And Not A Trace Of Jar Jar Binks

“You are nothing. A scavenger girl is no match for the power in me. I am all of the Sith!” – Palpatine

“We’re not alone. Good people will fight if we lead them.” ~ Poe Dameron

“Never underestimate a droid.” ~ Leia Organa

“Rey, some things are stronger than blood. Confronting fear is the destiny of a Jedi. Your destiny. If you don’t face Palpatine, it will mean the end of the Jedi. And the war will be lost.” ~ Luke Skywalker

“People keep telling me they know me. I’m afraid no one does.” ~ Rey

The final chapter of the Skywalker saga has come out, as Star Wars ends one era (or until the studio marketing chimps decide to have another go at it). The Rise Of Skywalker answers some questions, poses others, introduces some new faces into the sci fi epic, and brings back some familiar faces along the way. It’s the ending of an era for the franchise, one with some ups and downs along the way, but in the end an entertaining one.

Picking up quite some time after the events of The Last Jedi, the story starts with the revelation that the late Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), last seen getting tossed down a shaft on the Death Star, might not be dead, with mysterious broadcasts alluding to his survival. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), having had killed off his master in the previous film and established himself as the supreme leader of the malevolent First Order, seeks to destroy this interloper from the past, viewing him as a threat to his own place in the galaxy. And so two forces of evil meet, but things take a different route than Kylo might have expected.

Rey (Daisy Ridley), the heroine of these films, is with the rest of the Resistance, hidden away, biding their time. She’s being trained by Leia (Carrie Fisher) in the ways of the Force. Her friends Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) are making preparations for the fight yet to come. Familiar faces like Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), C-3PO, and the other droids are with them. And it’s not long before the dark menace of the First Order makes its threat plain, and our heroes have to undergo a quest to save the galaxy. Lives will be altered, destinies will be met, and good will confront evil. Lots of light hearted material, in other words.

Director J.J. Abrams returns, having a hand in the script, which is also credited to Chris Terrio, while some story concepts were credited to previously attached director Colin Trevorrow and collaborator Derek Connolly. This being the end of a saga, there’s a lot of unfinished business to deal with, and the story reflects that, sprawling well over two hours, spanning the far reaches of a galaxy. It might be unwise, one expects, in presenting new characters into a crowded universe, though the new characters work quite well, on both sides of the conflict.

The story weaves together themes of destiny, of the struggle between good and evil, between anger and purpose, of friendship and loyalty, and of redemption and ambition. This presents itself in different characters in different ways. While the main players of the story get their share of the narrative, and most of the supporting characters get their due in that respect as well, it’s not always shared. The character Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), introduced in the last film to much dismay by fanboys, seems to come up short in screen time, for instance.

Abrams has long had a pretty good handle on action, and on science fiction, and that shows itself here. He handled The Force Awakens well, and his return to the director’s chair here continues that. The story presents both new worlds and familiar places in different ways (the wreckage of the second Death Star is a particularly vivid and terrifying place, awash in angry seas on the familiar moon of Endor). We see a multitude of new creatures, reminding us that the Star Wars universe has always been a wildly diverse place of aliens, planets, ships, and cultures. The set pieces build on what’s come before; First Order destroyers are familiar to long term fans of the franchise, while the locations that we find our characters in, new or old, feel true to the Star Wars continuity.

It’s a large cast, with some surprising returns, either in person or in voice, as happens at two vital moments in the film. One of the big returns of course is the not so dead Emperor Palpatine, played with relishing menace by Ian McDiarmid. There’s nothing in the character, who’s had a way to cheat his own death, remotely capable of redemption of kindness. Instead it’s all malice, ambition, and ruthlessness, which fits in with what we’ve seen of the character before. Palpatine is pure evil, and that’s the way the actor approaches him.

Richard E. Grant, one of those character actors you see in so many films, plays a new character, a First Order general by the apt name of Pryde. He has a similar sort of personality we’ve seen in Imperial officers from films pasts- the ruthless, cutthroat energy, the sneering contempt fitting his role. Domhnall Gleeson returns as General Hux, still as petulant, arrogant, and condescending as ever. And yet there’s a nice twist involving the character that I liked, one whose motivation still very much fits how the actor has played the role.

