Avengers: Endgame and Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Happy Mother's Day! Last week, you read my thoughts and predictions for the next phase of MCU. Today, I'm giving you a full review of Avengers: Endgame. I'm also throwing in a review for Pokémon Detective Pikachu as a bonus. Are either of these films a good idea for Mother's Day and the entire family? I'll tell you all about it.  

Here we go! Avengers: Endgame is probably the most anticipated movie in 2019 and the epic conclusion of the Infinity Gauntlet saga. Our remaining heroes are adjusting to life after Thanos snapped his finger and disintegrated half of all life in the universe. They desperately want to turn back time and bring everyone back. It's a nearly impossible task that will push every hero to the limit. Expect tons of action and surprising elements in this grand finale. 

Naturally, I'm starting with the film's best components. I felt genuinely impressed with the actors and their strong performances. Endgame is a movie that's stuffed with material and most of the characters have a great opportunity to shine. There's plenty of character development and the actors bring a lot of nuances to our favorite heroes. I didn't feel  underwhelmed with anyone. Robert Downey Jr. is always great as Iron Man. He's the heart and soul of this series and the character has changed significantly through the years. I've always been a huge fan of Chris Evans as Captain America. He's the ultimate patriotic good guy who wants truth, justice, and a happy ending for everyone. Captain America stands out in both the reflective moments and past paced action scenes. Scarlet Johansson finally had the opportunity to take a spotlight as Black Widow. We still haven't her in a solo film, but she had plenty of screen time in Endgame. Johansson gave a thoughtful and believable performance to a dark and troubled character. Keep you eyes on her. Black Widow is an important figure is several scenes. I'm not a fan of the Hulk, but Mark Ruffalo was pretty good as the green behemoth. This is a very different version of the Hulk and I appreciated it. Sometimes, franchises need to reinvent their characters. Even supporting characters like Ant-Man, Nebula, Rocket, and War Machine contributed to the story effectively. 

Do you like spectacle? If the answer is yes, you'll probably love this movie. The action scenes and visual effects are amazing. It's so exciting, grand, and impressive. This film actually has a lengthy story and it's not relying on action to keep the audience entertained. Regardless, I really enjoyed the action sequences because it wasn't just brainless violence. It's also the best use of fan service. Many critics say negative things about fan service, but it's an important part of the superhero genre. The spectacle brings out the comic book elements that will make both superhero fans and casual moviegoers happy. This film should have a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the Oscars like Infinity War. However, I doubt it will win. But that's okay because it should keep audiences entertained. It's almost like a superhero version of Lord of the Rings. Even if you've seen the others films in the MCU, this is a unique experience. 

I'll try to avoid spoilers here. Endgame provides a satisfying conclusion to the Infinity Gauntlet saga. Certain parts of the movie didn't work for me, but the third act was fabulous and the ending was perfect. It completed the main story for some of the original characters while opening doorways for newer favorites. The conclusion is appropriate and heartwarming. Like I said, it's a great use of fan service. It's very important to make the core fanbase happy. The last hour brought a lot of excitement to the final battle and it wrapped the overarching story with a tidy little bow. I couldn't have been more thrilled with the conclusion. 

Unfortunately, I have some notable criticism. This isn't my favorite Marvel film at all. It lands in the middle for me. I thought it was tremendously strong in certain areas and pretty weak in others. For example, I can't figure out why Endgame is three hours long. It has serious pacing issues, especially in the first half. I think the studio wanted a three hour finale to impress audiences and critics. It didn't seem like there was a specific reason in terms of plot, character development, or action to make the movie longer than two and half hours. 

The story is really convoluted as well. The second hour is dizzying and many elements aren't explained very well. That part surprised me. Usually, Marvel films aren't particularly confusing, but this one was hard to follow at times. I guess you can just hop on board and go along with the ride. But this is a thought provoking film in certain ways, which is problematic because some elements don't add up. 

On that note, you'll have to watch every movie in the MCU before sitting through Endgame. Otherwise, you'll be totally lost. I had a hard time remembering some things because it references elements from earlier films. That includes installments from Phase One and Two. That says a lot because I watched all of the Marvel movies. Think about what would happen to people who only watched half of the Marvel films. Endgame has mainstream appeal, but insiders are the ones who will understand what's going on. I'm not particularly thrilled about that element, but it might be inevitable this far into the franchise. 

