Captain America: Brave New World – An Insipid and Cobbled Together Failure

A star rating of 2 out of 5.

At present, the realm of superhero movies finds itself at a crucial juncture. On one hand, James Gunn is gearing up to debut his fresh take on the DC Universe with the imminent arrival of Superman in the coming months. Conversely, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which was once celebrated, has been moving forward somewhat sluggishly.

Although the financial triumphs of Deadpool and Wolverine during the previous summer have been significant, there’s an increasing feeling that the franchise may have seen its peak – as each fresh installment struggles to innovate or offer something fresh and captivating, instead focusing on rehashing past achievements.

As a movie enthusiast, let me share my thoughts on the newly released film, Captain America: A New World Order. Kicking off the trio of blockbusters slated for 2025 and marking the 35th production in the franchise that’s seen its fair share of challenges, this installment doesn’t quite resemble a comeback for the series.

Rather than being rich and engaging, it’s more like a bland, flavorless encounter – a type of hastily put-together production that one might anticipate from a movie undergoing multiple reshoots and having three separate writing crews on board.

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In a groundbreaking cinematic moment for me as a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to witness Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, formerly known as Falcon, stepping into the Captain America role post-Avengers: Endgame and The Falcon and Winter Soldier series on Disney Plus. As the movie begins, we discover him collaborating closely with Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross, now serving as the U.S. President, portrayed by none other than the legendary Harrison Ford, replacing the late William Hurt (who tragically passed away in 2022).

It’s not surprising at all that this situation involves a shaky partnership, and when a White House meeting turns into a physical altercation early on, it becomes more evident that something unusual is happening. We are then pulled into a storyline that revisits some familiar locations and characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s history, with Tim Blake Nelson’s Sam Sterns making a return after last being seen in The Incredible Hulk in 2008.

Straight away, one of the movie’s main challenges is revealed: its frequent references to past events and characters, which only dedicated fans will remember. While the initial Marvel Cinematic Universe installments were lauded for their smooth creation of an expansive, interconnected universe, the complexity of the Marvel world has grown so much that efforts to connect all the pieces feel awkward and somewhat forced.

It might be becoming increasingly clear that having one franchise churn out 35 movies, along with numerous TV series, in a short period is likely unsustainable. The end result often appears overly complex, straining credibility, and lacking authentic creativity.

Despite larger problems within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Brave New World struggles to deliver as an engaging film independently. It’s filled with numerous shortcomings: A weak main storyline, dialogues that are often dull and expository, uninspiring visuals, one-dimensional characters, forgettable action sequences, and little emotional resonance. The experience is disappointing because the plot lacks the necessary intrigue of a political thriller and the tension or paranoia associated with a conspiracy plot.

Mackie, who possesses an undeniable charm and screen presence, isn’t the one to blame for this situation. However, it seems as though his character, Sam, has been awkwardly placed into a leading role rather than a supporting one. There are numerous mentions that he’s “not Steve Rogers,” yet there is insufficient effort put into explaining why this difference shouldn’t be a detriment to the storyline.

In my opinion, as a movie reviewer, Danny Ramirez’s character, played by Joaquin Torres in this film, shows some potential for an enjoyable camaraderie with Anthony Mackie. However, the dialogue exchanged between them feels unnatural and contrived, making it difficult to fully connect. Regrettably, there are not enough scenes shared by these two talented actors to establish a truly engaging dynamic.

Ford seems to enjoy himself, adding a sense of seriousness that might not be fully warranted, whereas Giancarlo Esposito gives it his all in another stereotypical, menacing antagonist role, which has become a common theme since his days as Gus Fring.

The movie contains some unexpected delights and hidden references, but even longtime fans might find themselves grasping for straws. When the most fervent response during nearly two hours of viewing is for a rather insignificant guest appearance (we’re keeping that identity under wraps), it becomes apparent that something isn’t quite right. Hiccup, hiccup, hiccup.

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2025-02-13 17:09