Aladdin

This review may contain spoilers!

Guy Ritchie has made some of my favourite pieces of cinema over the years but this time he has recaptured the magic of one of my favourite childhood animated films. I would give Aladdin an 8.5/10.

Aladdin is a live-action remake of the 1992 animated film in which street thief, Aladdin, attempts to romance Princess Jasmine through the aid of a magical Genie. This film has notoriously had a lot to prove, the animated feature is a beloved character and there was some criticism in how elements of the feature were being marketed. But none of the critique really manages to match up to the charm that is this excellent piece of cinema. From the very beginning of the film the narrative is delivered in a way that invites speculation but also fills you with wonder as the world of Agrabah is laid out before you. This is a production that really moves and fills you with thrills as epic escapes and dazzling dance numbers play out. I thought that this film built upon really important relationships and character arcs like Aladdin and Jasmine's relationship, Aladdin and the Genie's friendship or even Jasmine's struggle to be viewed as a leader are handled rather well. It's a movie that returns you to a story that you love for those who are already familiar and it's a magnificent adventure for those completely new to this tale. The camera leads you into these massive set pieces and allows you to navigate and flow through these elaborate designs in a way that makes you feel a part of the story. The special effects are absolutely stunning; the CGI shots that lead you in with 'Arabian Nights' blew me away, while Abu, the Carpet, Iago and Rajah are consistently expressive and characters unto themselves. The score is captivating and blends some of the classic music with an original, modern take; the soundtrack never really stopped dazzling with numbers like 'Arabian Nights', 'Friend Like Me', 'Prince Ali' and 'Speechless' being stand outs.

Mena Massoud, who played Aladdin, shows himself to be a really versatile leading protagonist; Massoud has the natural charm that comes with the famous street-thief and his journey motivated by love over power and wealth is delivered well. Naomi Scott, who played Jasmine, feels like the stubborn fighter and natural leader that has made this role one of my favourite Disney Princesses to watch; Scott just nails all of the key traits of this character but I especially loved how connected she showed Jasmine to the people/subjects of Agrabah. Marwan Kenzari, who played Jafar, has a real malicious streak that feels nurtured from a life of grappling for power; this is a role famous for scenes of manipulation and cunning which Kenzari delivers in spades. Nasim Pedrad, who played Dalia, gives a really entertaining best friend role to Jasmine that this story really needs; Pedrad's ability to find the funny side to a scene makes her a lot of fun to watch and I greatly enjoyed the awkward budding romance between her and Smith.

However, the best performance came from Will Smith, who played Genie. This is a character that in the lead up to this film was always going to be compared to the performance Robin Williams gave. I believe Will Smith took this role and truly made it his own; to say whether he was better than Williams is irrelevant as he takes the Genie and makes it something completely new and his own. Will Smith enters the feature as a storyteller of sorts, inviting us into the story in a way that provokes nothing but intrigue. From there on out you get the joy of seeing this character play up a stoic facade then switch to a energetic, comedic presence at any given moment. This Genie is a little more worldly, holding his experience over Aladdin at a few turns and allowing an odd power dynamic to blossom into a great onscreen friendship. The famous scene in which the Genie is set free is powerfully done and a culmination of all that Smith and Massoud have worked on together throughout the experience.

While the film is a celebration of the original animated feature there is a problem that a number of these live-action adaptations are struggling with. There is an ever present inability to take risk. Often a few minor changes are made here or there but never anything of such substance that you feel the film is prepared to take risks or defy audience expectations. For this reason Aladdin has some moments where the pace of the film slumps and you are left waiting for the next dramatic moment or big musical number to pick the tempo back up.