I mentioned how Kelly Marie Tran has been largely cast aside in terms of screen time from what she did in the second film. She doesn’t get a lot of screen time as Rose, but the character continues to feel true to what’s come before- the steadfast faith in a cause, the rising to the occasion of someone who might otherwise seem ordinary. Two other actresses get new parts this time out. Naomie Ackie plays Jannah, who has something in common with Finn. She too was once a storm trooper in the First Order, and she too defected. The actress gives the character a wary at first approach, before showing her courage as the story goes along, and she winds up getting a fair amount of screen time. Keri Russell appears (though spends her onscreen time masked) as Zorii Bliss, an old acquaintance of Poe, and there’s clearly some history between them. She’s harder edged, cynical, willing to let the troubles of the galaxy pass by, and something of a scoundrel in her approach to things. Yet like another scoundrel of this franchise, she can’t quite back away from trouble when she finds it. I liked the banter and energy between this character and Poe.

Anthony Daniels has played C-3PO in nine films (ten, when you count the cameo in Rogue One). The droid has often been a whiny, worrisome, neurotic source of humour for the audience, baffled as he finds himself in the midst of galactic conflict, rattling off statistics and telling people how many forms of communication he’s fluent in. He remains the source of humour at times in this film, perpetually worried, and yet one of my favourite moments in the film belongs to the character and the actor: a moment of pure selflessness and heroism that makes you admire him.

Joonas Suotamo took over the role of Chewbacca from the late Peter Mayhew. The Wookiee is a veteran of the Rebellion and now the Resistance, a favourite character for many. With the death of Han in the first film of this trilogy, Chewie has had to move beyond that partnership to work with others more extensively, which we see in this film. The character might growl and be incoherent to us, at least in words, but his actions continue to show him to be the fiercely loyal friend willing to step right into the thick of things.

Billy Dee Williams returns to the franchise as the suave charmer and rogue, General Lando Calrissian. He's older and wiser, something more of a sage, but still with that charming streak to him, loyal to his friends and still a natural leader. The actor makes the best of the opportunity, relating well to the newer characters, and even reminding us of the older bonds with characters he doesn't interact with in this film. One of the great treats of the film is watching Lando and Chewie at the controls of the Millennium Falcon, and the expression Williams has with his character on board the ship: a man who's come home.

Adam Driver has been the primary antagonist in the sequel trilogy, but one with divided loyalties and inner conflicts. His Kylo Ren/ Ben Solo is a tortured, wounded soul, broken and distrustful, deep in the Dark Side of the Force. And yet his journey through this film takes him in new directions and new choices. There are times he lashes out in anger, times he seems lost in himself, and times when he finds his purpose. The actor plays to these elements in his performance, making the character compelling to watch, and ultimately even sympathetic as he struggles between the darkness and the light. We can empathize with him in a way we never could with Heyden Christensen's descending into darkness Anakin Skywalker, and that reflects the talent of the actor.

John Boyega was first introduced to the franchise as a storm trooper with doubts. His role as Finn is an engaging one, as the character has progressed over the films from just trying to run away from it all to ultimately investing himself fully in the just cause of the Resistance. That doesn't mean he can't be distracted- there are times he's more concerned about Rey than about what's happening right in front of him. But for the most part he's grown into the role of a believer, both in the Force and in the cause of the Resistance. That character growth makes him more interesting, and someone the audience can appreciate.

Oscar Isaac has had a good role in the sequel trilogy's new characters as Poe Dameron, the brash and devil-may-care Resistance fighter pilot and commander who chafes at authority but finds himself becoming the authority. The actor balances the character's carefree rogue personality with his increasing awareness that the mantle of leadership is on him, something that's been building through all three films. Poe has his moments of doubt and uncertainty, but brings himself back to lead the path forward despite them. 

To say this was a complicated matter bringing the late Carrie Fisher into the film is an understatement, and yet it works. Abrams made use of unused footage from earlier in the sequel trilogy of Leia with other characters, but the dialogue feels written for this film, as though meant for it. Fisher's Leia is still the resolute, principled leader with a will of iron and a heart filled with empathy and purpose. She's ever wise, leading an effort against a rising evil, dispensing advice as needed, and coming to a crossroads of her own. It turns out to be a poignant final performance from the actress, and a fitting way to go out.

