I didn't like Infinity War. Some found its ending brave, but I found it to be a cheat, because none of what happened was going to stick. But, I held out hope that perhaps it would be a better movie once the second part was told, and that's what brings us all to Endgame.

Fortunately for all of us viewers, Endgame does a pretty decent job of digging the MCU out of the hole it was in after Infinity War. The first scene was better than most of the entire movie that preceded it.

While some contortions have to made in order to do that digging, I can't think of any other way they could have done it. The hole was just too deep. The final battle does suffer from a deus ex machina moment, but it fortunately doesn't end there, and the resolution is actually quite well-done.

When the credits roll, it leaves the viewer with some character arcs complete, with others just beginning, or at least changing direction.

If you're a big fan, you've probably already seen the movie. If you're a casual fan, wondering whether to see it in the theater or wait for the home video release, I have to say that this is a movie that deserves the best viewing environment possible. The visuals are very good, and the sound is incredible. If you don't have your insides rattled about, the theater didn't do its job, and you should complain to the manager. Seeing this movie on a flat-screen TV with a soundbar is just not going to be the same experience.

Will I watch this again? Probably. I might even buy it. That's more than can be said for Infinity War, though. While this movie redeemed the Avengers storyline overall, I still have no desire to see that movie again, even with its conclusion as a known quantity.

What can I say? "Avengers:Endgame" is the best of the Marvel Universe Movies. It's the movies that put together all the elements of the Avengers movies along with elements from other Marvel movies. Believe me, this movie titled Endgame is a game changer. At the start of the movie 50% of the population of Earth had disappeared. It's like a plot line taken from the HBO series "The Leftovers," The remaining superheroes had to figure out how to bring back the missing superheroes and it won't be easy. I'm going to stop there and urge you to see the movie. There a lot of twist and turns and sitting there for three hours are worth your time. I won't reveal the ending of movie, but to quote a line from "Spider-Man: Intro the Spider-Verse"'s Peter Porker, "You just can't save everybody."

While Infinity War was disappointing for me, this movie more than made up for it. Loose strings were tied up, some plot holes were covered, and most of my favorite characters got a fair share of screen time. I made an effort to watch all the Marvel movies leading up to seeing Endgame, and I can say that I noticed a ton of parallels. I do wish that Marvel had featured Captain Marvel a bit more, since they had just introduced her, and her end-credits suggested that she would have a bigger role. Overall, if you are a Marvel fan, you should definitely go see this movie, if only to see the last Stan Lee cameo.

The first Avengers movie was my absolute favorite film. I loved the humor, the characters, and the plot. Since then, the storyline has gone downhill quickly, beginning with the conflict between Iron Man and Captain America and culminating in the chaos heap that was Avengers: Infinity War. I saw Avengers: Endgame for closure, as a way to find out what happens to the characters that I loved so much.

It was better than I expected.

There were many moments where all I wanted to do was cheer out loud because they were the epic, quintessential superhero shots. There were reunions that made me want to cry and goodbyes that should never have had to be said. My favorite aspect, however, is the small threads that were left just loose enough to spur the theories and possible spinoffs or continuations of the series. Even if those threads are never followed, it allows for the audience to employ their imagination and wonder "What if?" That is what makes a good movie and leaves a lasting impression.

On the flip side, the movie was predictable. It's hard to be emotionally invested in a movie when you can see the plot laying out before you, because then there are no surprises and nothing that makes you fall head over heels into this universe. Also, there was little to none of the humor that made me fall in love with this group of superheroes in the first place. To be honest, I liked Ant Man and the Wasp for its humor and comedic timing better than I liked Endgame with its attempts at maintaining the tone from the first installment of the Avengers series. And lastly, I hated the base plot device that the Russo brothers employed to solve the problems Infinity War created. As a writer, the device employed is a cheat and a way to avoid having to own the plot decisions made in previous installments. It offers too many chances for plot holes and confusion.

In the end, it wasn't a bad movie. Although predictable, it laid this part of the MCU to rest quite nicely. It included iconic moments, some blunt but appreciated female empowerment, and a lovely credits tribute to the original Avengers. All in all, a decent film with needed closure worth the $7 to go see it.

It was a very action packed movie with a dash of humor.