Navid Negahban, who played Sultan, feels like a very empty figure for a greater portion of this film; Negahban and Scott never really have a strong connection onscreen so the important relationship of father and daughter is never explored in a satisfying way. Billy Magnussen, who played Prince Anders, just felt like a silly role tacked on to the film; Magnussen plays a bumbling role that gets fairly over the top pretty early into the feature. Alan Tudyk, who voiced Iago, loses the joy of this character from the original feature; Iago should feel like he has a mean streak to him but this film seemed uncertain whether it wanted a character or a fairly real portrayal of a parrot.

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu

This review may contain spoilers!

It is nothing short of a joy to see the world of Pokemon brought into live-action cinema. I would give Pokemon: Detective Pikachu a 7.5/10.

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu follows Tim Goodman and a talking Pikachu (who only Tim can hear) as they try to solve the mystery around the disappearance of Tim's detective Dad. I was stunned by how this world was depicted, the level of detail was phenomenal. The strength of this feature isn't necessarily the narrative, it's about how you are invited and incorporated into a Pokemon world in which these truly unique looking creatures can just wander into or across a shot at the drop of a hat. This is one of those movies that instils a sense of wonder and few live-action movies give me that wide-eyed sense that I had when I was a kid seeing something truly new for the first time. I also have to give honourable mention to how this film crafts the mystery around what has happened to Tim's Dad and also the heartfelt exploration of what that father/son relationship is like. The cinematography is masterfully done, I think there are a number of colossal shots to really show off some of the incredible post-production work here. The special effects department for Detective Pikachu have really done themselves a service here, the live-action depiction of Pokemon is stunning and the designs something no other studio has really brought to a film series like this. The score for the film is really energetic and vibrant keeping a fresh tone for the film, I was very impressed with a lot of the homage tributes to tracks from the video games and anime.

Justice Smith, who played Tim Goodman, really comes into his own as a leading performer in Detective Pikachu; this is a role who transforms from a sullen and withdrawn person to a brave, selfless hero in what is a great character arc. Karan Soni, who played Jack, introduces us into this world of Pokemon in a great way; his very invested friendship with Smith is a great bond and whole scene around capturing the Cubone is a favourite of mine

However, the best performance came from Ryan Reynolds, who played Detective Pikachu. This leading character has had a lot of people intrigued and it's no surprise that he wins the audience over throughout. Reynolds has really embraced his quick wit and charismatic delivery in recent years, particularly with fan-favourite Deadpool; it's nice to see this applied to a role who works for audiences of all ages. The dynamic between Reynolds and Smith is quick and refreshing, a bond that you really feel grow as the narrative develops. This little Pikachu has a lot of heart and the emotional monologues between the two main characters consistently drive the story in the right direction. Even as Harry Goodman come the end of the film Reynolds has a more restrained yet touching bond with Smith and you feel the experience of what they have done bring them closer together as father and son.

While Detective Pikachu offers a lot in terms of experience the narrative has a lot of stumbling points, particularly at the end of the film. There isn't really a moment of the story where I felt especially surprised by Detective Pikachu. In fact we often got a lot of overbearing hints that Howard was the villain and Mewtwo even tells us rather bluntly that Pikachu is Harry's father the whole time. This means that major climactic moments in the feature tend to fall a bit flat and leave you disappointed in how they are delivered. The big villainous showdown in which Howard possesses Mewtwo and uses him to fuse Pokemon and humans together felt like a colossal step backwards. It became a bit silly and hearing the main human antagonist suddenly start voicing Mewtwo was jarring to say the least. There was room to do something clever with all the elements at play here yet the film seemed content with a B-grade script tacked to an A-class production.

Kathryn Newton, who played Lucy Stevens, goes far too over the top from the moment she enters the film; Newton is constantly pushing her role's inquisitive and paranoid nature far too over the top to be taken seriously. Bill Nighy, who played Howard Clifford, doesn't really seem to get the film very much nor does he seem particularly motivated by his role; Nighy clearly shows up here but for such a seasoned actor I expected a bit more effort. Ken Watanabe, who played Lieutenant Hide Yoshida, is wasted in this movie as a source of exposition and little more; Watanabe has a clear link to a main character but that is never explored and so this role basically gets squandered. Chris Geere, who played Roger Clifford, is a rather dull plot red herring; Geere just fails to leave much of an impression so the likelihood his character ever resembled much of significance was low.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

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Despite a clunky third act the third John Wick film continues to prove that this action series is one of the best we've had in years. I would give John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum a 7.5/10.

