Avengers: Endgame And The Battle Of Winterfell Are Both This Weekend, And I’m Exhausted

Avengers: Endgame And The Battle Of Winterfell Are Both This Weekend, And I’m Exhausted

Part of being movie/TV fan means investing your time and money. You follow onscreen adventures for years, never missing out on a single episode or big screen opening. But eventually things must come to an end, and finales offer the chance for long-awaited payoffs and narrative conclusions.

That's exactly what's happening this week with Avengers: Endgame, which is the cumulation of the past 21 Marvel blockbusters and over a decade of filmmaking. It's a massively ambitious blockbuster, perhaps even more than Infinity War, and really pays off for the fans who have shelled out money to each installment of the behemoth franchise. I saw the movie last night, and I'm emotionally spent and can't really think about much else today.

But as soon as I exited the theater and began recapping just how satisfying and thrilling Endgame was, I had one thought: we have to do this all again in two days. Because shortly after Endgame is digested by the rabid fanbdom, we'll be glued to our TV screens for this Sunday's episode of Game of Thrones.

Episode 3 will contain the Battle of Winterfell, teased to be the biggest medieval battle sequence in film history. Most of the show's surviving characters have gathered in The North to battle the Night King and his army of the dead, and smart money says that we're going to lose plenty of fan favorites throughout the course of the next episode.

Game of Thrones has the potential to be more suspenseful and gut wrenching that Avengers: Endgame, which is really saying something. HBO's acclaimed series has always known just how to break the fandom's hearts, and is far more cruel that the MCU has ever been. So just when you may have pulled your emotions back together following an Endgame screening, GoT is here to emotionally devastate.

The stakes couldn't be higher for either the Marvel Cinematic Universe or Game of Thrones in its final season. Fans have spent a ton of time following both properties across eight season and 21 movies, and therefore have emotional connections to the characters. The possibility of major character deaths has never felt so inevitable, and both franchises have shown they weren't afraid to kill off fan favorites.

Related: 7 Game Of Thrones Theories About The Battle Of Winterfell That Could Come True

At the time of writing, its Friday morning and I'm still pretty exhausted from the experience of Endgame's wild three hour ride. Luckily I've got two days to recover before Game of Thrones, but there are plenty of fans who didn't run out to the opening night showings of the the latest Avengers movie. What's more, I've got a few friends who are seeing Endgame on Sunday, and then watching The Battle of Winterfell that night. I need a drink just thinking about that.

Now, I'm not complaining. This week is full of payoffs and top notch content to enjoy, but you've got to wonder exactly when the powers that be realized how Marvel and HBO's scheduled overlapped in such an epic way. But what's clear is that plenty of people are going to walking around Monday morning in dire need of coffee and possibly some therapy.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now, and Game of Thrones will premiere its third episode this Sunday on HBO. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

There's A Perfect Timeline Leading To Tony's Fate In Avengers Endgame

There's A Perfect Timeline Leading To Tony's Fate In Avengers Endgame

Warning: SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame are in play. If you haven’t seen the film yet, portal on out of here and come back once you’ve gotten the scoop.

The events of Avengers: Endgame have taken from the world its Iron Man, as Tony Stark died to protect everyone by using the Infinity Stones to defeat Thanos. While some may have predicted this event as the natural conclusion of Joe and Anthony Russo’s mega blockbuster for some time now, there are still those who might think it was just a grand spectacle to send Robert Downey Jr. out of the series.

But when you really look at the pre-existing history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, something becomes readily apparent. There’s a perfectly good path that leads from Tony Stark’s grown as a hero, running straight into the end zone that is Avengers: Endgame. This line of destiny reaches pretty far back, all the way from 2012’s The Avengers until Avengers: Endgame.

So in case you’re one of those doubters who are sitting there thinking that Tony Stark didn’t have to die, here’s the series of events that perfectly set up Tony’s sacrifice.

The Nuke Launch In The Avengers Sets Tony Stark Up As A Sacrificial Hero

While it would still take a little while for Tony Stark to completely reform his ways and become the Iron Man capable of giving Peter Parker fatherly advice, his actions towards the end of The Avengers helped him become a selfless hero. And it all started with an act very similar to the one that he would eventually undertake in Avengers: Endgame.

