Liberate yourself of prejudice, expectations, and nostalgia for what once was and open yourself up to a Brave New World.
Sam Wilson is NOT Steve Rogers.
A weighted statement that is either being used as a carrot or a stick regarding Anthony Mackie’s (Sam Wilson) big screen debut as the ‘Star Spangled Man’. Nonetheless, the differences between the two are the bedrock of this jam-packed political drama full of intrigue, espionage, and heart. “Cap” now represents an aspiration rather than a belief. Hard work, adversity and oppression are hurdles laid out before a mortal man fighting gods, monsters, and HULKS.
The first blockbuster of the year does a great job at highlighting the different fighting styles of both Steve (Chris Evans - Captain America) and Sam. The former, was skilled in hand-to-hand combat, often throwing his weight around due to the super soldier serum coursing through his veins. Sam, however, doesn’t have that luxury and uses a visually fresh blend of physical hits, shield throws and winged take-downs to bring people to justice. Diving into the same life or death situations as Steve but doing so with real stakes, aerial process and REDWING! who makes a triumphant return as a perfect aid to the new Captain America.
With a multitude of emotional through-lines and carrying the full weight of a nation’s hopes and dreams, Captain America : Brave New World simply does the basics right, creating compelling on screen connections between characters such as Joaquin Torres (Falcon) and Isaiah Bradley (The Forgotten “Cap”), while also allowing the audience to make their own conclusions on sympathetic antagonists such as President Ross and the secret big bad of the movie “The L****r”. It is the first MCU movie in a while where, as a viewer, I truly believed any character was a sideways step away from death’s unforgiving grasp.
To conclude and touch on the points of contention that are being misconstrued or misguided into a funnel of hate. Captain America has always had a presence, an aura, an air of mysticism. That sadly comes to an end, not due to Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez or Harrison Ford, yet, due to a strange imbalance of inspiration, epic feats and compassion, heavily contrasted by blue screen re-shoots and comical dialogue. The lack of consistency in tone does a disservice to the man who will one day be a great and empathetic leader to the world’s greatest heroes…The Avengers.