Mark Hamill returns, much as Alec Guinness did before him, as a Force spirit version of Luke Skywalker. It's a cameo appearance this time, but a timely one, as he reaches out to his apprentice Rey when she's at a low point, and gives her purpose and strength. His Luke is at peace, capable of admitting his own errors, and at a point where wisdom has long since replaced the young farm boy looking to the horizon. This is almost certainly the last time the actor will play the role, but it's a fitting finale that brings closure to his own journey, and that of others.

Daisy Ridley has been the protagonist of the sequel trilogy as Rey. Starting out her story as a scavenger in search of herself, the character has grown into someone learning of her own abilities and place in the galaxy. Her journey in this film includes revelations, moments of doubt and anger, and ultimately steadfast resolution and courage in the face of pure evil. The actress makes her role a compelling one, someone the audience can empathize with. She's not a perfect person, but that makes her all the more interesting to watch.

Is The Rise Of Skywalker a perfect film? No. At times it feels a bit too rushed, and there's the sense of one or two characters getting marginalized. It could have easily been expanded to three hours to flesh things out. But the film is an entertaining one, keeping you drawn into the story of these characters against a grand backdrop of a galaxy at war. There are surprising returns, fresh humour, and new characters I did like. All in all though, the film is a fitting way to bring an epic saga to a conclusion.

At least until the studio marketing chimps decide to tell the story of an unrevealed Skywalker grandchild running around on Hoth.

A Dark And Confusing Fate

“Expect a big ping, brother. My whole body’s a weapon.” ~ Rev-9

“Two days ago, I had this nice, simple life. And now it’s a nightmare.” ~ Dani Ramos

“Come with me or you’ll be dead in thirty seconds.” ~ Grace

“I won’t be back.” ~ T-800

“My name is Sarah Connor. August 29^th, 1997 was supposed to be Judgment Day. But I changed the future. Saved 3, 000, 000, 000 lives. Enough of a resume for you?” ~ Sarah Connor

The Terminator franchise has returned to theatres with Terminator: Dark Fate, the sixth in the series and seventh if you include the television series The Sarah Connor Chronicles. It’s deemed a direct sequel to Terminator 2, as everything that’s come after that is now deemed as happening in alternate timelines. Confused yet? You will be. The film reunites Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, gives us a healthy dose of girl power along the way, brings up the latest in a long line of cybernetic terminator baddies, and even brings back original director James Cameron as a producer. All this under the direction of Tim Miller (Deadpool).

The film opens with a flashback to 1998, years after the events of T2 and the aversion of the end of life as we know it by Sarah Connor (Hamilton), her son John, and a rogue T-800. Sarah and John are living a quiet life, but Skynet sent back more than one Terminator through time before getting annihilated, and one of them, a T-800 (Schwarzenegger), catches up to them. Twenty two years later, another Terminator, designated the Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna), comes back in time to murder Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes). As before, a protector from the future comes back to defend her. Grace (Mackenzie Davis) is a cybernetic enhanced soldier from 2042, taken in by the adult Dani, a commander of the human Resistance. It’s not long before Grace and Dani come face to face with an older but no less formidable Sarah Connor, and then that same T-800, who has developed a conscience, integrated into society, given himself a name, and even aged.

The Terminator franchise as a whole is a paradox- people from the future coming back into the past to prevent the inevitable. Can timelines be changed? Or as is the case, do multiple timelines spring out of a single moment? It’s a headache when you try to sort out what happened to who in which timeline, and this adds onto the headache. Skynet’s been destroyed, but that doesn’t mean threats from the future are done. This film gives us another AI called Legion, still sending its machines back in time to do its dirty work and stack the deck in its war against humanity. The film rose out of some disappointment in the recent Genisys chapter of the franchise. Producer David Ellison asked Cameron to come back on board in the same role, and recruited Miller as a director. The story chooses to retcon the three sequels that have come since T2 into alternate timelines, and acts instead as a follow up to that film. Multiple writers are involved in this, some with ties to the franchise.