Should you see this film in theaters? Sure! I think everyone should watch it at least once. It's an incredible experience on deluxe screens like IMAX, but I'm pretty sure John Wick: Chapter 3 is stealing the more impressive theaters next week. It appears to be the type of movie that gets repeat views. After all, it made well over a billion dollars. It might beat Avatar as the highest grossing film of all time. However, people who don't care about the Marvel movies won't like this one any better. Watch this film if you love the MCU or the action genre. 

Let's move on to Pokémon Detective Pikachu. Tim Goodman is a young insurance agent who travels to a futuristic metropolis called Ryme City after the abrupt death of his father. He encounters a talking Pikachu with amnesia who belonged to his father. Pikachu genuinely believes Tim's father is still alive, so these unlikely partners embark on a journey to uncover the mystery. Unfortunately, they run into quite a bit of trouble along the way. 

Detective Pikachu isn't a perfect movie, but I love it anyway. The world building is exceptional. Ryme City is beautiful and it takes the right types of influences from the video game series. Pokémon live among humans in harmony. They're so cute, funny, and entertaining. Pikachu definitely has the best animation. He literally looks like a talking stuffed animal. Pikachu looks so fluffy and adorable. You can also see quite easily when he gets dirty or wet. I was impressed with the VFX, even though it's obvious that we're looking at animated Pokémon. The world building should make Pokémon fans really happy. I would say the Pokémon and their powers are pretty accurate. It definitely feels like this film takes place in the original Pokémon universe. The world building is accessible to a variety of audiences. You don't have to be familiar with the Pokémon games or cartoons to enjoy the atmosphere. It would also be entertaining for different ages, including adults and children. 

Ryan Reynolds is hilarious as Detective Pikachu. He's the main reason why this movie works. Pikachu is captivating and witty. He brings a lot of humor to the film without making the experience too silly. Reynolds is pretty good during the more serious moments as well. I would say his range is great, considering the character is a talking Pokémon. He also has good chemistry with Justice Smith as Tim Goodman. They're a fun and endearing pair who are goofy, but still adept with sleuth work. The rest of the human characters are pretty insignificant, but that part didn't bother me very much. It's more important for the main characters to have enough depth and personality. 

Believe it or not, this is a great action film. I didn't expect the action scenes to be so big and exciting. It's not overloaded with action, but the more exciting parts could rival other blockbusters from this year. I think it was smart idea to incorporate a lot of action because it will engage teenagers and adults. Kids are clearly the target audience for Detective Pikachu, but it's always better if everyone can enjoy it. This movie doesn't have pacing issues either. I don't remember being bored and it's not slow at all. The film moves along and keeps the audience engaged. 

The plot is probably the weakest element. Like most kids films, the story is basic, easy to follow, and somewhat predictable. It has a nice little mystery and I could figure out the main villain's identity very early in the story. That part might be off putting to some adults. It takes away a large amount of substance from the overall product. These plot issues create a weak villain who isn't very compelling or intimidating. Truthfully, these problems didn't bother me a lot. I was simply aware of the situation. If you're looking for an incredible story with tons of substance, Detective Pikachu won't be a good choice. 

I have to address a bigger problem. This film might cause motion sickness during specific scenes. I actually felt ill after watching a few of the action scenes. It's rare for me to feel motion sickness while watching a movie, but Detective Pikachu felt like a ride on a boat or plane at times. It was a really weird experience. Here's my advice. Don't eat junk like popcorn or candy while watching this film. Try to avoid the seats that are closer to the screen. That was probably my primary mistake. 

Generally speaking, I would recommend this film for many people. It's really enjoyable, cool, adorable, and very unique. I can't say it reminds of other movies on the market. Hardcore Pokémon fans should definitely watch it. I think it would be a great family outing. Even action fans will probably like this movie. I doubt you'll find Detective Pikachu on deluxe screens, but that's okay. An IMAX viewing won't be necessary. Surprisingly, this is probably my favorite film of the year so far, even though it made me feel a little bit queasy. 

I hope you guys had a fun and relaxing Mother's Day. Did you have any special plans on the Mother's Day weekend? Feel free to share in the comment section. Thanks again for visiting. I really enjoy writing about topics that are interesting to me. Blogs are a great way for creators to express their views and interests. Perhaps, you'll create a blog someday. Anything can happen. Stay tuned for next week's post and we'll see each other again soon. Bye!