John Wick: Chapter 3 picks up right where Chapter 2 left off, with Wick running for his life after being declared excommunicado by Winston and the High Table. This feature sees Wick struggling to find a way to remove the hit upon him while keeping one step ahead of the many assassins who are after him. What I like about the John Wick films is the universe they build up and explore; this dark criminal world that has many different families and entities within it who are all subject to the mysterious High Table. The rules and laws that assassins and other criminal contractors must abide and work alongside are fascinating and it's a great journey to have travelled from just the mythos behind Wick in the first film to the much richer environment we are seeing unfold now. This entire film being motivated by the excommunicado and seeing a man on the run from this massive criminal entity is nothing short of intimidating and will have you hooked from the very start. Each of these films has given us a glimpse around a certain idea or theme, often they play over between one another too. The first John Wick dealt with consequences of actions and in turn saw Wick brought back into the dark, Chapter Two dealt with rules and the Law in which we see Wick bound by his obligations to the High Table; in this third Chapter the focus is around fealty and submission which is fascinating to see. The strength of the High Table comes into full light and characters who seems incredibly impressive are cowed by those they must serve. The John Wick films have some of the most consistent action sequences and stunt choreography of any current action series; I really enjoy how creative they get and how each feature has at least one scene where the stunt team surpasses the last film. The cinematography is so precise and fluid that it plays absolutely hand in hand with the stunts, visually you get some masterful shots and I'm always entranced by what I am seeing. The editing keeps the flow going, precise cuts exactly as needed and I enjoy the graphic way subtitles are brought into the feature. The score is charged with energy and will have you right on the edge of your seat throughout, yet it isn't merely adrenaline fuel with some melancholy scenes having a very moving backing track.

Keanu Reeves, who played John Wick, is a natural at playing this incredible lead by this point; Reeves is a natural warrior who is bound by his personal code of honour and fuelled by this intense inner rage throughout. Ian McShane, who played Winston, has an interesting paternal bond with Reeves throughout this film that is great to see portrayed by these two; McShane's sophisticated and eloquent delivery tends to up the drama of these films with some incredible lines. Lance Reddick, who played Charon, has been given so much more to do this film and I'm really glad; Reddick is incredibly charismatic as the hotel concierge and his stoic loyalty to the place and people he serves get some great moments to shine. Anjelica Huston, who played The Director, is a real taskmaster of a crime boss and one of the best new characters in this film; Huston holds a power over Reeves' Wick that speaks to his history and makes her quite fascinating to watch. Jerome Flynn, who played Berrada, is another new crime boss who really stands out in this film; Flynn plays up a character who is all charm yet capable of turning violent at the slightest whim. Randall Duk Kim, who played the Doctor, really lends a lot to the beginning of Act One; Kim's role is a very generous one who chooses to receive rather harsh consequences for his good actions.

However, the best performance came from Halle Berry, who played Sofia. I haven't seen a knockout performance like this from Berry in a long time and from the moment she enters the film her character steals the show in the best way possible. This is a hard-edged woman who would like nothing better than to be removed from her bond to Reeves' Wick, yet she can't escape being endearingly indebted to him. It is a complex relationship that the pair balance rather well. Berry is carrying around a lot of pain from her past in this feature and it makes you really feel for the role, it's a very powerful mirror of what happened to John Wick at the start of Chapter Two I felt. As Sofia, Berry is cocky and tough as nails, this is a warrior who can keep pace with Wick and then some. Plus I loved her fight sequence with her two dogs, I've never seen animal stuntwork that good in a film.

