#avengersspoiler

First: in all the screenings I've been to the audience has laughed, and gasped, and cried, and applauded. The laughter bursts vary a bit, the level of (loud) crying depends, but one thing is constant. Iron Man’s last scene brings near total silence, because unlike in IM3 everyone knows that this is actually the last film including Iron Man as we know him. And one thing has  been constant - people applaud when during the end credits it’s RDJs name/image on screen. RDJ gets a “standing ovation”.  Amazing acting by so many actors in this film...but for me RDJ’s trumps all. 

Second: As a parallel to the last IM film, the last Avengers (as they were) film ends with a voiceover/narration from Tony. But unlike with the Iron Man films, where even those who were unaware of the end credits scene & Avengers, and that IM will return, this time the audience knows that he won’t return. That voiceover is final goodbye....the wording is so final... so the audience knows there will be no “IM returns”... he is really saying goodbye to the character. And people listen to it...mostly...in silence. Like mourning. A whole minute (or whatever) silence in honour of RDJ as Tony/IM. 

Third: Several characters say the word SHIT in this movie. The word is repeated several time...in different scenes. And yet...no-one says “language!” One scene particular is the sweetest and the funniest. You’ll know when you hear it...repeated. 

Fourth: This is important to know for those, who are in a hurry - there really is NO END CREDITS SCENE. No mid-credit, no end-credit. The voice-over from RDJ/Tony... as a goodbye message to IM and the final character title cards for the original six are it. Then it’s just credits rolling. 

Though there is one thing at the very end. There’s no picture, but there is audio at the very end of the credits. If you listen very carefully you’ll hear some clanging... FIVE TIMES (I counted five, but maybe I missed a few?) Whether that sound is from the past - Tony making the 1st suit in 2008, or present or future (someone making a new hammer/weapon or a new IM/superhero suit)... is yet unknown. But I’d like to think it’s in memory of Tony’s start as IM. 

That’s the end of Tony’s Iron Man, and though unlike with successors to other characters roles/thrones that were properly introduced, there was no introduction of the next IM/Tonys replacement, there were a few hints where it might go. Pay attention to one of the child characters during the “middle” of the film (plus the newest member or the iron suit wearing team) & then to a young man/teen boy at the back in the "final" scene.

Fifth: it’s been 21...no...22 days since....the events of A3:IW  That is one day for every MCU film so far. That’s just one of the many many callbacks & references to the past MCU films. 

Sixth:  Several next generation superheroes are kinda introduced. Future “replacements” for Captain America & Hawkeye & even Iron Man are kinda shown or hinted at. The new CA is officially introduced. CM as the new leader is kinda introduced. Hawkeyes successor is hinted at. But so is...though much more subtly... Iron Man’s... 

Seventh: There are so so so many callbacks & references to past MCU films. Some lines are quoted exactly. Some things are referenced more subtly. I’ve only seen half of the films, so I only caught half of the references probably. And most likely missed many even tho the films I have seen. 

Eight: The mid/end credits scene from Captain Marvel (”Where’s Fury?”)  is not in the film. But... the film works best if you consider it was cut (not that it was a misleading clip). If you imagine it being between the Hawkeye family scene & the Tony’s helmet message to Pepper recording scene...everything fits better.... cause without that moment between those scenes it seems like something is missing from the timeline.   (I’ll explain in my future spoiler post)

Nine: Natasha & Clint fighting over who gets to be the one to go on the mission - who is more “worthy”...And in general all the talk about who gets to do what mission/work - everyone wanting to volunteer (or..almost...everyone). They really are the Avengers (not the pre-vengers). #everyoneintheteamisallaboutthesuperherolife 

Ten: Every character gets their moments to shine - scenes for their character, and each get closure (kinda... even those who we know will be part of the future MCU films). And every hero/character got their moment to shine also during the big battle. It was a TEAM event. And every one of the main six got their final/goodbye scene. Plus all the Original Six get their own “title card” during the end credits.