The story starts out creatively, with a shock for the audience. From there it weaves the convoluted paradoxes of time travel and science fiction with good characterization. We see character growth in more than one way, which I liked. It starts with an antagonist who has more personality than others of his kind before. It carries on to a young girl who has no idea what destiny has in store for her when her world comes apart. And it continues to a warrior from the future who is part human and part machine and must reconcile that. Some of the strongest characterization comes from the two leads- a robotic assassin from the future without a purpose who experiences personal growth by having free will and developing a conscience, and a fierce woman who’s suffered tremendous losses and must find her way back to her own humanity. That sense of depth among these characters is a great asset to the film.

Miller has already proven with the first Deadpool movie that he could handle action, and that continues here. There’s more than a fair share of action set pieces in this film, with violence and mayhem and futuristic nightmares come to life. Miller doesn’t get lost in that, which is another good thing. The new angle on the Terminator antagonist Rev-9 and his shifting abilities is rendered well, with the CGI believable. But the CGI serves the story, as opposed to the other way around, a distinction that would be lost on some directors. As the story goes long, it weaves between the themes of hope and despair, redemption and revenge, and the inevitability of what is to come. All while the audience still tries to figure out how convoluted all of that time travel can be.

As I’ve mentioned, it’s the characters who ground the film, and serve as the strongest asset of the film. Gabriel Luna steps in as the latest Terminator antagonist, the Rev-9. I’ve only seen him before in the series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as the Ghost Rider. Unlike those who have come before him, the Rev-9 is programmed with more of a personality- this being an asset in infiltration. Rev-9 appears in more than one way, proves to be a formidable adversary, and Luna makes the most of the part, exuding a cold sort of charm that conceals the lethal weapon just lingering under the surface.

Natalia Reyes has a sympathetic role as Dani Ramos, whose world is shattered with the deaths of her family, an attempt on her life, and the revelation that she is meant for greater things in a dark world of war against machines. She rises to the occasion as events go along- not unlike Sarah Connor in the first of the films. Starting as a young woman just getting through her day, she becomes more as the film goes along, and the actress plays to that in a strong way.

Mackenzie Davis has an eclectic resume that includes the recent Blade Runner 2049, and here she gets a lot to do as the warrior from the future sent back to thwart a cybernetic adversary. Grace exists on the edge between human and machine, enhanced with cybernetics to save her life, and able to go toe to toe with a terminator. There’s tension between her and Sarah- understandable, as Sarah distrusts her machine aspects and views her as inexperienced. And interestingly, there’s more of a common bond she has with Schwarzenegger’s T-800, something the actress plays to through the film.

Schwarzenegger himself has been playing this role for awhile (well, several different T-800s, to be precise). But this is something of a new take on the character. In the first film we’ve seen a merciless killer, programmed to come back in time and kill the mother of the leader of the Resistance. In subsequent films we’ve seen a reprogrammed terminator who’s been programmed by others to protect. Here we have a terminator who comes back in time to carry out his programming… and then finds himself cut adrift and in possession of free will. It’s of his own free will that he develops a conscience, comes to terms with the consequences of his actions, learns to be better, and integrates himself into human society, even taking a name. This new take is an intriguing one, as is the tension that exists between he and Sarah, as he knows those consequences are going to catch up with him sooner or later.

It's Linda Hamilton who really owns the film as Sarah Connor. She’s older than when we last saw her, more bitter, angrier, more cynical, but still as fierce a survivor as ever. She has reason to be bitter, and yet still we sympathize with her. We understand what drives her to do what she does. Sarah has spent years on the run, wanted by the law, but has spent that time hunting terminators of one variety or another sent back in time. It’s what she’s had to live for, and her journey through this film is one of coming back to the world, letting herself feel human again, to start to trust- even those she would have reason not to.  Hamilton’s performance is compelling to watch, once again, and is worth the price of admission alone.

I do think that this franchise should have stopped with the third film, Rise Of The Machines. It made sense, even with a bittersweet, dark ending, for the narrative to end there. Subsequent films, including this one, have made the timeline so convoluted that it gives you a headache just trying to figure it all out. And yet taken on its own merits, Dark Fate works better than Genisys, which was nonsensical. Its actors are its best strength, and that really shows itself in how the characters progress as the story goes along.  

