As you know, whenever I review a new Marvel film, I have to run it by the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for their approval. Heaven forbid I give away a plot twist in my review. I was hoping Elon Musk’s DOGE would have perhaps cut into their budget enough that they wouldn’t have the people available to redact anything from my article… I guess Elon must fear Melinda May, The Cavalry, enough to back off. Pity.
Well, here is the plot for this newest film in the Marvel Universe. Or what I can share about it.
Captain America: Brave New World hits IMAX movie screens and brings the next chapter in the adventure of the Star-Spangled Man. The film continues the story of Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as he battles enemies like XXXXXXXXXXX (Tim Blake Nelson) at home and XXXXXXXXXX military abroad.
Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is the new high-flying Captain America with wings made from vibranium gifted to him by the Wakandan people. He has to deal with the newly-elected President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford), whose alter ego is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. Can you believe that guy got elected to the highest office in the land?
Anyway, after Sam and Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) thwart Sidewinder’s (Giancarlo Esposito) sale of the stolen adamantium from XXXXXXXXXXXX, they are hailed as heroes.
So, along with big burley Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), they are invited to an event at the white house. After being wrongfully imprisoned for so long, Isaiah was hesitant about accepting the invitation, but Sam convinced him to go.
At the event, the president is brokering a peace accord with all the nations that want to mine the powerful alloy of adamantium only found on Celestial Island.
Just as the presentation gets started, a sudden attack on the President by XXXXXXXX and several XXXXXXXXX throws the event into chaos. President Ross narrowly escapes with the help of Secret Service Agent Leila Taylor (Xosha Roquemore) and Ruth Bat-Seraph (Shira Haas), the diminutive but deadly head of his security team. XXXXXXXX is arrested and imprisoned, but Sam vows to get him out and find out who was behind the attack.
As Sam and Joaquin follow the clues to the mastermind behind all the trouble, they’re shocked to discover that President Ross has used XXXXXXXXX (Tim Blake Nelson) to win the White House. Denied his freedom as he worked behind the scenes to keep Ross alive… or at least that is what XXXXXXX, the most intelligent man alive, wants everyone to believe. His real motive is revenge for the life that Ross took away from him. And he has poisoned him with XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX to get the job done. Will he succeed? Who is the real villain and hero in this story?
Captain America: Brave New World has all the right elements for this cinema genre. The kickass soundtrack. The well-choreographed and spectacular aerial battle scenes with XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. What this new film lacks is an epic feeling to the film. It has so much emotional ground to cover that it feels slow despite the fun fighting scenes. Instead, Captain America: Brave New World is a solid stepping-stone to what could be a new epic storyline in this ever-evolving world of the Marvel Universe we get to enjoy.
I give Captain America: Brave New World 3.5 stars. It’s worth the price to see it on an IMAX screen to enjoy that extra punch that the fighting scenes deserve. And, of course, the coda at the end of the credits will whet the appetite for perhaps a multi-verse curve to this storyline. One can only hope.
Directed by: Julius Onah
Written by: Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson
Rated: PG-13
Selig Rating: 3.5 Stars
Running Time: 1 hr 58 min
Sci-Fi, Superhero, Action, Adventure
Wide Release: Only in theaters February 14th
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Tim Blake Nelson, Giancarlo Esposito
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
4 Stars – Good movie
3 Stars – OK movie
2 Stars – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
1 Star – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
