Take 3: Captain America: Brave New World
Going in to this one, I was a bit torn. The Captain America trilogy is my favorite of all the super hero films that have made it to three. Chris Evans did that dang thing. Those were some HUGE boots to feel. Add the fact that with the current administration and its shenanigans, I can’t say I am feeling the most patriot. But reminder to myself, this is the MCU, not our current reality, and it’s freakin’ Cap--- well, the guy that Cap hand chose to take up the shield. And it’s a brotha!
That alone has me routing for it.
Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) makes it very clear early on that this is NOT Steve Roger’s Cap and he isn’t about to try to be. In his first fight scene, he announces to Sidewinder and his minions that they need to hurry up and get this over with because he’s “got $#!+ to do” and I am definitely here for it!
And speaking of fight scenes, I loved them! This is something the Cap movies continue to get right. The fact that this Cap is an ordinary man, a highly trained ordinary man, sure, made the tight choreography that much more impressive.
Danny Torres as Joaquin Torres, a.k.a The New Falcon was a very welcome addition and one I am looking forward to in future installments. Harrison Ford is also great as President Thaddeus Ross, stepping in for the late William Hurt. We get three other characters that eagle-eyed fans will recognize, and even the return of The Leader which also make this movie also feel like a sequel to The Incredible Hulk and can’t say that I am mad about that either.
Sam’s relationship to one of the three character was one of my favorite parts of the movie. He was retconned into the Captain America backstory a few years ago and makes a ton of sense and I’m really glad it’s been added to the cinematic canon, again, especially in light of how history is rewritten and forgotten about.
It’s soon stressed that he, unlike Steve or Bucky, he HASN’T had the Super Soldier Serum, therefore, he has to work that much harder just to be able to do what they do--- MESSAGE. But again, given the times we are in a much needed one.
Although it might have been the strongest, most complex story, but it was solid and I was very much entertained. I will admit there is a military dog fight that goes a tad long for my taste, and one of my favorite side characters in comics gets the shaft, I still really liked this movie!
My score: 8.5. I’d rank it either 3rd or 4th in the Cap series overall, but not because it’s bad, it’s just the others were that good.
I was a bit lukewarm on Mackie going into this but having seen it, I firmly believe the shield is definitely still in good hands…
And that does it for this time. Until next week when I review…. Whatever the heck I feel like seeing…