The Cranky Purple Sourface Grump

“You could not live with your own failure, and where did that bring you? Back to me.”  ~ Thanos

“Who hasn’t been to space? You’d better not throw up on my ship.” ~ Rocket

“If I tell you what happens, it won’t happen.” ~ Doctor Strange

“What I’m saying is… time works differently in the quantum realm. I can’t stop thinking about what if we could control the chaos and navigate it.” ~ Scott Lang\

“If we do this, how do we know it’s going to end any differently than it did before?” ~ Bruce Banner

“Because before, you didn’t have me.” ~ Carol Danvers

“Natasha, you know what I’ve done. You know what I’ve become.” ~ Clint Barton 

“Well, I don’t judge people on their worst mistakes.” ~ Natasha Romanoff 

“Maybe you should.” ~ Clint Barton 

“You didn’t.” ~ Natasha Romanoff

“I can put a pin in it right now. And stop.” ~ Tony Stark

“Let’s kill him properly this time.” ~ Thor

“We lost. All of us. We lost friends. We lost family. We lost a part of ourselves. This is the fight of our lives.” ~ Steve Rogers

Avengers Infinity War ended on a stunner, with the villain triumphant and wiping out half of everything in existence with the snap of his Infinity Gauntlet toting fingers. Just like that, endless beings were turned into dust before the eyes of friends and loved ones, the heroes were shocked, and the villain was satisfied with what he deemed a job well done. And of course, unless you want to torture the fan base forever by leaving it right there (imagine the psychological damage of Marvel Studios saying that’s the end of the line with this nihilistic ending), of course there had to be a follow up. And so we have Avengers: Endgame.

The film opens in a tranquil way, with the former Avenger Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner, making a welcome return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Hawkeye) at home with his wife and family, still under house arrest but living peacefully. All of that is shattered when he finds himself completely alone. He might not understand what happened, but the audience does- their existence has been wiped out. And so the surviving heroes of the last film hunt down their adversary Thanos (Josh Brolin), but find themselves unable to set things right.

Five years pass by, and the world’s a darker place. The loss of loved ones have left their mark on people the world over. Things are becoming overgrown and neglected. Heroes have found themselves struggling with despair in different ways. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has retreated to a life in the countryside with his wife Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) and their daughter Morgan. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has settled a number of Asgardian refugees in Scandinavia, but has taken to drinking himself into oblivion and getting out of shape- all while looking like The Dude in The Big Lebowski. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) has found a way to make the Hulk less of a problem and more part of the solution by merging his intellect with the Hulk’s brawn. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) are managing their surviving teammates in dealing with various issues, but both are strained at the edges. And into the mix comes the Ant-Man, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), who spent five years in the Quantum Realm as seen at the ending of Ant-Man & The Wasp, though for him it’s been much less time… and he might have a solution that can set things right.

The screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely picks up where their last screenplay left off. The pair are more than familiar with the Marvel Cinematic Universe by now, having had done the same for Thor: The Dark World, all three Captain America films, and Avengers: Infinity War. This time they weave in elements like time travel, heists for Infinity Stones in the past, despair and renewal, sacrifice, loyalty, emotional closure, and empathy, using them in different ways among the protagonists. Their story ultimately brings together a huge cast of heroes and villains- more than the last film, with the return of Hawkeye and the addition of Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), as well as a few surprise faces in cameos here and there, but for a good part of the film their focus is on the surviving heroes as they try to set back the clock and save the universe.

The dynamics that come out during that are interesting ones- the common bond between Rhodey (Don Cheadle) and Nebula (Karen Gillan), who both live with broken bodies. Thor and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) bantering and bickering while covertly making their way around Asgard during the events of The Dark World, and Thor finding his way in the most unexpected of ways. Scott coming back to a world where he knows something has gone horribly wrong and knowing that it has to be set right. Bruce as Hulk trying to reason his way with someone whose worldview is entirely different from his scientific rationalism. The deep friendship between Natasha and the emotionally wounded Clint, and their inherent trust in each other. And Steve and Tony finding their way past their falling out to trust each other again.

The Russo brothers, Anthony and Joe, return to helm the film as directors, following up the last one, and they too are familiar with how the Marvel Cinematic Universe works, having had also worked on the second and third parts of the Captain America films. Their work on this one follows that pattern of excellent work, with CGI never overwhelming the film but serving the story. They can mount epic action sequences and yet keep the audience from getting overwhelmed and lost in it all. Mostly they keep the story grounded in their characters and in the actors. A couple of moments show that- Thor getting closure with one character (and thus finding his way out of his own torment), or Scott’s interlude with a passing boy- whose silent expression is all the answer to his question. A different director wouldn’t dwell on such moments, but the Russos let the characterization govern the film.