John Wick: Chapter Three suffers from an issue that the second film struggled with too, chiefly balancing out the length of a fight sequence. I enjoy action and I love watching it play out on the big screen but there has to be room to breathe between fight sequences and eventually a fight has to come to a reasonable conclusion. If you have one five to ten minute fight sequence immediately followed by another then you start to lose the investment of your audience because they start feeling like they're watching repetitive content. The final act to this film is a major example to this as there's a significant amount of action with minimal room for narrative. Choosing to have Winston betray John felt like a callous mood that grated against some of the big themes they'd been trying to deliver in the past few films and the big sequel pitch right at the end was a cheap choice.

Laurence Fishburne, who played the Bowery King, has taken to going quite over the top in his performance with this role; the mania this character seems to exhibit doesn't really seem to come from anywhere and makes you feel like Fishburne doesn't really care for this role too much. Mark Dacascos, who played Zero, was a rather underwhelming choice for the main antagonist of this feature; the fanboy persona this character seems to adopt for John Wick about halfway through the film really loses a lot of credibility the character had. Asia Kate Dillon, who played The Adjudicator, is a very bland role that takes a monotonous tone throughout the feature; Dillon is incapable of crafting a role that has the same eloquent edge as McShane or the intimidating presence of Huston and thus falls flat. Said Taghmaoui, who played The Elder, was a very underwhelming choice to be the man above the High Table; this character lacks gravitas and doesn't really feel like he wields any significant power. Jason Mantzoukas, who played the Tick Tock Man, is squarely a comedic actor who doesn't really fit well into a John Wick film; Mantzoukas energetic and wild presence just feels offset by the gritty nature of these films. Cecep Arif Rahman and Yayan Ruhian, who played Shinobi 1 and Shinobi 2 respectively, might deliver some of the best stunt choreography you'll see but thei whole scene was a serious drag in the third act, the way these characters who are motivated to kill John Wick seem more interested in bantering with him and giving him multiple chances to take them out really takes you out of the seriousness of the film.

The Hustle

This review may contain spoilers!

Every year has a comedy that is absolute atrocious; this would be this the contender for 2019. I would give The Hustle a 2/10.

The Hustle follows two con-artists, Josephine and Penny, who engage in a bid to outdo one another at conning a tech mogul. The aspect of this film that feels like it has a genuine aspect to it is probably when the women discuss why they do con-work, particularly how Penny decides to steal from men who have made an assumption about her and affirm it when she meets them face to face.

Anne Hathaway, who played Josephine Chesterfield, gives a good portrayal of multiple accents and identities throughout the feature; Hathaway's character is more conceited and scheming than Wilson's which means she always feels one step ahead. Alex Sharp, who played Thomas Westerburg, is this really charming role who just comes across as likeable; the chemistry Sharp has with Wilson is quite strong and how this plays into the final twist is acted well by him.

However, the best performance came from Rebel Wilson, who played Penny. This is a role who is constantly coming at scenes with a bit of energy and looking to bring something to the moment. I feel, as Penny, Wilson gets to play to the character's smug sense of satisfaction at her ability to swindle men who deserve to fall victims to her con. The romantic subplot between Wilson and Sharp is well played on both sides and leads to a couple of scenes with emotional undertones. Ultimately for a comedy film there isn't much comedy so it's nice to at least see Wilson bringing some moments of humour throughout the experience.

