Captain America: Brave New World – A Surprising Hit or Just Another Superhero Flick?

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Captain America: Brave New World is currently showing in cinemas. The great news? It’s not nearly as dreadful as the critic and Rotten Tomatoes ratings imply. I found it quite enjoyable myself, and even my 17-year-old son liked it. In fact, I’d rank it as my third favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe film following Spider-Man: No Way Home and the double feature of Deadpool & Wolverine. However, does that mean much? Is it flawless? Certainly not. The narrative is a bit convoluted, some characters fall short, and there are moments of cringeworthy dialogue sprinkled throughout. But if you don’t dissect it too closely, you’ll appreciate it for what it truly is – an entertaining popcorn flick.

In this film, Captain America: Brave New World, the visual effects are impressive, the action sequences are skillfully carried out, and the fight scenes are satisfactory. Although the plot may have its flaws, it still manages to hold together. This movie also connects to the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe by recalling its origins and foreshadowing its future developments, which should delight fans. There are some unexpected moments, and the end-credit scene is intriguing (there’s just one, and it appears right at the very end).

Standouts

In my previous video response, I expressed my fondness for Anthony Mackie. He delivers a charming portrayal of Sam Wilson, which I enjoyed immensely. I appreciated his performance as Falcon, and I feel that we could share a casual drink together. He radiates the vibe of a trustworthy friend and an exceptional superhero.

Giancarlo Esposito is another fantastic choice for the cast. Interestingly enough, he wasn’t in the initial adaptation of “Captain America: Brave New World”, which apparently didn’t fare well according to sources, but he excels at playing villainous roles. You won’t regret having him on board.

Notably, Tim Blake Nelson portrays Samuel Sterns, also known as The Leader from the comic books, a character who reappears from the 2008 Incredible Hulk film. He effectively brings The Leader to life on screen as well.

Slights spoilers follow

What about the rest of the cast?

The main cast is quite diverse in its quality. Given the multiple retakes, it’s evident that the movie was constructed rather than originally filmed. There are noticeable differences between the start and the rest of the film, giving the impression you’ve been plunged straight into the narrative (which might not be a disadvantage). Additionally, they chose to omit the updated Marvel Cinematic Universe opening sequence, which I find acceptable as it spares us from highlighting less appealing characters from the past five years.

In summary, I found the cast to be quite good, however, in my opinion, Harrison Ford’s performance as the president exhibits some inconsistency. Occasionally, he appears frail, while at other times, he gives off a powerful presence. There seems to be a lack of respect from his staff, especially Xosha Roquemore’s character, which doesn’t sit well. Furthermore, Ford’s character is shown taking pills without much notice from others, and his attempts to conceal it come across as comical. Additionally, at 82 years old, Ford’s age is somewhat evident in his performance.

Initially, Danny Ramirez’s character seems rather grating, with his early jokes failing to elicit any laughter from the audience. However, by the movie’s end, Joaquin Torres transforms into a character that is quite endearing. The film’s beginning feels somewhat disorganized, but it improves as it unfolds. Regrettably, the dialogue in the last scene feels awkward and contrived.

Brave New World” while fitting well within the narrative. Have you observed in the film that Isaiah punches the punching bag just as Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers did in “The Avengers“? That’s quite amusing!

In a different phrasing, it seems that Shira Haas’ portrayal of Ruth Bat-Seraph fell short for some viewers. The question arises as to why she was chosen for this role, given her diminutive stature. Despite her ability to portray strong, action-packed characters, the performance didn’t resonate with many. However, her humorous comment about a particular individual’s physique did add an endearing quality to her character. There was potential for Ruth Bat-Seraph to become another memorable character akin to Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh, but unfortunately, Shira Haas’ portrayal in the movie was less than satisfactory. The audience wonders why she was included in the film at all.

The story

Initially, I hadn’t seen any of the previews, which left me wondering how they would present all the details. Specifically, I was intrigued about Ross’s role in the narrative, his whereabouts up until now, and the introduction of Red Hulk into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I believe they handled it quite well by linking it back to “The Incredible Hulk” (2008) and “Eternals”. The positive aspect is that the Eternals themselves are not explicitly mentioned, given that their film wasn’t well-received. However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is employing Celestials to introduce fresh comic book ideas instead.