As the World Security Council launches a nuclear weapon meant to take out the Chitauri forces swarming New York, Tony decides to try and fly the missile out into space to save the city. Not only does his decision to attempt this Hail Mary show he’s capable of such a selfless act, his exposure to space and the creatures that come from the infinite cosmos traumatize him enough to start to formulate a game plan.

Giving Up His Iron Man Mantle Solidifies Tony’s Relationship With Pepper

While this move obviously didn't end up being permanent, Tony Stark resigning his heroic alter ego in Iron Man 3 did give him a firm relationship with his love interest, Pepper Potts. Ultimately, that relationship is important to Tony’s plot for two different reasons.

First, Pepper’s love gives him the motivation to try and live a normal life, dialing down his taste for adventure in several points of his life’s story. But second and most importantly is the fact that their romance will give Tony the ultimate reason for protecting the universe, as he and Pepper will eventually have their daughter, Morgan, to worry about.

Tony’s Big Speech In Avengers: Age Of Ultron Sets Up The Endgame

A huge moment that Avengers: Endgame leans on in is Tony’s big breakdown in Avengers: Age of Ultron. What starts as a reminder that Tony flew the infamous New York nuke into space becomes a somewhat tender pledge as to what he’s trying to do with Ultron. He saw an “endgame” up in space, and a “suit of armor around the world” was all he wanted to provide to save the world.

The entire “suit of armor around the world” remark basically set up Tony’s actions as a metaphorical fulfillment of that remark. In the end, his suit of armor was what protected the world from the threat of Thanos, as Tony paid with his life to save the universe. But Tony’s particular turn of phrase, marking unknown threats from beyond as “the endgame,” is what may have clued him into his ultimate sacrifice when the time came.

Doctor Strange Determines The One Solution For Avengers: Endgame

As the Sorcerer Supreme/guardian of the Time Stone, Doctor Stephen Strange was the key architect in the solution to Avengers: Endgame. And he found out exactly what it was in store for everyone by viewing all 14,000,605 scenarios that were possible after Thanos’ quest truly got underway in Avengers: Infinity War. In that crash course of MCU history, Doctor Strange had to have seen Tony’s big speech in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and saw that not only was Stark right in his assumption, but he was the perfect hero for the job.

With a predisposition to go that extra mile already instilled in him, and the stakes as dire as they were, Strange found that one in 14,000,605 chance he was looking for to make everything work. And he convinced Tony of his worth by his own act of selfless heroism.

Doctor Strange Sacrifices Himself

By surrendering the Time Stone to Thanos in exchange for Tony Stark’s life, Doctor Strange set the perfect example of doing whatever it takes to get the job done. It had been a while since Tony had to even face those sorts of stakes by time Avengers: Infinity War rolled around, but when it did, he learned that lesson hard.

And just to put a little more emphasis on what exact lesson Tony was to take from that moment, Stephen Strange looks him dead in the eye and flat out tells him, “We’re in the endgame now.” From that point forward, Tony would eventually do everything he had to in order to survive, but it would take one more event to truly send him into protector mode.

Tony Gets The Life He Dreamed Of In Avengers: Infinity War

Tony has one more meltdown when he comes back to Earth after the events of Avengers: Infinity War. That meltdown is so severe, it sets him up for the first act of Avengers: Endgame as one of the members who retires from the group to live the life he’d recently started dreaming of. In the five year gap between Infinity War and Endgame, Tony marries Pepper and together they have their daughter, Morgan.

For a while, Tony’s content with being the log cabin recluse that only needs his family to get along. But soon enough, he starts thinking about Peter Parker’s death, a moment that rocked him to his very core. And with his daughter to protect, reversing and defeating Thanos’ big plan become extremely important again.

Doctor Strange Returns With A Reminder For Tony

In Doctor Strange’s research on the way to defeat Thanos, Tony Stark was always going to be key. So when he returns during the grand finale of Avengers: Endgame, it’s a reminder that whatever he sees as necessary action needs to be done. Which makes his remarks to Tony about not being able to spell out his own fate all the more poignant.

Tony knows in that moment that his greatest fears are confirmed. Thinking back in Stephen’s own sacrifice, and the world that he now shares with his wife and daughter, failure is not an option. So as soon as Doctor Strange signals him to take action, Tony fulfills his destiny and seizes the Infinity Gauntlet.