This film has a flat tone throughout, it is a comedy film with absolutely no pulse to it. There aren't any specific scenes where you'll find yourself bursting with laughter, nor is there any aspect of the plot that is wildly intriguing or engaging. The two main characters are awkwardly pushed together at the start and they remain together throughout despite there not being much need for it. The whole story around why Penny feels like she wants to stay with Josephine is flimsy and leads to a long sequence of events that contributes little to the overall film. Once Thomas enters the picture the film falls into the pair comedically playing two made up roles their characters have invented for a significant portion of the second act. The end of the film has a ton of moments in which scenes just get suddenly cut away from, which is the big premise for setting up a rather lazy twist that falls flat on its face. The third act is so small that you just feel like even the film itself was exhausted by that point. The film consistently suffered from wanting to be a traditional tongue in cheek American comedy or a more indie-style comedy, the clash was so extreme that what you were left with was near unwatchable. The cinematography used in The Hustle in boring to watch, there is no effort made to craft an interesting visual style. The editing is a problem on two fronts; for most of the film cuts come at boring intervals that slow the pace, but near the third act scenes begin to end abruptly or at irregular intervals in a meagre effort to create plot twists. The score for the film is very heavily French-inspired which feels quite removed from the cast at hand and contributes to the tone struggle at the heart of this film; the soundtrack for the film is very at odds with the score having a lot of trendy pop songs weaved around a more mellow symphony.

Casper Christensen, who played Mathias, plays a rather awkward creepy role who is given more screen time than is really necessary; Christensen has an almost manic approach to his comedy come his last scene that just doesn't do anything for the audience. Ingrid Oliver, who played Brigitte Desjardins, plays to a very monotonous tone when it comes to her character; Oliver is most comfortable when her role gets to give a flat, serious delivery of lines (which is most of the time). Nicholas Woodeson, who played Albert, is just in the film to lend a little physical comedy; Woodeson has a very easy role that can be inserted into any number of scenes and played by anyone. Dean Norris, who played Howard Bacon, looks about as lost in this film as I felt watching it; his one scene cameo was monstrous and Norris just looked perplexed and confused.

Long Shot

This review may contain spoilers!

Watching a romantic comedy immediately after Avengers: Endgame was not something I expected to enjoy, but this was a genuinely nice surprise. I would give Long Shot a 7.5/10.

Long Shot is a romantic comedy about the unlikely romance that blooms between presidential candidate, Charlotte Field, and journalist, Fred Flarsky. This film has nothing but heart to share, you get a couple of people who manage to find a very natural and charismatic way of portraying a budding relationship with one another. I don't always invest easily in a onscreen relationship but this film has one of the best onscreen couples I've watched so far this year. The way humour is generated often comes quite naturally from the character or situation and it is rare we get a scene that scrapes the bottom of the barrel. Watching this pair have genuine dates, moments of connection, trials and conflicts just makes this the genuine package. I also really appreciated just how much this feature took aspects of traditional romantic comedies and flipped them on their head significantly; Charlotte being a more dominant protagonist than Fred was excellent and led to some creative scenes and shots. The editing for the film kept this tracking at a really great pace and provided clear structure; there was even scenes where you saw just how creative they could get in post-production such as the 'night out' scene in Paris. The score for the film often riffs hilariously on some of the older more traditional score for romantic comedies, very orchestral and moving; the soundtrack is nothing short of a perfect blend between modern ballads and tracks that provide a bit of comedy.

Charlize Theron, who played Charlotte Field, is an incredible leading performer that is a great pick for the elegant, successful politician; yet Theron knows how to ground this role too and bring forth the elements of her that are more comedic and playful. Seth Rogen, who played Fred Flarsky, gives a surprisingly strong dramatic performance that complements Theron's perfectly; Rogen is a firecracker of intensity throughout and you are enthralled by this self-righteous journalist role. Bob Odenkirk, who played President Chambers, gives one of the most well thought out parodies of a Trump president yet; Odenkirk really lends some gravitas to this self-important celebrity president who is more enthralled with his acting career than his presidential duties. Randall Park, who played the Boss, has a really entertaining scene of the film that stands out strongly in the first act; Park's dithering excuses for succumbing to a media conglomerate really play off well against Rogen's explosive reactions. 

