Joey Magidson
At least on the big screen, I’m an easy mark for Marvel. With maybe two exceptions, I always find a Marvel Cinematic Universe effort to be at least decent. So, for me to leave Captain America: Brave New World with a distinct sense that what I just watched wasn’t worthy of being a film…that says something. I’ve fallen off on the television shows, while still defending the MCU. This movie, unfortunately, makes me see a lot of the points that detractors have been making.
Captain America: Brave New World exists mostly to put a cap on loose ends left from Eternals and even The Incredible Hulk. If that has you scratching your head, well, you’re not alone. If this was the second season of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, with some more focus on the political thriller aspects, Marvel might have been on to something. As a less than two hour flick, meant to be a blockbuster? It falls short of the mark.
Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford) has just been elected President of the United States. Key to his first 100 days in office is a treaty with other major nations to share the precious resource found within the Celestial body sitting in the Indian Ocean after the events of Eternals. The element, known as adamantium, is meant to be more powerful than vibranium, as well as be shared by more nations than just Wakanda. Recognizing the need for Captain America, he summons Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), after a successful mission to recover a stolen sample of the element, to the White House during an event in support of the treaty, in the hopes that he can re-assemble The Avengers. Sam brings his right hand man in Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), as well as Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly). During the event, several Secret Service agents, as well as Isaiah, appear under mind control, attempting to assassinate Ross.
Ross wants to keep the treaty alive at any cost, while Sam suspects that someone is trying to sabotage it, framing Isaiah. As Sam investigates the incident in the hopes of clearing Isaiah’s name, he runs into Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito) of the Serpent Society, as well as a shadowy figure who’s manipulating the entire situation. Who this person is, what they want, and how it leads to Ross eventually turning into Red Hulk (not a spoiler, as the marketing has made the appearance clear), I’ll leave for you to discover.
Anthony Mackie settles into the role of Captain America in such a way that you’re not spending the movie missing Chris Evans, which is a definite plus. Mackie hasn’t been showcased by Marvel like this before and he makes the most of it. On the other hand, Harrison Ford, while solid as Thaddeus Ross, never fully feels comfortable in the role. His grumbling fits during the political scenes, though when he has to do anything relating to CGI, he’s off the reservation. It could have been worse, to be sure, yet an actor of his caliber should have brought more to the part. Danny Ramirez doesn’t have a ton to do but brings a ton of charisma to the, at least for now, mostly thankless role. Giancarlo Esposito is wasted, while the likes of Carl Lumbly are afterthoughts. Supporting players include Shira Haas, Tim Blake Nelson, Xosha Roquemore, Liv Tyler, and more.
Julius Onah directs a script that feels like about two dozen people wrote it. In reality, it’s just Rob Edwards, Peter Glanz, Dalan Musson, Onah, and Malcolm Spellman, with Edwards, Musson, and Spellman getting Story By credits as well. It’s a mess, too. Esposito’s character, added in reshoots, feels it, with every scene he appears in feeling tacked on. Focus keeps getting pulled in several directions, never fully landing on what the film should be. When the movie is trying to be a poor man’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, it’s mostly decent. Sadly, the action sequences are all bland and even boring. Plus, the entire villain element of the flick falls flat. Moreover, this movie ends with its worst scenes, which is a rough way to go out.
Captain America: Brave New World is, at times, boring, and that’s bad for the MCU. When it’s a pseudo sequel to The Incredible Hulk or addressing a major Eternals issue, it feels like the universe is cleaning up in anticipation of what’s to come. It’s otherwise self-contained, which isn’t bad to see, but it feels like scattershot execution, which is not fun. Hopefully Marvel is about to right the ship, because if they threaten to lose me, they’re going to be in trouble with the casual fan.
SCORE: ★★1/2
Obviously the reviewer has never seen The Marvel’s or Madame Web.
I’ve seen both, obviously you didn’t check, and I prefer The Marvels.
I am a Mavel fan myself, however any movie that supports Isreal and by default the genocide they are committing, should be a flop at the theaters, in fact it should be completely boycotted. The mossaud agent role, even though it was drastically reduced from the original script, only supports the alleged legitimacy of a genocidal government.
That is a completely ridiculous opinion.
You clearly didn’t see the film, since there’s not actually a mossaud agent in it. So, yeah…
I didn’t want to see it until I heard your complaint. Remind me quickly who invaded who on Oct. 7 and massacred women and children? Look up, is that a drone?*
*I’m invoking politics that have nothing to do with a Marvel movie to get a reaction out of people. It’s sad, really.
Completely irrelevant to this film, FYI
Of course you want to remain anonymous…you’re a terrorist loving anti semite.*
*My comment is ignorant and uncalled for.
Keep in mind, you’re anonymous too, so pot meet kettle, regardless of who is right or wrong here.
That’s why you guy’s are getting destroyed*
*My comment is hateful and ignorant and if I realized what I was saying, I’d be ashamed and apologize, but I don’t, so this is doing it for me
Charming story!
Wakanda is one of the greatest nations on planet Earth!
Not sure how that applies here…
Cut
*^Not the Only First Effort.. .
Not a grammatically correct statement…
Cut it out. I’ve seen the trailers. I was astonished by them. Y’all are hating and I don’t understand how y’all wanna do Anthony Mackie like that. He is comic book accurate as much as he can be and I’m proud for our culture that he is able to step into that role with the co-sign from Chris Evans. I don’t give a damn about the plot twist. This is historic.
He’s definitely the best part of a movie I wish I’d enjoyed more, given how much I usually enjoy a Marvel movie
Nobody said anything against Anthony Mackie where are you getting this from?
Thanks for the review! I wish it could’ve been better. Not hating, I really wanted this movie to be great. I’m still going to go see it! Gotta form my own opinion, after all, but I appreciate the heads up before going in (I skimmed most of the story part you wrote to avoid spoilers). The only thing I didn’t like about the article was the font! Thanks for being so diligent and detailed with your review!
Welcome. And 100%, see it and make up your own mind!
Having Bucky Barnes with cap America would have saved the movie. Their chemistry is so great and they are so good together. I also miss Chris Evans. He will always be “cap” to me. I knew this movie would fall short. I’m hoping Thunderbolts and doomsday will be worth waiting for!
People can we please have one freaking discussion without having politics thrown at us…chill it’s a movie.
This feels like an… unreasonable demand, in relation to, arguably, the most overtly political franchise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
From my perspective, it just seems like Marvel had a good pipeline of talent that simply dried up. There were a few releases after endgame that were good, but it just seems like the creative juices aren’t flowing at near the same volume. The movies that are Good, people will show for. It’s just the marginal movies that won’t live up to expectation… Why drop $50 for 2 disappointments? That’s a decent dinner for 2.
There’s something to that. The build up and execution of Endgame was so well done, it was going to be hard to recapture. So far, it’s been a mixed bag
I can assure, they will double down, between Mackies comments and the movie itself, it’s pretty clear they got the message and they do not care they are gunna indoctrinate you even of it kills Disney.
I’m baffled about what message/indoctrination you think this movie is trying to take part in? That it’s bad to turn into a Hulk? If so, I do think that’s something we can all get behind…
Only an IDIOT would think The Marvels was good🤦
But someone who decides to leave an anonymous insult on a website is…what?
I will go see this tomorrow. This is a thread for discussion about a Marvel movie. Lest we forget…
The first!? GOOD ONE!
Yes, the first.