Tony Stark Dies, Becoming A Great Big Hero Of The Marvel Cinematic Universe

With a snap of his fingers, Tony Stark wipes out Thanos and his invasion army, saving the day for one and all. The path clearly laid before him, Tony knew that the only way the world would be safe was if he heeded Doctor Strange’s instructions. It took a lot of time and motivation to get there, but when the moment was perfect, Tony was Iron Man once and for all.

Even in a recently mentioned deleted scene, Tony has a conversation with the teenaged version of Morgan, who absolves him of his actions once he snaps his fingers and enters the limbo that the Infinity Stones send their user to. Dying surrounded by his friends and colleagues, Tony Stark proved once and for all that he had a heart.

Tony Stark's passing will be felt for years to come, and even Spider-Man: Far From Home will deal with that very subject. With Peter Parker grieving the loss of his mentor, he'll be thinking about his departed friend throughout this summer's next Marvel blockbuster. But if Peter is anything like us, he'll eventually come to the same conclusion Avengers: Endgame left its audience with: Tony's death was not in vain, and The Avengers will make sure of it.

Avengers: Endgame is currently in theaters, with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (save Captain Marvel) being available on home video and streaming.

One Big Way Joker Will Be Different From Other Clown Prince Of Crime Origin Stories

One Big Way Joker Will Be Different From Other Clown Prince Of Crime Origin Stories

The world has gotten its first trailer showcasing DC's upcoming Joker, and it's safe to say this will be quite an interesting story about the Clown Prince Of Crime. While the trailer has teased some bits that are clearly inspired by other Batman works, there's one major part of this trailer that teases one big way this project will differ from most other Joker origins. I'm talking, of course, of his mother, and the seemingly delightful relationship that they have.

The trailer kicks off with Arthur Fleck talking about how his mother (played by American Horror Story's Frances Conroy) always tells him to smile and put on a happy face. The two are later seen dancing in the living room, and there's even a scene in which he is giving her a bath. It's closer than a lot of folks would be with their parents, and especially a lot closer than Joker typically is with his own.

While his origin has varied over the years, it's more than fair to say Joker's complicated relationship with his parents has more or less remained the same. The villain's motives aren't necessarily tied to them like with Batman, and most anecdotes the Joker gives on them in the comics are fleeting and violent. Take the film The Dark Knight, for example, when the villain recalled his father savagely attacking his mother with a knife before carving his face.

Other tales have detailed both parents being abusive to him, and some as well-to-do parents with a trouble-making child. Their fates often end up the same, however, with the villain being a part of their demise. This typically happens in his younger years, however, and Arthur is a fully grown man on good terms with his mom. Is this a case where he has a loving and supportive mother?

Possibly, although the appearance of one character may tease Arthur's past was as rough as other Jokers. Arthur is seen talking to a woman named Debra Kane, who may be the same Debra Kane that exists in the Batman universe. Debra is a social worker in Batman: The Ultimate Evil. In that story, she takes Bruce around Gotham and shows him various cases of child abuse. If this is the same character, how does she know Arthur?

This leads to the question of Joker's father, who doesn't appear to be a part of this drama. Perhaps he was around with Arthur and his mother decades ago, but is now gone in the present. Joker has killed his father before and spared his mother, but rarely does it result in a relationship that makes things between them stronger than ever. This is beginning to feel like a Wilson Fisk situation ala Netflix's adaptation of Daredevil.

Defending his mother is noble, but there's also something a bit unsettling about this dynamic. Obviously, we only have a few clips to go on, but it feels like Arthur has a Norman Bates level of appreciation for his own mother. As previously stated, the villain's motives are never explicitly inspired by his parents, but here it almost feels as though she is the inspiration for him entering the world of comedy.

It's really hard to understand the dynamic between the two here. Is she a sickly elderly woman that he's caring for in her older years, or is this just some weird thing? No offense, but if my mother was well enough to dance around the house with me in front of a television, I would leave her time in the bath as a solo deal. Perhaps those scenes are from different times in the movie, and something happens to her down the stretch.