Much of what we see in the film have been places we’ve already seen in previous films, but the fantastic settings of distant worlds and deep space are well rendered, as well as Asgard in its glory. The same applies to the Quantum Realm, already seen in the two Ant-Man films but providing a vital element to the story this time out. This being a story about time travel, we see aspects of previous films from different angles, and nods to the plotlines of earlier films, and yet the attention to detail is such that things don’t appear out of place when we see our heroes in the past. Set construction and costuming allows for that, but so does CGI as needed- a scene with a young Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) comes to mind.

The cast of course is epic in scale, with many of the actors reprising their roles from earlier films before it’s all said and done, but the focus of the film is on one antagonist and several survivors. Josh Brolin was well chosen as the nihilistic Thanos, who sought to wipe out half of existence to balance the scales, as it were. Having had succeeded in his quest, there’s not a lot for him to do, or so it seems, as time travel plays into the film and we’re not quite done with him. Thanos acts because he believes he’s right, but it’s not personal… at least until late in the game when he decides it should be. It’s a good take on the character, a ruthless force of nature that Brolin brings out the best in. I can’t imagine anyone else playing him.

 Karen Gillan, playing his adopted daughter Nebula once again, gets a lot to do. First introduced as a villain in Guardians Of The Galaxy (and in fact we see some of her at that stage of her life as we get Nebula at two stages of her life), the character evokes sympathy, especially now that we know that she has been tortured and abused by the man she only wanted approval of. Her allegiances have shifted, and the actress plays to that, taking the role and making the most of it. Bradley Cooper returns to voice Rocket, the talking raccoon (just don’t call him that) with an attitude and an engineering savvy to match. This time the character finds himself in an unlikely spot, having to be tough with a god of thunder whose mind isn’t quite on the ball, all while keep check on his own grief for the Guardians, the only family he had.

Brie Larson, having had made her debut in Captain Marvel, turns up here as a force to be reckoned with. Carol Danvers has become a hero, but her area of responsibility spans far beyond the Earth. She’s direct and forceful as she needs to be, calm in the face of adversity when she wants to be, and continues to invest the character with the right kind of spirit. I like Thor’s reaction to her- as well as a moment late in the film between her and Peter Parker (Tom Holland). She’s all confidence, and that’s how Larson plays her. Don Cheadle has been in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for quite some time as James Rhodes, aka War Machine, Tony Stark’s best friend and a military officer. He’s always given the character the steady hand that you’d expect out of an officer, as well as the temperament that one would have to have to deal with Tony Stark on a regular basis. The character pushes back against what might be the instinct to despair because duty requires him to do so.

Gwyneth Paltrow has said this will be her last turn as Pepper Potts, once Tony’s assistant, now his wife. The film gives the two characters a good deal of time, as well as a personal stake- their daughter Morgan, entirely too cute. She knows her husband well, knows that once he has an idea in his head he won’t let it go, and so instead gives her blessing. The film gives her more to do, including a suit of armor, a nice touch as the film gets into epic mode, but it also respects the character and lets the actress bring out the sympathy, resolve, and strength that she’s shown before in the part. The character has drastically changed since the beginning of the film. Paul Rudd, having had played Scott Lang in three previous MCU films, is familiar with the role and his place in things. The standard humour of the character is underplayed given how dark things have become, but it’s there, and Rudd also brings a sense of direction to the others as he provides the one ray of hope for making things right. I like how Rudd works with the other actors, even if their characters haven’t been in the mix before, and the film gives him a lot to do before it’s all said and done.

Mark Ruffalo actually spends a good part of the film as the Hulk, in a version we haven’t seen before in the movies. This Hulk combines the intelligence of Banner and the power of the Hulk, and it’s Banner’s voice talking- and in fact this version of the Hulk has a closer look to Banner’s face. Part CGI or motion capture by Ruffalo, the effect is seamless. It’s odd, but funny, to see a Hulk sized Banner cheerfully interact with fans, and we get a bit more humour in seeing an earlier version of the Hulk unappreciative of what’s a standard part of highrise infrastructure. For the most part, however, Ruffalo’s take on the character has new touches. Banner is initially resigned to how things are, has changed his approach to viewing the Hulk not as a problem, but as a constructive solution, and experiences grief as the story develops. It’s a sympathetic take on the character building on what has come before.