Eleven: Lots of SNAPPING in this film. Characters snapping at each other (angry speeches), but also the actual snapping (of the gauntlet...as seen in IW)

Twelve: This movie is a lot about THE SMARTS. This is about the BRAINS more than the BRAWN. Come up with clever plan, outsmart the others. There is a lot of that going on in this film. Though,its also a lot about putting the two together: BRAINS + BRAWN - getting the best of both.... 

Thirteen: a rodent that looks a lot like a rat (or maybe it is a mouse... since Disney is all about Mickey Mouse)...plays a pretty important part in the film.

Fourteen: Stan Lee makes a cameo. IMO this was not as great as many of his others. Also... for whatever reason they decided to use the CM (VFX) strategy for his scene. It’s a little fun moment, but I’d say his cameo in CM works better as his “last cameo ever”

Fifteen: There is a montage in the (early in the film) beginning of the film which is almost exactly like a montage/scene in SHREK. In this film it’s the purple bad guy starring in the scene, in SHREK it was the green good guy. OR...maybe I remember incorrectly, and the scenes aren’t really that similar.... I have to re-watch Shrek films

Sixteen: You’ll hear the best/worst bedtime story ...ever... (???) being told in this film. 

Seventeen: There will be SALAD & DESSERT. And references to both will make you cry. You will probably cry just before/during/after the scenes that mention salad & dessert... #eatasalad #juicepops 

Eighteen: Pay attention to the fancy lady & the man with the flowers. Their scenes are some of the most important. 

Nineteen: The funny & more relaxed scenes & the serious/sad/fight scenes alternate. After a sad moment you get a laugh moment, then sad again, then laughs again. 

Twenty: Food plays an important part in the film. There’s no Shawarma (I guess  the Shawarma place owner/workers got dusted?), but Thor’s bread from the trailers is not the only food we see/hear  mentioned: (peanut butter) sandwich, tacos, cheeseburgers, salad, dessert, juice pops, table full of plates with food, cheese wiz.... and Tony’s snacks all make an appearance in the film. Only question remains: who will do the dishes? You’ll see in the film who. 

Twenty-One: In some ways Tony’s & Nebula’s stories (arcs, endings) in this film are similar. Nebula’s past & Tony’s past are kinda haunting them, and they both are able to conquer it. Both were “bad” (Tony a weapons maker in his father’s footsteps, Nebula a mercenary cyborg under her father's control) and became “good”.  On top of that both have daddy issues (most of the characters have mommy/daddy issues...) They both make choices that complete their respective arcs. In many ways their big final moments are similar... even if you wouldn’t think so right away. 

Twenty-Two: Since his name has been in cast list on IMDB for while, it has been no spoiler that he is this movie, but yes, the (kid) actor who plays Harley Keener in IM3 is also in this film. He is in just one scene. So if you notice an unfimiliarface in a scene (the camera clearly shows him, too, at one point...) & ask yourself “who is that kid”, then THAT’S him. Because they don’t include a flashback from IM3 for him... the actor (and the character) have aged.The kid is now a teen/young adult, so many people don’t recognize him. And apparently many don’t like IM3, or haven’t seen it. 

EXTRA: This film, especially if we look at it as a two-parter (asone part of Infinity Saga: A3 + A4) is ...kinda.... a story about fathers & daughters. In A3 we saw a lot of Thanos/daughters stuff, in A4 we pretty much both open & end the film with father/daughter moments (it may not be the very last frame of the film, but it’s close to end). I can’t spoil those, but you’ve seen one of the films father/daughter moments in the trailers (Hawkeye/daughter - he has sons, too, but the focus is on the daughter). And in general, the film is about family  (the avengers superheroes family)

 And I’ll end this post with a new banner/header I made... in honour of the strongest & most kind-hearted superhero...