There's also a solid amount of Arthur romping around the house in his underwear, which, again, would be a bit strange for a fully grown man to do when he's living with his mother. Especially when he's shaking his butt and doing light gyrations, it's just not the type of thing someone does in front of a parent. Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I'm going to put myself out on a limb and say this is not typical.

Here's an out-there theory to chew on: what if the mother isn't actually there? The whole trailer leans pretty heavy on the mom thing to start, and Arthur switches from referring to her in the present tense to the past tense. There's something there that makes me think that Arthur's mother isn't actually still around, but is in the sense that he's still thinking about her often and those are flashbacks, or he's hallucinating she's alive.

This brings us to another bit in the trailer in which we see Arthur writing some jokes presumably for a stand-up comedy routine. The notes begin with some harmless and corny jokes, but get less funny and more upsetting the further down. Right below his hand (which is next to a bottle of medication) we see an unfinished joke that reads "The worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don't."

Clearly those are the words of a man struggling, which is in line with Todd Phillips' description of the film. Arthur is a man who has been disregarded by society, and from the looks of that trailer, beaten up a few times as well. Perhaps it's not he who is the caretaker for his mother, but she's looking after him while he works to get his footing as the world gets crazier.

Whatever the case may be, it seems as though Arthur's mother will play a significant and supportive role in this story, which makes it one of the biggest departures this film will have from other Joker origin stories. Given what we've seen in the trailer, it's sure to be one of many things that will differ from the traditional origin story and give us yet another unique take on the villain's life.

Joker is in theaters Friday, October 4, and CinemaBlend will be covering all news that comes out in regards to it in the meantime. As an example, check out what Todd Phillips has had to say about people's thoughts on the movie, and how their perceptions on it may not be as accurate as they think.

Avengers: Endgame’s Don Cheadle Explains Why Rhodes Was So Good At Piloting War Machine

Avengers: Endgame’s Don Cheadle Explains Why Rhodes Was So Good At Piloting War Machine

Avengers: Endgame has been in theaters for three weekends, but the blockbuster is still on everyone's lips. The Russo Brothers crammed a ton of exciting twist and characters into the massive blockbuster, essentially ending the narrative that began with Iron Man. Given the state of the MCU and it's unknown future, there's been some reflection on the past 22 movies and decade of filmmaking.

James Rhodes is a character that debuted back in Iron Man, although he was originally played by Terrence Howard. Don Cheadle ended up taking on the role starting with Iron Man 2, which saw Rhodey become the superheroic War Machine. One Twitter user recently asked Cheadle why his character picked up piloting armor so much easier than Tony Stark, and he said:

Tony Stark may have been the first Marvel hero to armor up and save the day, but that doesn't mean it necessarily came easy to him. Iron Man showed RDJ struggle with the suit's abilities, especially when it came to flying. Meanwhile, Rhodey jumped in with relative ease.

Don Cheadle's Tweet shows how methodically the 54 year-old actor has thought out his long tenure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While fans seem eager to find plot holes or potential goofs in the shared universe, Cheadle knows exactly why his signature Avenger was able to adjust to wearing Tony's suit so quickly. It all has to do with his piloting background, and Tony's programming in making each suit intuitive to its user.

War Machine is one of the first heroes to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and has remained relevant presence in the MCU since taking on the mantle. In addition to his appearances in Iron Man 3 and Avengers: Age of Ultron, Rhodey had a particularly very strong outing in Phase Three.

He was an influential voice in the drafting of the Sakovia Accords in Captain America: Civil War, taking Tony Stark's side and urging the other Avengers to follow suit. He eventually participated in the tarmac battle, and sustained a major injury in the process. He now bares the physical scars from that scuffle, in addition to feelings of guilt.

War Machine provided both comedy and action in Avengers: Infinity War, helping to defend Wakanda from Thanos' forces in the film's third act. While unable to stop the Mad Titan himself, Rhodey got lucky and managed to survive Thanos' finger snap of death. He's go a meaty role in Endgame as a result, as the spotlight focuses on the survivors and their shared grief.