Jeremy Renner’s return as Clint Barton was overdue, and quite welcome. Opening the film with him and his family turned out to be a wise way to do so, and what happens informs everything he does from that point on. Five years pass and the character is a shadow, exacting a personal war on crime across the world, taking no prisoners, channeling his grief into his mission. His look has changed, evoking his Ronin look from the comics. Clint is a broken man, refusing to allow himself to hope, and his journey involves his grief, guilt, and finding his way back to trusting others again. Renner plays to that throughout.

The other half of that equation is the Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff. She and Clint have long been partners, have had each other’s backs, inherently understand each other. She seeks him out because she still deems him her friend, because he’s saved her and she knows she must do the same for him, lost in his own pain. Scarlett Johansson plays off that in her interactions with Renner, and it’s good to see that partnership and trust come back. Her Natasha finds herself at a difficult time early on, keeping herself working more to keep herself from dwelling on what’s been lost, but also investing the character with a strong sense of responsibility. And yet with all the gravitas around her, there are moments of levity- I particularly enjoyed a threat of a tossed sandwich at a colleague.

Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor, aka the God of Thunder, aka the King of the Asgardians, aka The Dude, aka The Big Lebowski. In the wake of the events of the last film, Thor has given up on everything, spending his days drinking himself into oblivion, getting himself quite out of shape, and looking like Jeff Bridges in that aforementioned cult classic film. Hemsworth actually gets to bring out a lot of the humour of the film in his drunkenness, but the character’s binges and I could care less attitude conceals his own wounds and despair. It’s a good touch for the character, who finally finds his way back to himself through the intervention of the one character it makes the most sense to have doing so. In finding his purpose again, the character’s journey is one that brings him back to resolve.

Robert Downey Jr. started the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe in the first Iron Man film, in which his Tony Stark found his life changing because of the sacrifice of one unlikely fellow prisoner who told him to make something better of himself and the world. That has informed the character throughout his travels in the franchise ever since, as even under the snark and sharp wit of the actor there’s been the underlying theme of a man seeking to make things better. Tony has given up in a different way from Thor’s way, but the result is the same. He’s hidden himself away from the world, seeking solace in the quiet countryside with his wife and his child. He feels deep guilt about the teenaged Peter Parker he mentored and then saw turn to ash. But the Stark mind is still the same, and when presented with a challenge rises to the occasion. Downey’s take on the character remains emotionally invested in his family, while understanding that he must make things better. Along the way he gets some closure in a surprising way, and gets to restore the rift that’s existed between him and Steve since the events of Captain America: Civil War. The performance turns out to be a cathartic one for the actor and the audience- a brilliant but stubborn man standing up to a nihilistic monster.

Chris Evans also gets closure playing Captain America. The character has from the start been one of courage, resolve, optimism, and strength, qualities that Evans has always played to as an actor. Steve Rogers is a leader, and that shows itself early on as he leads self-help groups trying to cope with the sudden losses of their lives, or the Avengers coping with various issues on Earth and beyond. A man dedicated to duty, Steve has seen the darkest humanity- and beyond- has offered, but it hasn’t broken him. The optimism is there, shaken as it is, seen in conversations with some of his colleagues. And yet when a potential solution is presented, he knows it must be acted on. It’s refreshing to see the fractured friendship between he and Tony restored, which both actors play to. It’s also good to see that steel will and raw courage present itself again when face to face with the being who wiped out half the cosmos. Just as it’s also good to see him get to do something for himself… even if that puts all sorts of theoretical questions into the mix.

Avengers Endgame has the emotional payoff that’s been building for years through the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it provides emotional closure and endings for some characters on the one hand, it also tugs at the heartstrings for others. The stakes have never been higher, but the film chooses to find its foundation in its characters instead of letting special effects overwhelm the characters. An epic adventure and a personal tale, the film brings to a satisfying and thrilling conclusion for one era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all while allowing for what is yet to come.