"Avengers: Endgame" I Saw It...Well Done!

Rest assured, this post will not divulge any plot points, storylines, or spoilers. No, this is a post of admiration--a chance for me to put into words a few thoughts about a movie me--and millions of others--watched over the weekend.

Avengers: Endgame

Well done, on so many levels.

I'm not the biggest Marvel fan, nor did my love of comic books extend into my teenage years. But I've watched almost all the Marvel films (I haven't seen Captain Marvel yet...), at least the ones from Ironman on. I left the theater Friday night, my head spinning.

If you study marketing, Marvel has put on a clinic of how to do it right. Just like the network that airs the Super Bowl each year uses the big game to market all their shows, news, comedies, dramas, you name it. They also use all their shows, news, comedies, dramas, etc, to market the Super Bowl. It's circular, each promoting each other.

Marvel did the same thing. They used their solo-focused films to promote the Avengers ensemble films. Each builds on the ones before until you get a three-hour masterpiece called Endgame.

Everyone who's seen the film and has loved it, has a different reason for doing so. I'm no exception. It was funny, dark, poignant, tender, cruel, necessary. It made me laugh out loud, and made my eyes water. Any film that can do that is successful.

But, the one thing that impressed me the most about the film is this:

Those who made it respected the fans.

Maybe that's a stupid thing to say. Maybe everyone who writes screenplays, directs and produces films respect their fans, too. But something about this one...I left the theater thinking they not only cared about the characters and the story, but how I, a person who never saw one previous Marvel film in a theater (except Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse...), cared about the characters and the story. They understand us, which shows in the final product.

For many, these shows aren't their thing, and I can respect that. But for those who have enjoyed the ones that came before, Avengers: Endgame proved a fitting end to an eleven-year journey of good vs. evil, funny vs. serious, Avengers vs. Hydra. Well done, Marvel and all those involved.

Well done, indeed.

Somehow...I Don't Think Marvel Necessarily NEEDS Wal*Mart's Help With This One

Unless you live under a rock, you're aware of a cinematic event occurring this weekend, so much so, you're either extremely excited for this event, or you're sick of hearing about it. If you're in the former camp, hopefully you'll get to see it soon. If you're in the latter camp, I'm sorry--I don't think the hype is ending soon.

This morning, while picking up groceries, I noticed something. We went to Walmart and I went inside to get some breakfast. I was instantly hit with some of the promotional displays at our local store.

They didn't just hit me, they flogged me as if I were getting smacked upside the head with a wet bag of laundry.

Apparently, Marvel/Disney has teamed up with Walmart to help promote their latest film.

I wonder how much money went into this promotion.

I also wonder if it was even necessary.

I have a lot of friends who are over the moon to see this film (definitely former camp people...). They got their tickets as soon as they were able to do so. They took picture after picture of them standing in front of the theater, of their tickets, of the pre-film popcorn and drinks, and of them goofy smiling while sitting in their chairs waiting for the magic to begin. I've seen picture after picture posted on social media and today's officially the first day of the release. I'm willing to bet these pictures and postings are going to continue all this weekend and beyond. (definitely making mad the latter camp people...).

The point is, these people are not getting paid to promote the film--they're doing it because they love it. And, Marvel has been promoting this film for about eleven years, ever since the first Iron Man release in 2008. Each film promotes the next and the next and the next. You really couldn't ask for a better marketing campaign. 

So, do they need Avengers: End Game posters on the doors as you enter Walmart? Do they need a banner over the bay of self-checkout machines? Do they need numerous ads inside the store? I'm sure someone somewhere sat in a room, crunched the numbers, and felt the cost of all this (must be in the millions...) is worth it. They've concluded doing it and paying the money will result in even more money at the box office. Maybe they're right. I'd like to think they are. I do know, that had my friend not offered me a ticket to see it tonight, I might not see this movie until it reaches RedBox or cable. But that's just me.

Yes, this is one of the big ones. Movies like this don't come along very often. It's likely to break every box office record possible. But, on a quiet Friday morning in a chain store in Centerville Utah, they most likely could have saved the cost of advertising the film. But hey...what do I know?

I hope those who see it have a good time and those who are already sick of it can endure til the end. Happy Avengers: End Game weekend, everyone!