”Avengers: Endgame.” Probably (though arguably) the most anticipated and hyped-up movie of this decade.

I can’t think of many films that even came close to the excitement, mystery and hysterical fear of spoilers that “Endgame” created. In fact, I’m pretty sure most of the people who are really interested in this movie have either already seen it or aren’t reading this review because they don’t want to take any chances.

I get it, but rest assured — I’ll try my absolute best not to spoil anything.

Let me start out with this; similar to certain aspects of “Captain Marvel,” “Endgame” is full of surprises, twists and broken stereotypes. And most likely, broken dreams and hearts as well. The fit and courageous become slovenly cowards, the jaded old hands become softened teddy bears, the good become bad, the bad become good. Everything you thought you knew about movies gets all sorts of mixed up in “Endgame,” and for the most part, that was one of its better characteristics.

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One of the unexpected and yet gratifying facets of “Endgame” was its nod to the Marvel Cinematic Universe saga to which it was the conclusion. Actually, scratch that — it was less of a nod and more of a “let’s make two hours of this three-hour movie about nostalgia.” It made the end more bearable, made it easier to accept that “Endgame” is the end of the line for this era in Marvel history.

And really, I should hope that’s not a spoiler — the name kind of gives it away, not to mention the many articles about how this is the finale for this cycle of 22 movies. That’s not to say we won’t see these heroes again, because undoubtedly we will, but it just goes to show that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is starting a new chapter.

That being said, it was nice to revisit old relationships, old plots, old people, old ideas, etc. “Endgame” focuses more on the original Avengers than anyone else, Iron Man in particular, and barely glances on the newer heroes. In certain situations the avoidance of the new guys was rather unrealistic and disappointing, but for the most part it made sense.

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Wow. Those last paragraphs sound a little ambiguous in hindsight (hindwrite?), but I really am trying to avoid giving anything away. The graphics and CGI work in “Endgame” was amazing as always, most of the characters were very in tune with how they’ve always acted, and many people got the happy ending they deserved.

The beginning started out shockingly dramatic, the beginning-middle dragged a bit, and the fight scene was lamentably brief, but for the most part the three hours was completely enjoyable. I have to say, the transformation of one character into a gimmicky, side-kick drunk was both unexpected and unpleasant, and really didn’t fit in with that person’s story, personality and actions.

Besides those few caveats, “Endgame” fully deserved the hype it received. No other film series has created such a sweeping epic as the MCU has made out of its 22 movies. They are amazingly all funny, deep, impressionable, exciting and interesting films, and even more amazingly, they’re all tied together. Even even more amazingly is that each “mini finale” (aka each Avengers movie) ties all the previous ones together, including each past Avenger movie, and most amazingly of all is that “Endgame” somehow wraps almost every character and their individual lives into a giant whirlwind of adventure.

If you have any interest whatsoever in Marvel movies or just superhero movies in general, I highly recommend that you see “Endgame.” It really is the film of the century.

At least the 19 years we’ve had of it so far.

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