Best of 2019 (Movies): Avengers: Endgame

It was a good year for comic book movies, but there was just nothing that could stand up to Avengers: Endgame.

A lovingly-made love letter to everyone who has watched and stuck with the Marvel Cinematic Universe since Nick Fury told Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative all those years ago, Avengers: Endgame is everything you've ever loved about the MCU condensed into a 3-hour fever dream of a movie. It's a monument to Marvel Studios' steely resolve to successfully maintain a connected cinematic universe unlike anything anyone has done before. And the fact that there was this monumental pop when Captain America said the magic word before the final battle is proof positive that everyone was invested in this crazy experiment 10 years on.

Sure, it's basically 90% fanservice, but you know what? I got to see the Avengers come to life and defeat Thanos on the big screen, and I would pay good money to forget all of this just so I can experience it all over again.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Another contender for movie of the year, Joker subverted every expectation to bring a compelling alternate"origin" movie to the Clown Prince of Crime. Tackling issues like mental illness, the eroding health care system, and an uncaring society, Joker is like a train wreck you can't look away from, forcing you to essentially hold hands with Arthur Fleck as he slowly spirals out of control. It's unsettling, cringey, and makes you uncomfortable for its entire running time, all in a good way.