REVIEW: CAPTAIN AMERICA - BRAVE NEW WORLD

4/5

Home Of The Brave

118 Mins. Starring: Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson & Harrison Ford. Screenplay: Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson, Julius Onah & Peter Glanz. Director: Julius Onah. In: Theatres.

On your right! Cherry blossom in Washington, D.C. looks beautiful this time of year. Here, it's the setting for a showdown between your new Captain America and the raging red of military man Thunderbolt Ross and his Hulk. One that may as well come with another type of cap. Marvel's leader of The Avengers' (getting the gang back together?) fourth film starts the Anthony Mackie trilogy. Or a sequel to his Disney + show with 'Thunderbolt*' Bucky Barnes, 'The Falcon And The Winter Soldier'. Pardon me, 'Captain America And The Winter Soldier'. With shades of 'The Incredible Hulk' throughout. After being handed the shield from Chris Evans' old man Steve Rogers in 'Avengers: Endgame', former Falcon Sam Wilson flies as the new Cap, with the frisbee that "doesn't obey the laws of physics at all", as Spider-Man quips, to match. New suit up! All before the 'Doomsday' of 'Secret Wars'.

Tom Holland may even be jealous of this homecoming for a film that spies hard like 'The Winter Soldier' movie that is arguably the best thing to come out of the MCU since Iron Man learnt how to "yeah, I can fly!". 'Captain America: Brave New World', released on St. Valentine's Day weekend, should be receiving more love letters. It's a monumental moment, as movie-life reality meets comic-book fantasy for an African-American captain with 'Black Panther' like power and excellence, like the new vibranium in his wings. But this is the battle for adamantium now in the age of an 'X-Men' apocalypse after the huge hit of 'Deadpool & Wolverine'. Marvel is back, but 'Captain America: Brave New World', named after the landmark Aldous Huxley post-apocalyptic science-fiction novel (the original title 'New World Order' hit a little too close to the state of home), has been met with fair to middling reviews...and they're the kind ones. 

Sure, it doesn't always pack a wallop, and too many screenwriters (Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson, Peter Glanz and director Julius Onah) spoil the soup somewhat, but this is still a very good Marvel movie, coming in the same weekend where people are tired of the same old NBA All-Star weekend. OK, it's a weaker four like a power forward with no post-up game, and it probably would have worked better as a second series on Disney Plus, if it wasn't for the IMAX worthy final battle royale with the Red Hulk, but it's still trending in the right direction. Like finally making use of that giant celestial being in the middle of the Indian Ocean after the 'Eternals' misfire. And man alive, how about those aerial assaults with new wingman and Miami heat-check Danny Ramirez? Not to mention the new Widow's peak of the 'Unorthodox' Shira Haas, kicking a##!

Lost in a Tokyo translation of dog fights with Japanese soldiers, the cherry really is blossoming here for General, come President Thaddeus Ross, after the fallout of 'Civil War'. He just wants to walk amongst the pink petals with his estranged daughter, we previously saw making nice with Edward Norton's Bruce Banner. That's not the only hulking change we've seen, as you might not like Marvel when they get antsy with the recasting, but sometimes it's necessary. The dearly departed, late great William Hurt made for a terrific Ross, but now it's up to 'Star Wars' Han Solo star and the iconic 'Indiana Jones' himself, Harrison Ford to add another classic character to his formidable filmography at 80. And you bet your a## the 'Blade Runner' and 'Blade Runner 2049' star is having the time of his life. As Thunderbolt (will he be in that forthcoming film, like the comics suggest?) Ross and an even more incredible Hulk in manned-up CG. Affording more, Harrison even has a hallmark Easter Egg noggin nod to his former 'Air Force One' days. Playing the second president in his career campaign as we get off his plane.

You can see shades of red creeping into his face like rosacea or me in the Winter throughout the picture, as he soldiers on with his best blockbuster acting since he was on the run from an Academy Award-winning Tommy Lee Jones in 'The Fugitive'. And this throwback to the good old 90s days mainstream movie has the goods, like Robert Redford in 'The Winter Soldier'. The depth and despair of former series regular and 'Cagney & Lacey' legend Carl Lumbly as the real First Avenger. 'Precious' star Xosha Roquemore's Presidential aid. Not to mention 'The Mandalorian' villain Giancarlo Esposito, breaking bad even further as the Sidewinder who won't sleep tonight, R.E.M. Although his classic comic character is made all too real (and revelatory) like Daniel Brühl's Baron Zemo. Now, if you missed the reveal of the 'Brave New World' premiere, stop reading! Because 'The Incredible Hulk' stars Liv Tyler (as Betty Ross) and the mega mind of Tim Blake Nelson, taking the lead (done as real and as convincing as possible after the 'Quantumania' of M.O.D.O.K.), continue compelling connections, with another cool cameo, to this shared universe. Yet, this Phase Five and 35th film is carried by the 'Hurt Locker' Captain himself. Mackie is the man. In this new world, he is the boldest, bravest and best. Salute! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Captain America-The Winter Soldier', 'Captain America And The Winter Soldier', 'The Incredible Hulk'.