Spoilers follow

The competition to govern the Cosmos has begun, with a meeting taking place to discuss a peace agreement. However, this is where things become rather peculiar—in the movie “Captain America: Brave New World,” the U.S. finds itself in conflict with Japan. I mean, really? Japan? Wouldn’t it have made more sense for them to be battling China or Russia, and increase the tension? It seems that Disney/Marvel might have been hesitant to go there—just like MGM’s disappointing remake of “Red Dawn,” which replaced China with North Korea. Let’s face it, Japan isn’t much of a threat to the U.S. And imagine the excitement if the Red Hulk had gone on a rampage, destroying Japanese warships instead! Unfortunately, Marvel opts for safety and falls short of delivering an explosive showdown.

1. The single Red Hulk fight was skillfully executed. Although it’s regrettable there was only one battle, at least everything seemed logical. Visually, it was quite impressive. They even managed to make the smaller human character Sam seem capable of facing off against the Red Hulk.

2. The lone Red Hulk fight was well-executed. While it’s unfortunate that there was only one battle, the storyline made sense at least, and it looked great. They even attempted to portray the diminutive human Sam as a potential match for the Red Hulk.

3. The solitary Red Hulk fight was well-done. It’s unfortunate that there was just one battle, but the plot progressed logically at least, and it looked great. They even tried to make the smaller human character Sam seem like a contender against the Red Hulk.

4. The solo Red Hulk fight was effectively carried out. It’s unfortunate that there was only one battle, but the narrative flowed logically at least, and it looked good. They even attempted to depict the petite human character Sam as a possible opponent for the Red Hulk.

5. The unique Red Hulk fight was well-handled. Although it’s unfortunate that there was only one battle, the storyline made sense at least, and it looked great. They even managed to make the smaller human character Sam seem like a potential adversary for the Red Hulk.

6. The exclusive Red Hulk fight was well-executed. While it’s unfortunate that there was only one battle, the plot unfolded logically at least, and it looked impressive. They even tried to portray the less imposing human character Sam as a possible combatant against the Red Hulk.

I found myself pondering as well about how The Leader seems to effortlessly accomplish everything. It’s not clear how he does it – you just have to assume he’s incredibly intelligent. However, Joaquin mirrors this feat with a few button presses. This part of the narrative feels somewhat weak, but considering the movie is under two hours and I appreciate the brevity, it’s understandable. The film often seems like several scripts combined, and at times, this is evident. Additionally, The Leader appears in various locations without any indication of travel, which was a bit perplexing (LOL).

No political BS

In the film, there are no concerns about it being compared to Donald Trump, as Ford seemed more appealing at times as his predecessor (chuckles). It seems likely that they removed any such comparisons and toned down the progressive themes during reshoots. Furthermore, I didn’t spot a vice president in the movie, which is quite intriguing.

The Verdict

I walked into “Captain America: Brave New World” without high expectations. If you’re not overly critical or dissecting the film, it’s quite enjoyable as a simple superhero action movie. It delivers well as a popcorn flick. In my opinion, “Captain America: Brave New World” earns a score of 7 out of 10.

Major spoiler follows — don’t read unless you have seen the movie

The main topic here is: How did the creators deal with Anthony Mackie taking over as Captain America in “Captain America: Brave New World”? I found the beginning of the movie a bit awkward since they kept having characters repeatedly refer to Mackie’s character as “Captain America” or “Cap”. It seemed unnecessary, like we were already aware of this fact.

Later on, there’s a notable scene. Unexpectedly, Sebastian Stan, as Bucky, makes an appearance. The audience burst into applause and seemed to enjoy it – I was smiling too. However, personally, I didn’t care for the scene at all. It felt superfluous and shouldn’t have been included in the movie. It was just another eye-roll-worthy moment where they tried to pass the torch, implying that Sam is a better Captain America than either myself or Steve. Frankly, it comes off as confusing and unnecessary. They attempted to lighten the mood with a quick joke, and there’s another joke later during the Red Hulk fight, but the underlying message is clear. And get this – Bucky is now running for Congress! Yes, you read that right. I can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity. Who dreamed up this idea, and who wrote this nonsense?

Despite the repetitive elements, I didn’t let them spoil my enjoyment of the movie. Frankly, I wasn’t anticipating much, but I was delightfully surprised. As it currently stands, Sam excels as Captain America. He’s distinct from Steve Rogers, showcasing a vibranium suit and soaring through the skies (it looks awesome). However, we don’t need to be reminded of this fact so frequently. To put it bluntly, I dislike characters who are merely replacements, as they seem more focused on fulfilling an ideological agenda rather than serving the story. Sam could have accomplished everything he did and still been known as The Falcon. That would have opened up a fascinating new era.

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2025-02-14 09:03