Author Spotlight
Preston Hooker
The bravest thing about “Captain America: Brave New World” is its expectation for viewers to remember nearly every single Marvel project that includes Captain America or The Hulk in the past 17 years.
However, what the film lacks in context, it makes up for in entertainment. Coming in at just under two hours — an exceedingly short runtime for a Marvel movie — “Brave New World,” released on Valentine’s Day, uses every second wisely. The film proves a constant spectacle, regardless of your Marvel knowledge before entering the theater.
I hadn’t seen the 2008 film “The Incredible Hulk” before watching “Brave New World,” so it took a lot more brain-power to determine what was going on in the plot than it should’ve. However, by the end of the film, I was fairly certain I got it.
The film starts with Harrison Ford’s character Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross inviting Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, to the White House to ask for his assistance in re-instituting the Avengers. This inquiry is the exact opposite of Ross’s previous intentions in “Captain America: Civil War.” Ross claims to have had a change of heart, though Wilson is still wary of Ross’s inability to compromise on national and global security issues.
The geopolitical implications of superheroes is a subject that’s been long lost in the MCU, as the last time they were discussed was in 2016 with “Civil War.”
Ford fills the controversial character’s role in place of the late William Hurt seamlessly, while Mackie is put in the spotlight as Sam Wilson, replacing Chris Evans as the new Captain America. Mackie does nothing but deliver, with his character still struggling to find his footing in the shadow of Steve Rogers without any superpowers at all.
The thought-provoking take on morals and limitations of the super-abled is brought to life in “Brave New World” with Captain America constantly butting heads with President Ross. Coupled with the focus on U.S.-Japan relations and their power struggle over the new unbreakable element “Adamantium,” the plot reigns as one of the most interesting and engaging out of all Marvel films to this date.
Although the plot is intricate, I believe that adds to its success as an action movie rather than just a superhero movie with a simple hero versus villain plot-line.
Additionally, the stakes were believable and real — superhero movies tend to rely on large threats for dramatic effect, but you don’t need half the universe to be at stake in order to care about what happens in a movie.
Productionally, I found the lighting, coloring and overall cinematography to be refreshingly vibrant and fun — making the film that much easier to watch and enjoy.
My biggest fear going into “Brave New World” was that it wouldn’t be able to work as a stand-alone film and would only have success in the context of the other Marvel projects surrounding it. It’s hard to tell whether my fear came true or not because I have seen most other projects. Overall, it wouldn’t be hard for a non-Marvel fan to have a decent time with this film — the plot is intriguing and the action is captivating, making it a success in my book.
If any self-proclaimed “Marvel fan” has a problem with “Brave New World,” I can’t help but see it as hypocritical. It has action, a well-thought-out plot, fun characters and pretty solid performances throughout. I can’t think of anything more to ask for from a Marvel movie.
This premise alone is innately humanizing and relatable for the characters. In a world full of gods among men and countless geniuses, it takes lots of vigor and heart to stand out as a single human being — which Mackie proves to be possible.
Undoubtedly, the film sets up the new and upcoming era of Marvel masterfully. And with numerous imminent projects on the horizon, I hope Captain America — along with the rest of Marvel — will lead this cinematic universe to brave new heights.
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