Maybe you heard, but the blockbuster sensation of 2019 has returned to theaters under the title Avengers Endgame: Encore. There is also a chance that you have heard of the new screening format from Disney, “Infinity Vision”. I got the chance to see the re-release of Endgame in this new format and I am here to report back on my experience.
Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18 and to build hype for the latest installment in the Marvel machine, they have released Endgame for fans, new and old, to revisit the film. Except this time there is extra footage that ties into Doomsday. I will just give you my honest answer about whether or not the film is worth revisiting in theaters with this added footage: not particularly.
I will be transparent: Endgame is still a good time. I was a Sophomore in high school when that film came out and to call that the movie event of my generation feels like an understatement. I have not revisited Endgame since the early days of the COVID-19 Pandemic, when I binged through the whole MCU franchise up to that point with my family (what else was there to do?). That said, I have kept up with the MCU over the past several years, with my interest wavering depending on the project. I am glad to say I still really enjoy Endgame and I find that I appreciate the emotional beats and celebration of the films within the “Infinity Saga”.
My screening was far from full, but that may have been due to going on a Thursday afternoon when most screenings are empty. That said, there wasn’t a whole lot of cheering and excitement in the theater like there was back in May of 2019; it felt muted. So, there is no guarantee that you can relive the hype of the portal scene like during the film’s initial release. If you have never had an interest in going to repertory or revival screenings, save your money. Personally, I enjoy seeing a movie I am very familiar with in theaters. Some of my favorite memories of going to the theater consist of seeing John Carpenter’s The Thing for its 40th anniversary and The Wizard of Oz, both movies I have seen many times. It is a fun experience, but there are arguably better things to do with your time and money.
The bonus footage. The real reason people might leave their house to go see the re-release. It’s okay; some fairly by-the-book Marvel material. If you see the film in Infinity Vision, you get some extra footage that regular screenings will not get, but either way, there is bonus footage. Some of the bonus footage consists of an extended scene towards the end of the film. I am going to avoid spoiling it, despite the footage being very easy to find on the internet. The extended scene looked and felt a bit different than the rest of Endgame. There is something a bit dystopian about going into the film and meddling with the ending to better serve the purpose of a franchise that has been tripping in the dark for the past six years and has failed to properly set up their next event film, but here we are. The three additional post-credit scenes are about what one would expect from a Marvel teaser. They reveal more about the plot and characters who are in the film that have not been previously announced. Once again, if you are not a die-hard fan of these movies, I think you will be okay not seeing the film again; these scenes will probably be a part of Doomsday.
Now, Infinity Vision. As mentioned, Doomsday is coming to theaters on Dec. 18, but so is Dune: Part Three. These are both two major event films releasing on the same day and IMAX, a screening format that is considered one of the best for event films like these, has decided to give its screens to Dune. This could affect the box office of Doomsday because IMAX is only becoming more and more popular. So in response to this, Disney brings us Infinity Vision. Infinity Vision is considered the best format to see Doomsday and Endgame in and probably many more Marvel titles going forward. It is best not to be confused; Infinity Vision is not a new format for watching movies, despite how it is being marketed. Infinity Vision is more of a checklist: A screen that is 45 feet or higher, Dolby Atmos or 7.1 surround sound and laser projection. If the screen meets those requirements, then it is an Infinity Vision screen. At the end of the day, it is a marketing tactic and it probably will not be the end of the world if you do not see either of these films in the “intended format”.
I feel comfortable saying that for most, Avengers Endgame: Encore is not a race-out-and-see-it-now event despite how it is being advertised. If you want to refresh yourself on the high points of Marvel, there is nothing wrong with going out to see it, but do not feel bad if you are unable to work it into your schedule during its limited run. On a similar note, if you want to fork out the extra money to see it in Infinity Vision, go ahead. Movies are fun on a massive screen with great sound, but in this case it is not essential.