Related: What Marvel’s War Machine Movie Would Have Been About, According To Don Cheadle

It should be interesting to see what comes next for War Machine. The future of the MCU is largely a mystery-- at least until Spider-Man: Far From Home arrives and completes Phase Three. But considering which characters perished in Endgame, it might be a time for Rhodey to have an even bigger presence in the shared universe.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Kingsman 3 Will Be The Final ‘Chapter’ Of Eggsy And Harry’s Story

Kingsman 3 Will Be The Final ‘Chapter’ Of Eggsy And Harry’s Story

When an upcoming Kingsman film appeared on the release board for late 2019, it was an exciting prospect to catch back up with Taron Egerton’s Eggsy and Colin Firth’s Harry Hart after 2017’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle. However, it was later confirmed that the film would be a prequel lead by an entirely new cast. So, will the spy team we’ve grown to love ever come back? Check out this update from writer/director Matthew Vaughn about Kingsman 3:

We've got to finish off the Eggsy and Harry relationship. The final chapter of their relationship needs to be told, which we've got ready to do, and I'm hoping to shoot that later this year or the beginning of next year. But this Kingsman (prequel) has been pushed back to February 14th for coming out, and so, yeah, as soon as that's done, we're looking forward to… It's funny. As Taron was saying, he's looking forward to becoming Eggsy again, because emotionally it's a lot less draining.

Manners maketh man, and Matthew Vaughn is doing right by keeping fans in the loop with these words. As the filmmaker told Digital Spy, Kingsman 3 is in the works in addition to the prequel. The upcoming origin story to be titled Kingsman: The Great Game is being prioritized though, as it has a February 14, 2020 release date to make. Once the project, also written and directed by Vaughn, is complete, he plans to move over to the Kingsman trilogy closer right away.

Since The Golden Circle, Matthew Vaughn and Taron Egerton have collaborated again on the Elton John musical biopic Rocketman. Vaughn is a producer on the flick starring Egerton as the music icon. The connection between the back-to-back projects run even deeper, since Elton John himself had a memorable cameo in the spy sequel.

A ton of preparation went into Taron Egerton’s Elton John role, as he had to sing, dance and convincingly portray the musician, sometimes with the man himself in front of him. It’s been an emotional yet rewarding experience for the actor to star in Rocketman, but it has made him even more excited to return to his more familiar role as Eggsy and conclude the story that launched his career back in 2014.

Since The Great Game takes place during World War I (approximately 100 years before Eggsy began his life as a spy), Taron Egerton will understandably not be in the film. However, the movie has rounded out a cast full of impressive talent including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Matthew Goode, Gemma Arterton, Charles Dance, Daniel Brühl, Ralph Fiennes, Djimon Hounsou, Rhys Ifans and Stanley Tucci. Not much else is known about the Kingsman prequel, but it will reportedly serve as an origin story for the spy service.

Fans can now also look forward to some closure concerning Eggsy and Harry’s story arcs established with the Kingsman movies, though we’ll have to wait over a year (at least) before we see Colin Firth and Egerton return to these roles. In the meantime, you can catch Egerton in Rocketman this Friday, May 31.

Avengers: Endgame Reviews: What CinemaBlend Thought Of Marvel's Big Finale

Avengers: Endgame Reviews: What CinemaBlend Thought Of Marvel's Big Finale

It's been almost exactly 11 years since the experiment that came to be known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe was born with Iron Man. 22 movies later, the stories of many of our favorite heroes come to a head in Avengers: Endgame. For those that have been on this ride since the beginning, expectations are incredibly high, but for the most part, everybody at CinemaBlend agrees that the film met those expectations, and largely exceeded them.

Nobody would agree with that sentiment more than Cinemablend Events Editor Eric Eisenberg. He wrote the official review for Avengers: Endgame, and he awarded it the first perfect five-star review of the year, saying...

Avengers: Endgame is one of the most ambitious, entertaining, emotional, and stunning blockbusters we’ve ever seen, and the best film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe canon thus far.

That's some strong praise, to be sure, but it's not the only praise coming from the team here. Managing Director Sean O'Connell loved Endgame so much that he can barely believe he actually saw it.

Avengers: Endgame is everything Marvel fans need it to be, and more. It's the perfect culmination of 11 years of storytelling, and a beautiful final chapter to 21 previous movies. It's loaded with well-earned fan-service beats, and packed with surprises that both delight and amaze. Seriously, the movie is such a fever dream of Marvel goodness, I'm half convinced that I imagined this film into existence, because there's no way in hell that what I just witnessed actually exists in a finished film. The MCU is a magic trick, the greatest geek accomplishment in our lifetime, and Endgame is the face-melting finale this franchise deserves.