However, the best performance came from O'Shea Jackson Jr., who played Lance. This was the character who constantly stole the show in any scene he was in and had me in stitches throughout. Ice Cube had strongly established himself as being capable of portraying an incredibly comedic role in the Jump Street films; but his son has really shown the capability to outshine him in Long Shot. Jackson Jr. is full of energy from the go and really bounces off Rogen incredibly well, the pair have a dynamic that is strong and makes you believe they are best friends. As a character Lance has some of the best dialogue in the film and I particularly loved how he pointed out defining people by their beliefs can lead to difference but friendships and bonds are built upon something that goes far deeper than that. This was a very well-rounded, entertaining role and I can wait to see more of Jackson Jr. in the future.

The film has some brilliant moments of comedy throughout but it still suffers from some common missteps in American comedies, chiefly a lot of sexual humour that pushes the boundaries and disrupts the tone. Probably the worst aspect of the film is that there is a whole plotline around one of the main characters masturbating that was just plain unpleasant and got a lot more screen time than was really necessary. The political landscape within this film didn't feel very well established either, there was some obvious parody of the Trump administration but outside of that it wasn't always very believable when the film took some time to focus on the political narrative. The cinematography for Long Shot had some clever moments but was ultimately a rather safe production, physical comedy was often very carefully framed and dialogue scenes kept to the basics.

June Diane Raphael and Ravi Patel, who played Maggie Millikin and Tom respectively, are quite flat performances that just fill out scenes where more dialogue is needed; Raphael in particular is disappointing in a role that doesn't know if it wants to be a best friend character or an antagonist. Andy Serkis, who played Parker Wembley, is absolutely unrecognisable under a mountain of prosthetics; Serkis doesn't really rise to the occasion here, choosing instead to give a very generic corporate tycoon villain. Alexander Skarsgard, who played Prime Minister James Steward, is quite an awkward and uncomfortable role that seems the most out of place in the cast line up; Skarsgard isn't particularly funny and his role just winds up being a rather creepy character that doesn't really have much purpose being in the film.

Avengers: Endgame

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I still can't reconcile that a film in which the Hulk dabs is my favourite film of 2019 so far. I would give Avengers: Endgame a 9.5/10.

Avengers: Endgame comes right off the back of Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp and Captain Marvel as our heroes who remain must find a way to defeat Thanos and restore what has been lost. To say that this is an iconic film is a gross understatement, I have a sense that this conclusion of eleven years work will go down in the history of cinema forever. The beginning is incredibly emotional as we see the remaining heroes take stock of what they have and venture into a last ditch bid to bring all who were decimated back. Yet by refusing our heroes an easy early triumph the status quo we've come to know slips away, some of our heroes remain to patch up this world that has been broken by Thanos while others go on a complete journey that changes them somewhat. Ultimately they are pushed together again for the only plan they have left, which is a daring one and riddled with surprise easter eggs, cameos and callbacks to past MCU adventures. The third act of this film is rather flawless; pitching everyone against Thanos and his armies in the biggest onscreen battle I've watched since the Lord of the Rings films. It's an end filled with sadness, joy, nostalgia and legacy. Endgame brings about significant change and I honestly cannot wait to see what the future of the MCU will bring. The cinematography throughout is flawless, holding close those intimate moments, making large group conversations feel dynamic and capturing action sequences perfectly. The visual effects for Endgame are the best the MCU has ever been, once again you just have to look at that final battle sequence to see how far these films have come. The score is beyond thrilling and will have you on the edge of your seat, there are even a nice couple of soundtrack choices thrown in that add to the atmosphere of the film.

