Captain America: Brave New World Fails to Revive Marvel’s Glory Days

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Although I greatly enjoy the epic crossovers and blockbuster events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, my heart has a special place for the Phase 2 era of the franchise. Following the introduction of key characters through their origin stories and the first team-up movie, there was a clear intent to reshape viewers’ perceptions of what a comic book film could offer. Tony Stark took on the role of detective, solving an explosive neo-noir mystery in Iron Man 3; a unique blend of space opera was created with Guardians of the Galaxy; Ant-Man joined the MCU through a thrilling heist plot; and Steve Rogers discovered a dangerous conspiracy hidden within the political intrigue of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. These genre experiments played a significant role in shaping the growing collection of Marvel stories.

Captain America: Brave New World

Release Date: The movie will hit the screens on February 14, 2025.
Directed By: It’s helmed by Julius Onah.
Written By: Rob Edwards and Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson, Julius Onah, and Peter Glanz are the screenplay writers.
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford make up the star-studded cast.
Rating: The film carries a PG-13 rating for scenes of intense violence, action, and strong language.
Runtime: It runs for 118 minutes.

Over a decade has passed since then, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is in a completely transformed condition now. While the last five years have seen some triumphs, there’s been a notable shift in the overall quality of productions, and the journey towards the latest grand plan hasn’t been entirely smooth. The upcoming film “Captain America: Brave New World,” according to Deadpool & Wolverine, is experiencing something of a slump for the franchise. Although one might expect this movie to steer the series back on course, it fails to fulfill that expectation as it primarily offers more of the familiar without introducing anything fresh, making the title ironically fitting.

The movie in question tries hard to emulate the excitement and spellbinding power of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” but falls short – both in terms of its narrative structure and delivery. The 2014 film was groundbreaking with its unexpected, universe-altering plot twists and pulse-pounding action sequences, but this new Marvel Cinematic Universe production lacks that punch. Instead, viewers seem to always stay one step ahead of the characters in terms of understanding the plot developments, making the pace painfully slow. Furthermore, there’s not a single memorable action sequence (a result of lackluster fight choreography and excessive reliance on visual effects).

In the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) makes his return to the screen in a fresh outfit, spearheading military missions for the USA. The movie opens with him taking on a significant global role as he recovers and restores stolen valuable assets from the Japanese government. This recovery is instrumental in President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’s (Harrison Ford) endeavor to create an international agreement, which will streamline the distribution of a scarce resource found during the excavation of the partially emerged Celestial in the Indian Ocean (if you’re perplexed, go rewatch the finale of Eternals).

During a White House speech by President Ross advocating for the treaty, an assassination attempt occurred involving multiple assailants, one of whom was Isaiah Bradley – a historical figure who had been the first recipient of the super soldier serum that transformed Steve Rogers into Captain America in the 1940s (played by Carl Lumbly). Despite being arrested and possibly facing capital punishment for his alleged actions, Isaiah firmly proclaimed his innocence. It fell upon Sam to investigate the circumstances surrounding Isaiah’s arrest and uncover the truth behind the incident.

Captain America: Brave New World spoon-feeds what is a very basic story.

To give you an impression, Captain America: Brave New World moves at a sluggish pace with little excitement, even though a song mysteriously plays in the room just before the assassination attempt, and Isaiah can’t remember what happened afterward. It takes nearly an hour, or half of the movie’s duration, for the idea that he was under mind-control to be introduced, and things don’t seem to get any clearer after that point.

The intended audience for this movie seems paradoxical: it requires viewers to recall significant aspects from “The Incredible Hulk,” “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” and “Eternals” (not typically acclaimed Marvel titles), yet they should also be unaware of the film itself, unable to recognize its cast or engage with its marketing. Learning that Tim Blake Nelson is in it removes any element of surprise or tension from the cinematic experience, and the plot lacks intricate depth for viewers to delve into. Each narrative development is overly simplistic, a watered-down rehash of something previously seen in an MCU film, either revealed in trailers or both.

The action in Captain America: Brave New World is dulled by an over-reliance on visual effects.

In a movie like this, you’d expect intense action to serve as a safety net for entertainment, but Captain America: Brave New World falls short in that regard. There are a few close-combat scenes where the actors demonstrate their abilities, yet they lack originality or standout moments that make them memorable (far from the spectacular street fight between the main characters in Captain America: The Winter Soldier). Despite being ordinary, these fights maintain a sense of realism, which is something the film’s larger sequences can’t claim.

In my humble opinion, what sets Sam Wilson apart from Steve Rogers as Captain America is the addition of a flight-enabled suit. However, his debut movie seems to fall short in terms of engaging aerial cinematography, often feeling overly artificial instead of organic and immersive. Whether it’s him dogfighting with fighter jets in a warzone or clashing with Red Hulk in the streets of Washington D.C., even the most photorealistic effects can’t seem to add the depth and substance needed for an impactful viewing experience.

The characters and personalities are the highlights of Captain America: Brave New World.

One standout aspect of “Captain America: Brave New World” is its compelling characters: even if viewers aren’t fully engrossed by the plot twists or the action, they’ll appreciate spending time with these protagonists. Anthony Mackie has truly mastered the role of Sam Wilson, striking a balance between likable, resolute, and emotionally relatable once more. Harrison Ford brings fresh dimensions to Thaddeus Ross that William Hurt never got to explore. However, it’s Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, aka Falcon, who steals the show. In his debut in a super suit, Ramirez exudes charm that recalls the excitement of the MCU that initially captivated fans.

In essence, “Captain America: Brave New World” appears to have dented my trust in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s future trajectory. The quality dipped in 2023 with productions like “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” and “Secret Invasion,” but I had high hopes that the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” would steer things back on track. Regrettably, “Captain America 4” falls short of this expectation. It’s overly focused on rekindling the MCU’s former spirit, to the point where it lacks originality, and unfortunately, it seems to be leading the cherished franchise astray.

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2025-02-12 20:08