It's hard to believe that so much has happened in barely over a decade. 11 years ago, nobody knew if this idea, bringing comic book style cross-title continuity to the big screen, would actually work. Not only did fans accept it, they embraced it, and the MCU has become the biggest franchise in the history of cinema.

The hardest part of creating any story is probably figuring out where to start, but coming close behind that is figuring out how to finish it. Avengers: Endgame had to do more than most. It had to bring not just one story, but several, to a satisfying conclusion. The film succeeds remarkably well. Senior Movie Contributor Mike Reyes lays the congratulations at the directing pair of Joe and Anthony Russo as well as screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who have largely been responsible for the entire third phase of the MCU.

Avengers: Endgame is a landmark achievement for comic book movies. The film ties up the years and films that have preceded it, and the weight of such history is felt in all the right places. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, along with writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, have created a film that lives up to the insane hype it's generated, and the entire film is a cross between a victory lap and a sigh of relief. It's blockbuster spectacle crossed with serious, beautiful character work, and packaged in a film that is both self-contained and seriously satisfying when paired with Avengers: Infinity War.

For fans who want to have the experience of watching Avengers: Endgame cold, avoiding accidental spoilers can be a tricky game. The good news, as GatewayBlend Project Manager Cody Beck points out, is that even if you've seen the film's official trailers, you really don't know anything.

It does not feel like 3 hours. The pacing and storytelling keep everything moving along smoothly- and believe me, there’s a lot to tell in this final chapter. The trailers are just the tip of the iceberg- you have seen nothing yet. There are scenes in this movie that I’m still trying to wrap my head around. The throughline to the other 21 films is apparent and so much fun to witness. While It’s not my favorite MCU movie (top 5), I still think it will end up going down as an overall fan favorite. The team-ups, callbacks, and subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) way it pokes fun at the MCU as a whole will have die-hard fans and casual fans alike leaving the theater with a satisfying conclusion to the Infinity Saga.

For those who have been following the MCU from the beginning, who have been along this journey for every step, there's a definite feeling of finality here. This is the end of the road, even if we don't know exactly how. We all know going in this will be an emotional experience. Marketing Editor Adrienne Jones, admits that it is exactly that, and cautions fans to properly prepare in order to not miss a moment.

Somehow, after over a decade of buildup and 21 movies, Avengers: Endgame has managed to both give fans exactly what they want and what they expect (in many ways) while still completely offering up surprises aplenty. A lot of cool shit happens in this movie. It's funny, but it will also make all but those with the hardest of hearts tear up more than once. It calls back or even resolves some things from past films, but still places us firmly in the future of the franchise by the end. And, all of this is capped by one of the largest, most thrilling battles ever seen on film. So, yeah, cut off all eating / drinking at least two hours beforehand and get all potty breaks out of the way early. You won't want to miss anything.

While nobody at CinemaBlend had any issues with Avengers: Endgame that made it an out right bad experience, that's not to day that everybody thought it was perfect. News Director Jessica Rawden would still agree the movie was an impressive accomplishment, though it's also an impressively long accomplishment, and she disagrees with Adrienne regarding the importance of bladder control.

Funny, smart and sentimental, Avengers: Endgame does what I didn't think it could do: hold its ground against its predecessor, Infinity War. The 3-hour movie has many satisfying moments for fans of the MCU and exciting moments for action fans in general, but dare I say it: You will have time to get up and use the bathroom should you need to.

If one thing is clear, it's that fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are likely to have an wonderful time with this movie that culminates three phases of storytelling. However, CinemaBlend VP of Product, Mack Rawden, maybe isn't the world's biggest MCU fan, and as such his enjoyment of the film was somewhat tempered.

Endgame is the most Marvel movie that has ever Marveled. It's the most fitting possible culmination to everything that has come in the first three phases, and how much you enjoy it will likely be proportional to how much you've bought into the MCU. The Russo Brothers know their characters well, and all the major ones are given extended runs and special moments in Endgame. To many fans, each of these moments will feel earned and wonderful. To others less enthusiastically on board with the franchise, they'll sometimes feel a bit long and self-important. It's the right climax for this franchise, and because I'm only casually on board, it makes sense I'd be the same on this movie. If you're someone who loves the MCU, you'll have a blast.

