Disney / Buena Vista
Where do I begin? Marvel films used to be an event in my family.
The family group chat would blow up as we decided which show to see and what time to see it. Up until I screened Captain America: Brave New World for this review, no one in my family had seen it, and no one seemed to care.
As Marvel films go, I don’t think any of them are bad, or not worth watching.
I was a comic book kid, and while I am not really a comic book adult, it’s been amazing to see the characters I loved as an adolescent truly come to life on the big screen. Seeing all three Spider-Men in No Way Home, made me so happy.
I am of an age where Harrison Ford’s name means Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
I love the guy. I love his resurgence. Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 and Jason Segal’s Shrinking are both fabulous and he’s a huge part of both those shows.
I know William Hurt passed away, but did we have to cast Ford as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross? He wasn’t bad, but I don’t think he was a particularly inspired choice.
Giancarlo Esposito is a magnificent actor.
Gus Fring is an all-time villain, and Giancarlo has been amazing for a very long time in many different roles. Does he really need to be in the Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universes? The guy is one of the greatest living actors, but he’s largely wasted in these films that are meant to be popcorn crunchers. Think back and remember the subtlety and power of his performances in The Usual Suspects or more recently, in Godfather of Harlem. (By the way, if you aren’t watching Godfather of Harlem, shame, shame, shame).
Carl Lumbly shines, reprising his role as the lost super soldier Isaiah Bradley. I used to watch him on Cagney and Lacey while sitting on my parents’ floor, staring up at their TV. He has one of the most powerful guest spots in West Wing history as a civil rights attorney and I adored Alias for the first few seasons. Isaiah Bradley is a great character that deserves his own mini-series, or standalone film. If you haven’t watched Brave New World yet, let him be one of the reasons why.
Shira Hass is introduced to the MCU in this film as former Red Room Widow, Ruth Bat-Seraph. She plays Ross’ security consultant. Honestly, it always amuses me when a tiny person like Shira Hass is kicking the crap out of people on the screen. Shira is really small, but she has some good moves and her fight scenes are excellent. (For a realistic view of what really happens when a trained big person fights a trained little person I encourage you to watch what Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth does to Mike Moh’s Bruce Lee in Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood). This is comic books though, so size doesn’t matter. She has a unique look, and is quite memorable. I hope to see more of her.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier co-star Danny Ramirez, returns as Joaquín Torres, the new Falcon, to Sam Wilson’s Cap. He’s a very handsome and charming character and it’s impossible not to like him. His boyish eagerness is really infectious and I found him incredibly fun to watch.
The decision to bring back Tim Black Nelson as Sam Sterns from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk is interesting. Another super smart villain is always welcome and Sterns has come a long way from lying on the floor of his lab as gamma juiced blood mixes with his.
Here’s the problem with this film. If you’ve seen the trailer, you know the Red Hulk makes an appearance; You know it’s Harrison Ford; and you know he’s likely not showing up until the plot culminates.
So, I found myself, sitting in my desk chair, watching the film, wishing they would just get to it already. STOP GIVING AWAY THE MAIN PLOT POINTS IN THE FUCKING TRAILER!!! There is nothing at stake for the viewer.
Surprise me… I am a soft, forgiving, audience, but if you aren’t going to even try, why should I get excited about your film?
Look, the prevailing MCU wisdom is we are heading into Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars and I am here for it. One of my favorite comic book sequences of all time involves Spider Man and the X-Men and culminates with Wolverine on his hands and knees, spitting blood, saying something like, “This is ridiculous.” It is glorious. If that sequence winds up on the screen, you’ll hear me squealing like a giddy teen ager, because in that moment, I will be. DON’T BE LAZY IN THE RUN UP!
I know I am probably in the minority, but I like Anthony Mackie as Cap. He is pure of heart and that is a prerequisite for Captain America. He is, without question, a good guy.
However, I don’t think the script or storyline did him many favors. It’s ok, but just ok. It was worth watching, but really only once, and then once more when it comes on Disney+. I’ve seen Winter Soldier and Civil War, at least 20 times each. I’ve rewatched the fight between Cap, Thor, Iron Man and Thanos over a hundred times. I still get chills when Mjolnir flies to Cap’s hand. That is what the MCU is supposed to be for me, rewatch and rewatch until I’ve internalized every Easter egg and filled in the blanks in my head.
Captain America: Brave New World is a perfectly adequate action movie. It’s a substandard entry into the MCU and the MCU is rapidly losing it’s momentum.
Rating:
As an Action Film 3.5 out of 5
As an MCU film 2.5 out of 5
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