I was so looking forward to this 4th Captain America movie.
Brace New World was Pretty Good.
Pros: This one does work like a suitable sequel to the Incredible Hulk (film). Harrison Ford was excellent as Thaddeus Ross. Anthony Mackie was okay this time around. I was impressed by the action scenes. I’m surprised how Samuel Sterns manged to be involved with the main plot and how it sets-up adamantium ’metal alloy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Cons: Amount of people problems are based on everyone having major expectations for it. So many characters that didn’t add a lot to the movie. The script writing felt wired & safe. The film failed to excite me and Red hulk was spoiled for me in the trailers.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Directed by Julius Onah
Produced by Kevin Feige, Nate Moore
Story by Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson
Written by Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson, Julius Onah, Peter Glanz
Based on Captain America; by: Joe Simon; Jack Kirby
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson & Harrison Ford.
Cinematography: Kramer Morgenthau
Edited by Matthew Schmidt, Madeleine Gavin
Music by Laura Karpman
Production companies: Marvel Studios
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The Casts:
- Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Captain America:
An Avenger and former pararescueman who was trained by the military in aerial combat using a specially-designed wing pack. - Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres / Falcon:
A first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force who takes on Wilson’s former mantle of Falcon, using a similar wing pack. Mackie said Wilson and Torres have an equal friendship, in contrast with Wilson’s admiration of Rogers and dislike of Bucky Barnes in previous MCU projects, though Torres looks up to Wilson as an inspiration. Mackie gave Ramirez advice on wearing the Falcon costume. - Shira Haas as Ruth Bat-Seraph:
An Israeli former Black Widow who serves as President Thaddeus Ross’s security advisor. Moore said the character’s perspective on Ross puts her on a collision course with Wilson, and Onah described her as a “great part of the tapestry” of the film’s paranoid thriller story. She is briefly seen wearing a suit that resembles the comic book character‘s white and blue costume, but it is partly concealed under a jacket. - Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley:
An African-American Korean War veteran and super soldier who was imprisoned and experimented on for 30 years. In the film, Samuel Sterns takes control of Bradley’s mind and frames him for an assassination attempt on President Ross, leading to Bradley’s arrest. This begins further exploration of the injustices that Bradley has faced in his life. He is released and exonerated at the end of the film thanks to Wilson’s actions. - Xosha Roquemore as Leila Taylor:
A Secret Service agent working for President Ross who has a history with Wilson. Taylor is a romantic interest for Wilson in the comics, but the film does not indicate any romantic interest between the characters. - Giancarlo Esposito as Seth Voelker / Sidewinder:
The leader of the Serpent Society, a violent special-ops team. Esposito described Sidewinder as an intelligent “badass”. He said the physicality of the role differentiated Sidewinder from his character Gus Fring of the Breaking Bad franchise, who is also an intelligent antagonist, and he was excited to show his physicality on screen. Esposito does not wear a comics-accurate, snake-themed costume in the film, but wanted to include some references to the comic book costume by including some of the colors from that version in his film costume. Esposito’s eyes were also changed to be blue to match the comic version of Sidewinder. - Liv Tyler as Betty Ross:
A cellular biologist and Thaddeus Ross’s estranged daughter who resents her father for his obsessive pursuit of Bruce Banner / Hulk years prior. Onah said it was a “no-brainer” to bring Tyler back from the film The Incredible Hulk (2008), and he said she was central to President Ross’s storyline in the film. In the final cut, Betty is often mentioned but she is only heard on a phone call and then briefly appears in the final scene. - Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns:
A cellular biologist who was accidentally cross-contaminated with Banner’s blood during the events of The Incredible Hulk, gaining superhuman intelligence. The character’s inclusion was one of the reasons Onah was interested in the film, feeling that someone who operates from intellect would be a good adversary for Wilson. Nelson was satisfied with what the writers conceived for what Sterns had been doing since The Incredible Hulk, with the character being imprisoned and exploited by Thaddeus Ross. Nelson said portraying Sterns’s pathos and rage required him to “grow up” as an actor. The character is generally depicted in the comics as having a large head to accommodate an expanded brain. He has a more “grotesque” appearance in the film, with “parts of his brain seemingly bursting from his skull”, one eye glowing green, and the other clouded and seemingly blind. Practical effects were used for the character per Nelson’s request, as he wanted to have the “deformation” visible on set for himself and the other actors to experience. - Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross / Red Hulk:
The newly-elected president of the United States who wants to work with Captain America. Ross, who was previously a U.S. Army general and then the U.S. Secretary of State in the MCU, transforms into Red Hulk in the film; Ford portrays Red Hulk through motion capture.[36] Moore said there would be “natural sparks” between Wilson and Ross due to the events of the film Captain America: Civil War (2016), but producer Kevin Feige said their dynamic is changed now that they are Captain America and president, respectively. Marvel Studios was excited for Ross to become Red Hulk considering the character’s history of hunting for Banner, with Moore stating: “Turning a guy who hunted Hulks into a Hulk himself makes him more than an antagonist; it makes him a tragic character.” Ford replaces William Hurt, who portrayed Ross in the MCU from 2008 to 2021 before his death in March 2022. Before he died, Marvel Studios informed Hurt of their plans to have Ross become Red Hulk and he had been eager to portray that aspect of the character.
Additionally, Sebastian Stan reprises his MCU role as Bucky Barnes in a cameo appearance. Barnes is campaigning to be a congressman, setting up his role in the film Thunderbolts* (2025). Also appearing are Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Copperhead, a member of the Serpent Society; William Mark McCullough as Dennis Dunphy, a U.S. military commander and ally to Wilson; and Takehiro Hira as Japanese prime minister Ozaki.
I recommend watching this film in cinemas.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident film reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe