"Captain America: Brave New World," directed by Julius Onah, was recently released in theaters. The theaters sold out, and excited fans were ready for the new Captain America. This film features Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson and Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross.
Sam Wilson takes Steve Rodgers's position as the new Captain America. Sam is in an international incident with meeting President Thaddeus Ross. His mission is to discover the truth behind the infamous global plot before the true villain, Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson), has the entire world turning red.
Highs
Ford’s performance as President Ross was enticing and emotional. He shined through an otherwise dull plot or flat dialogue in many scenes. His tone was cunning, and his anger translated well. The CGI of Red Hulk was beautifully done; it gave this thrilling feeling. He was a reminder of the original Hulk, giving a sense of nostalgia.
Another film highlight was Tim Blake Nelson’s performance of The Leader. For those who aren't entirely caught up with Marvel’s continuity, back in 2008, "The Incredible Hulk" hit theaters, starring Edward Norton as Bruce Banner and Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns, yes, the same character and actor in "Captain America: Brave New World."
At the end of Hulk in 2008, Sterns had a gamma radiation accident involving Banner's blood, which gave him super intellect. Tim Blake’s calculated and dark performance shines through the occasional silly tone scattered throughout this film. For most of the movie, he lurks in the shadows as a mastermind-type character who single-handedly orchestrates destruction without getting involved.
Lows
This may be due to the reshoots before the film's release, but many moments fell flat. For example, Sam Wilson's dialogue with Tim Blake Nelson’s The Leader fell short and left much to be desired.
Another low of was pacing. The movie's flow felt choppy and led you to believe certain things were happening when, instead, it gets dragged into a whole other scene. This movie needed to be slightly longer and have some scenes switched around.
This movie takes you on a ride jam-packed with incredible action sequences and okay dialogue. The strengths, however, couldn't make up for the poor dialogue and simple plot.
Verdict
"Captain America: Brave New World" was action-packed but lacked some elements. However, it is worth watching for Marvel fans who want to stay connected to the Marvel universe.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Mariam Fakhreddine is a film and theater reviewer for The Eastern Echo. She has worked as a news and features reporter for The Echo for two years.