Robert Downey Jr., who played Tony Stark, is always strong as one of the leaders of the Avengers and the constant dry wit; I enjoyed watching this character move from an arc that is somewhat selfish to an end that was self-sacrificing - it was exceptionally moving. Chris Evans, who played Steve Rogers, is the moral backbone to the Avengers and the one who never gives up in the face of adversity; seeing him stand alone against Thanos and his whole army alone was a moment in the film that got this character right to the core. Mark Ruffalo, who played Bruce Banner, is quite entertaining as the more confident, humorous Hulk/Banner hybrid; Ruffalo had some strong moments in the film and I think accepting the responsibility of using the gauntlet was the best. Chris Hemsworth, who played Thor, got to embrace a bit of the comedy he's clearly enjoyed doing more often in this film and he is undeniably good at that; yet Hemsworth shines when he brings forth the vulnerability his role is struggling with after failing Infinity War. Scarlett Johansson, who played Natasha Romanoff, acts as this hub of leadership in this film and is responsible for co-ordinating a lot of what is left after Infinity War; Johansson shows this great weight of responsibility her character has taken on and the road that takes her to is fitting if not deeply tragic. Jeremy Renner, who played Clint Barton, is a completely shattered man when we catch up with him in Endgame; this is a role who has lost a lot and pushes himself to a brink because of that that he very nearly doesn't walk away from. Don Cheadle, who played James Rhodes, has a very wry sense of wit that has always worked well for him; I think watching Cheadle have a connect with Gillan's Nebula over having to rely upon prosthetics was quite a powerful moment. Benedict Cumberbatch, who played Stephen Strange, is more mysterious and guarded in this film than he was in the first; Cumberbatch plays to the sad reality that he knows he has set up an Avenger to die really well. Chadwick Boseman, who played T'Challa, is fiercely amongst the fight the moment he enters; I enjoy watching this leader charge into a fight and immediately put himself on the line as he did.Brie Larson, who played Carol Danvers, is awesome to finally watch in an Avengers film; her self-assuredness shines through and she really shines as this beacon of strength. Tom Holland, who played Peter Parker, is such a fun character to watch as he still works his way through being a hero a little over his head; Holland and Doney Jr.'s last scene together is a harrowing one that comes full circle from Infinity War rather well. Karen Gillan, who played Nebula, has a very dispassionate way of interacting with others yet it's interesting seeing just how much this role has grown from the first Guardians of the Galaxy; Gillan's ability to express how much she has changed and her hatred towards Thanos shows that development strongly. Zoe Saldana, who played Gamora, was a nice return performance to watch again; I enjoyed seeing Saldana choose to betray Thanos in a way that was quite different from the first Guardians film. Evangeline Lilly, who played Hope van Dyne, has a really fitting reunion with Rudd, I quite liked seeing her fit into the fight in a manner that mirrored Rudd's own excitement in Civil War. Rene Russo, who played Frigga, is a welcome and surprising returning role; Russo's emotional reconnection with Hemsworth is one of the defining moemnts Thor goes through in the film. Elizabeth Olsen, who played Wanda Maximoff, is completely fuelled by rage and vengeance in this feature; Olsen presents a depiction of Scarlet Witch who is motivated by something dark and she becomes quite a dark figure because of this. Anthony Mackie, who played Sam Wilson, has one of the best lines of all the characters who get brought back; Mackie has to take on an incredible amount of responsibility come the end of the film which he takes on in a solemn, appropriate way. Tilda Swinton, who played The Ancient One, was an unexpect returning role that really lent a lot to this film; the incredible debate between her and Ruffalo was a masterclass to watch and her coming to the realisation of what the future would hold for her and the world was quite powerful. Jon Favreau, who played Happy Hogan, is really able to be present for his original creation in the MCU and give us some reflection of Iron Man; Favreau's final scene in this film is a powerful throwback to the first film we ever got and it's one of the most moving moments in my opinion. Maximiliano Hernandez and Frank Grillo, who played Agent Sitwell and Brock Rumlow respectively, really do a great job of recreating these professional SHIELD/HYDRA agent personas for Endgame; the callback to the elevator scene from the Winter Soldier was perfect. Bradley Cooper, who voiced Rocket, feels completely driven towards bringing those who were decimated back in this; Cooper really nails the way Rocket deals with the loss of the Guardians and throws himself into the work to bring them back. Gwyneth Paltrow, who played Pepper Potts, plays strongly against Downey Jr. and always has; this is one of the relationships in the MCU that has always worked wonders onscreen and their final farewell to one another is a moving moment. Josh Brolin, who played Thanos, is the antagonist that has defined the MCU at this point; Brolin presents a figure who is so confident and arrogant in his grand plan and you get the joy of seeing that turn to desperation and defeat over the course of the third act. Alexandra Rachael Rabe, who played Morgan Stark, is showing a ton of acting talent at such a young age; I saw a great deal of Tony and Pepper's traits within this performance showing a great level of ability from Rabe.