Avengers: Endgame may not technically be the final chapter of Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it is still the end in many ways. However, Endgame isn't just the final part of the story, it's also a celebration of every chapter that came before. This is why fans who remember all those pieces will be rewarded for being there every step along the way.

As far as myself, I largely fall in line with those that were simply taken by surprise by just how well Avengers: Endgame handled its impressive responsibility. The film will likely give fans exactly what they want, and while that may frustrate some who are looking for more surprises, there's nothing ultimately wrong with getting everything you ever wanted.

If I had made a list of everything I wanted to see in Avengers: Endgame, I can't think of anything that would still be on it. Very little of it is surprising, but that doesn't make it any less beautiful. Sometimes you get not only the ending you deserve, but the one that you want.

Whatever you think of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the sheer fact that the franchise has succeeded to this point is impressive, and a moment worthy of note in cinema history. What comes next? Nobody knows, except maybe Kevin Feige, and he's not talking.

Midsommar Trailer Is Unsettling And Awesome

Midsommar Trailer Is Unsettling And Awesome

Last year, writer and director Ari Aster burst onto the scene and added another chapter in the horror renaissance with his feature directorial debut Hereditary. Apparently not one to rest on his laurels, Ari Aster is already back with his follow-up, the mysterious horror film Midsommar. The first trailer for Midsommar has arrived and as you might expect, it is both unsettling and awesome. Check it out:

When it’s done well, I’m a big fan of trailers that focus more on teasing the film’s tone versus laying out the specific plot beats, and that’s what we get from the Midsommar trailer. The logline for the film is that a young woman joins her boyfriend on a summer trip where things go awry, and this trailer doesn’t really tell us much more than that, thus maintaining the mystery. It’s more about conveying a feeling, and the feeling that we get here is deeply unsettling.

The imagery paints a picture of a joyous festival. The desaturated color palette, blown out highlights and the almost-Wes Andersonian symmetry in some of the shots are meant to evoke an idyllic picture of summer. The whole thing has this hazy nostalgic quality to it, giving off a magical flower power vision of what we think of as summer. The letterbox is even white! So how can something so beautiful be so unsettling?

The cadence and the minimalistic score of this trailer build slowly, like clockwork ticking down to some inevitable terror, the evil lurking beneath the heavenly and colorful veneer. All the while there is a weirdness to the people we are seeing and what they are saying, and the skepticism on Florence Pugh’s character’s face echoes our own. We wonder what is off about this place then towards the end of the trailer we find out.

Midsommar might mean midsummer, but this trailer might as well be called The Horror of Hippies. It’s not entirely clear what is going on, but there seems to be some cult-ish, paganism-type stuff at play. Given the ending of Hereditary, Ari Aster seems to have a fascination with such ideas. There is a shot of someone with bloody hands against a rune-covered rock, a horribly disfigured person, some strange ritual and a bear being dissected. Something sinister is definitely happening and Florence Pugh’s Dani will somehow have to escape it.

Another thing that unsettles throughout this trailer is the noise the characters keep making. Hereditary’s marketing showed how terrifying children are with Charlie’s clucking noise, a noise that moviegoers who thought themselves original and funny decided to make in the theater. Here the members of this group/participants in this festival are making this exhale sound with their mouths that kind of reminds me of a noise the kids made in the movement sequence in The OA.

Which makes you think, what’s with Ari Aster and noisemaking and how much trouble did he have staying quiet in school?

Midsommar has a great young cast which is led by We’re the Millers and Detroit’s Will Poulter and Florence Pugh, who just starred in the acclaimed wrestling flick Fighting with my Family. All in all, this is an awesome trailer, and as someone who admired the craft of Hereditary more than I actually liked the movie itself, Midsommar just vaulted into one of my most anticipated movies this year.

The festivities begin when Midsommar opens in theaters on August 9. Check out our 2019 release schedule to keep track of all the year’s biggest movies, and for the latest in why Midsommar is still less horrifying than Fyre Festival, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.