You know how there’s speculation going on about Tony Stark’s (Ironman’s) fate in the final Avengers 4: Endgame film (in theaters in 3 months, end of April 2019)...and what happens after Infinity War, when we see that he’s stranded “alone” on Titan. 

There’s  talk about what “part of the journey is the end” means for Tony’s character.  There’s talk about what “one last sacrifice” means for Tony’s character.  There’s talk about how RDJs contract with Marvel/Disney ending with A4 & this being the end of the journey & this being Tony’s last sacrifice...cold possibly mean he’ll  (the character) die. But I don’t believe in those theories. I acknowledge the possibility, but I consider it unlikely in canon. 

There’s talk about... many things... 

Well... here’s my overly optimistic take on it all (please remember that I am unfamiliar with the comics & the MCU, so this is based on the very little I know based on the IM films & the Avengers films I have seen... the past Tony/Ironman scenes & storyline I am aware of): 

First, let’s start with a walk down the memory lane

In IM1 Tony first said “I am Ironman”. (He had become one with the “suit”)

In IM3 Tony gave up the suits (and the arc reactor in his chest) ...for Pepper (the constant danger of losing him was hard for her, while she supported him on this journey & understood his “quest”). Only for the end scene to show how he wasn’t done yet... because..to quote him... “They can take away all my tricks & toys. One thing you can’t take away -- I am Ironman” 

In A3 he tells Pepper of a vivid dream he had...about how they are expecting a baby, and Pepper tells him that if he’d really wanted to start a family he’d not still be Ironman. (that thing on his chest... that now/since IM3 ending isn’t an electromagnet keeping him alive...but just a compartment for the suit/nanotech)

What I take from all this is: 

Tony’s biggest sacrifice.... in order to get his “happy ending” is to give up the suits..for good. Tony is Ironman. He has become one with his suits, and Iron Man. Hence it would be very Disney movie like & very movie like if his sacrifice would not be any of his “loved ones” (parents, loved ones, team members) others have mentioned, but part of himself... the suits, the Ironman. This would also give him the normal life he seems to (now) crave... a family with Pepper. 

So... I think his sacrifice is giving up the suits (Ironman). But this time for good. (Or will he? Maybe they’ll include some after credits scene to take that all back?). The suits are part of him, he is part of the suits. So in a way that would be, maybe, the biggest sacrifice he could make. I mean... he loves the suits & his mission is to do good and save the world/universe, but... we’ve also seen how being an Avengers has affected him. The nightmares & PTSD he had, the horrors he’s seen, the strain on his relationship with Pepper the suits have caused (she understands & supports, but still....it has caused issues for them). And we’ve also seen how lately he’s becoming more of a mentor, a teacher (Harley in IM3, Peter in SM & A3)... so the path to fatherhood/parenthood & for mentor has been paved...

Tony’s story line is pretty much the same in every MCU fim:  

First he gets into trouble, and is separated from the rest of the characters/team. Either by physical distance or emotionally. Example: held captive in a cave in Afghanistan in IM1; alone with the secret of slowly dying from the poisoning in IM2; stranded in snowy Rosehill, Tennessee with a non-functioning Jarvis/IM suit in IM3; goes through the portal alone to misdirect the weapon in A1;  goes against the others in the topic of whether to sign or not sign the Sokovia Accords in CA: CW; stranded alone on Titan in A3. In most films he saves himself from the first threat/trouble he faces all by himself (or with just one helper - Yinsen in IM1, Harley in IM3, ... and looks like Nebula in A4), using his skills and knowledge. And then later he needs a little help from his friends/team to save himself & the world, when the second threat  appears. And in the end he gets a (relatively) happy ending. The universe is saved & he is reunited with his loved ones. 

To me this means that (as seen in the trailer) he escapes Titan alone, and either gets back to Earth all alone...or with a little help from friends (Rescue/Pepper, Captain Marvel, someone else...like Elon Musk...who he met in IM2), and then later (or before...depending on whether “time travel” really is part of the film) he is part of the team (Avengers) again...in the fight to save the Universe (and defeat Thanos/undo the snap). 