However, the best performance came from Paul Rudd, who played Scott Lang. Considering all the star power in this film Rudd might be a surprising pick for some, but ever since he completely stole the show in Civil War I have greatly anticipated Rudd' performance as the Tiniest Avenger. Of the cast I have to say this is a hero who feels the most human, he comes from a background where he's a father first and a hero second and that sort of motivation enables him to stand out from the rest. Rudd has a boundless sort of energy when it comes to this role and he is without a doubt the funniest in whichever scene he is in. There is a moment in this film where Scott Lang has to come to understand that the decimation event has taken place and seeing him panic at the thought of losing his daughter and react to seeing her again is one of the strongest scenes I watched in the whole film.

While I felt this was an iconic film it was certainly not without its flaws, especially in the first act. The attempts to make Hulk and Thor more comedic in their reintroduction grates strongly against the tone of the film and really needed to be levelled out, I think by making Thor fat they had a visual gag that was initially funny out of shock but felt significantly unnecessary as the film wore on. I also felt that having some remaining animosity between Tony and Steve just generated conflict for the sake of it, considering the experience everyone has just survived through their relationship being at odds with one another was surprising. The time travel plot device for the film was really creative and a ton of fun, but I think while it was enjoyable there is no escaping the fact that they tried to do something new with time travel that didn't always work if you looked at it too closely.

Tessa Thompson, who played Valkyrie, still lacks that strong ability to express her character's persona and role that she struggled with in Thor: Ragnarok; Thompson was very present but she didn't do anything with the screen time and her becoming ruler of Asgard feels like an undeserved plot development. Sebastian Stan, who played Bucky Barnes, is quite restrained in this film; Stan has given this role a very flat amount of energy in the past couple of films and I've become a lot less excited about the Winter Soldier. Danai Gurira, who played Okoye, was very present in the big battle of the film but wasn't given as much opportunity to stand out; Gurira delivers a line that is very similar to Infinity War in a setting that isn't very different either. John Slattery, who played Howard Stark, was a nice cameo and all but the interaction between him and Downey Jr. was undeniably bland; Slattery just had a completely gruff tone and that whole conversation only had emotional depth due to what Downey Jr. was putting in. Taika Waititi, who voiced Korg, just comes into the film and completely messes with the tone of the first act; Waititi's sense of comedy is really intrusive and doesn't fit an epic feature like this. Linda Cardellini, who played Laura Barton, isn't a role that you really feel a lot for when she gets decimated by Thanos; these films haven't done much to establish Hawkeye's family so Renner does most of the legwork for this emotional scene. Robert Redford, who played Alexander Pierce, is a cameo that the film didn't particularly need; Redford's cut and dry bureaucrat isn't interesting for much more than some extra insight into the first Avengers. Chris Pratt, who played Peter Quill, just acts rather goofy and slapstick when he reappears in Endgame; Pratt is only given screen time in this film to set up the next Guardians of the Galaxy film it felt like. Ross Marquand, who played Red Skull, was a very exciting watch in Infinity War but a bit boring this time around; Marquand doesn't do a thing differently from his first portrayal and that just makes Skull rather monotonous. Emma Fuhrmann, who played Cassie Lang, is present during one of my favourite moments of acting in the film but she does nothing to contribute to it; I hope Fuhrmann shines in future films but right now I think shunting out Abby Ryder Fortson for this moment was a mistake.