem like an ending that would do a character as complex and interesting as Thanos any justice. To me, retreating or conceding to the Avengers also doesn’t seem like something Thanos would do. At the conclusion of Infinity War, we did see him have some emotion that could be interpreted as regret when he tells young Gamora in his vision that it cost “Everything.” Even the closing shot of the film, where Thanos finally gets to “rest and watch the sun rise on a grateful universe,” he doesn’t seem completely satisfied. I believe that if Thanos’ end will come in this film, it will be by his own choice.
All of these questions (and my dozens of others) will be answered over the handful of viewings I already have planned for Avengers: Endgame, which I’m sure will leave me with many more. We’re in the endgame now, readers. Enjoy it.
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