Now...to the “parallels” I see between A4 & past films: 

I also see parallels between IM3 and A4. With Tony recording a message to Pepper via his suit/helmet. I do think that there’s a parallel scene in A4 to what we saw in IM3, where she hears/sees his message, through a secure channel, and knows to not worry and/or send help. 

I also don’t think the “It’s always been you” line in the A4 trailer is accidental. I do think that’s a parallel to the IM2 line, where Tony makes Pepper the company’s CEO, using the same words. Meaning... she’s his successor, she’s his “rescuer”.

And my personal hope is that the line “no hope for rescue” in the trailer refers to Rescue (Pepper’s suit/armor... from the comics), and that somehow Pepper either suits up & as Rescue rescues Tony from that spaceship or sends someone else to help. 

But yeah... in each film the first half of the film takes Tony away from from others (Pepper, his friends, The Avengers), and he has only himself, or one helper, to rely on...to save himself, but each film (almost each... but at least every IM film) end happily for Tony (and Tony & Pepper). Hence I think the same pattern continues for the last Avengers film. Which would mean either Tony/Pepper wedding and/or pregnancy reveal/baby reveal (if there is a time jump involved). Or both?

...also... I don’t think that the Avengers being dusted in A3 & the Avengers “sign” “being dusted”, and then shown to “putting itself back together” in the promo/trailer is for nothing. I’d say it’s a clear hint that the dusted will be undusted... 

also... I saw  the words “co-founder of the foundation” under Pepper’s signature on that giant check in the SM2 trailer. (sidenote: Pepper, not Virginia?) 

also... I do think Dr. Strange knew exactly what he was doing when he “gave the stone to Thanos” at the end of A3. He had seen 14 million 605 possible outcomes & knew that the ONE condition what was required to win (and based on that scene...that one condition was for Tony/IM to survive...)

... also “Endgame”... the title of the 4th movie & the term/word used by Dr. Strange in A3 & by Tony in A2...is most likely not just a coincidence. The word was used & the lines said..on purpose IMO.... in those past scenes...as sort of a foreshadowing to A4. It is a chess-reference IMO. They are now in the endgame. That move (giving the purple guy the stone...in return for Tony’s life...was a calculated “chess” move).. 

,..also.. if Harley Keener (from IM3) is really in A4...as himself... then who says he & Tony  haven’t been in touch all these years? I mean... “they are connected”...as was repeatedly said in IM3. So... perhaps he holds a “communication line” to Tony and/or is revealed to be one of Tony’s “students” (like Peter)? I'd love for that wordplay/line from IM3 to be revealed to have a deeper meaning in the A4 plot. Either way... I’m very curious what role he plays in this film. (unless they filmed extra scenes with him during IM3 that they’ve kept to use only now, he’ll be a teen/adult in the new film. And maybe this is all just to set up phase four...the next generation (Monica as new CM, Peter as SM continues, Harley as IM/a new hero, Clint's daughter/Kate as new Hawkeye... etc etc.)...

ETA: SPOILERS FOR CAPTAIN MARVEL!

Also... since it’s almost certain that the daughter, Monica, who now, 25 years later, is an adult, will be a part of MCU, then perhaps she could already be a part of it in this film...and has built that spaceship mentioned in the film that came out 6 weeks before A4? 

...ETA: also...one of the fan theories I think are very plausible is “Tony’s left army Theory”. Even if the part of the theory about the Ironman becoming a man with iron arm part is not true, I think it’s more than likely that the franchise ends with the one it began with. Tony/Ironman and his left arm. I think that it’s most logical that it’s Tony’s left arm that will be “wearing” the infinity gauntlet...to unsnap the snap....and there will be damage to the hand... 

...unless...you know... (bringing us back to the beginning of A3 & Tony/Pepper jogging scene dialogue).... it has all been a dream. A very vivid dream. But whose? And “created” by whom?