Introduction:
Review of Captain America Brave New World. We are going to dissecting every trailer, news update, and relevant MCU title leading up to this release (yes, even accounting for the reportedly tumultuous production), I felt like a Marvel expert going in. Let me tell you, my expectations were completely shattered. Seeing Harrison Ford as Red Hulk screaming at you in IMAX? Let’s just say my heart rate needed some time to recover.
My Initial Reaction:
My immediate tweet after the screening pretty much sums it up: “Saw Captain America: Brave New World. It’s a tense political thriller with big booms, worth seeing on a huge screen. A huge-budget bonus episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. MVPs: Carl Lumbly and Harrison Ford (the grouches America needs!). Anthony Mackie proves himself a worthy Captain America.
Now, a quick meta-review of that review: Yes, I used “huge” twice. Blame the Hulk-sized impact of the film! My immediate reactions are always important because that initial feeling – the high or the disappointment – reflects the cinematic experience.
What Makes it Shine:
A Falcon and the Winter Soldier Upgrade: This movie feels like a supremely elevated, blockbuster version of the Disney+ series. The humor, the charming chemistry between Anthony Mackie and Danny Ramirez, and the heartbreaking performance from Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley are all back and better than ever. The action sequences are incredible; the vibranium disc work is a marvel of stunt choreography.
Real-World Politics with a Cosmic Twist: The film grounds the MCU in contemporary political anxieties, even amidst giant celestial corpses and a Red Hulk. The hand-wringing leading up to the release was largely unwarranted; the story is cohesive.
High-Octane Action: The aerial battle over Celestial Island is breathtaking. Julius Onah clearly learned a thing or two from Top Gun: Maverick. The action sequences rival the best of the Iron Man films. Mackie seamlessly blends Captain America’s shield combat with Falcon’s acrobatic style.
Stellar Performances: Carl Lumbly delivers the best performance, hands down. Harrison Ford, while initially cast in a role intended for the late William Hurt, brings his iconic grumpiness with an endearing wink. He’s perfectly cast as a president we wish we had. And Red Hulk? Pure, unadulterated fun. Seeing him smash through Washington D.C. is a spectacle.
What Could Have Been Better:
My main issue? The MCU Easter eggs and world-building elements don’t sufficiently serve Sam Wilson’s story. While Captain America: The Winter Soldier masterfully blended a grounded political thriller with Marvel elements, Brave New World sometimes feels more like a sequel to The Incredible Hulk than a continuation of Sam Wilson’s arc.
Tim Blake Nelson as the Leader, while visually impressive, lacks the cunning brilliance of Zola or Zemo. The inclusion of various Marvel lore elements feels more like fan service than a meaningful contribution to the narrative. Showing Red Hulk’s full form in the trailers might have lessened the impact of his reveal in the film itself.
Final Score and Ranking:
I give Captain America: Brave New World a 6.9/10. It’s better than many recent MCU films, but within the Phase 4 and 5 landscape, it sits somewhere in the middle. It’s a solid, enjoyable entry, but not quite an essential must-see like some of its predecessors. The cinematic spectacle and thematic impact are there, but the story could have been tighter.
Conclusion:
Captain America: Brave New World delivers a thrilling ride packed with spectacular action and strong performances, particularly from Carl Lumbly and a surprisingly effective Harrison Ford. While it successfully expands upon the themes and characters introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, its over-reliance on familiar MCU elements detracts from the focus on Sam Wilson’s journey as Captain America.
The film offers a satisfying blend of political intrigue and superhero spectacle, but ultimately falls short of becoming a truly essential addition to the MCU canon, despite its considerable strengths. It’s a good movie, but it could have been great with a sharper narrative focus on its core protagonist.
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