Captain America: Brave New World – Film Review

Cast: Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, Harrison Ford, Liv Tyler

Director: Julius Onah

Synopsis: After an attempt is made on the life of the President of the United States Thaddeus Ross (Ford), Captain America must investigate a conspiracy which threatens to have major international ramifications…

Review: It has been quite the journey for Sam Wilson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since we were first introduced to him as Steve Rogers’ jogging buddy in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Since then, he helped to confront and Steve the nefarious HYRDA, took his friend’s side as the Avengers went to war with themselves, fought in the war against a mad Titan with the fate of the entire universe at stake. It all culminated in the passing of the torch shield to becoming his friend’s successor as Captain America. A mantle he momentarily relinquished before reclaiming what was rightfully his. Now in the wake of the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson is ready to take flight for his first mission, in a film which sadly fails to soar and reach the lofty heights of its predecessors.

It has been a few years since Sam fought with Bucky Barnes to take down the Flag Smashers, and in that time, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross has been elected as President of the United States. Despite having had their differences in the past, the new man in the Oval Office tasks Cap and the new Falcon Joaquin Torres (Ramirez) to foil an illegal arms deal in the first step of a more collaborative relationship. Ross later informs Sam he wants his help to rebuild the Avengers. During a summit at the White House concerning the emergence of Celestial Island and a rare new material, an attempt is made on the President’s life by veteran super soldier Isiah Bradley (Lumbly). With the US on the brink of a major global conflict, Sam must find out who was behind the attempted assassination of the President and uncover the truth behind this global conspiracy and clear Bradley’s name.

It is no exaggeration to say that in 2025, the world is a fraught and sometimes scary place, with entrenched and bitter political divides showing no signs of easing. In such times, making a tense spy-political thriller is a brave and dangerous move as the film has to navigate such a fraught political metaphorical minefield. However, it is not entirely without precedent, as the Russo brothers and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely successfully tackled similar themes with spectacular success The Winter Soldier and its sequel Civil War. Whether or not you feel the MCU has lost its way since the high of Avengers: Endgame is beside the point, as it was always going to be a tall order for Brave New World to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors.

“You may be Captain America, but you’re not Steve Rogers”, the President scornfully tells Sam after the foiled assassination attempt. “You’re right, I’m not”, Sam sharply retorts. It is a highlight in a film which doesn’t offer many, but also a statement of intent for the new star-spangled man with the shield that he will forge his own legacy as the iconic superhero. In his seventh big screen appearance in this role. Mackie is once again superb. He is fully aware that the legacy of the title he now has comes with an enormous responsibility, at one point grappling with the dilemma as to whether he should have taken the super soldier serum, but this is what makes him more than worthy of that shield. When you have gone up against what he has armed with just a wingsuit, what does he have to fear, especially since now he has the welcome addition of a vibranium shield, and the new Falcon by his side. Although, despite being one of the more interesting parts of the miniseries, Isiah Bradley is once again frustratingly forced to sit in a jail cell, when he really deserves a chance to show what he can do.

The irony is that this script, written by Onah and four other credited writers, could have benefited from some script serum to enhance it and give it some additional polish. One can only speculate, but given certain events that occurred in 2024, it seems that the political themes of the film may have been diluted due to the current state of world politics. In addition to continuing the story established in the preceding miniseries, the film serves as a sequel to both Eternals (good to see this underappreciated film get acknowledged) and The Incredible Hulk, as the villain is a character that audiences may have nearly forgotten. Portraying a role that was successfully played by someone for many years is never an easy task, but Ford does an excellent job as Ross, succeeding the late William Hurt. Along with his signature gruffness, Ross is grappling with the daunting challenge of leading a country on the brink of major conflict while also battling his own internal struggles and trying to reconnect with his daughter, Betty (Tyler). Given the current state of US presidents, especially now, you’d take Ross’s leadership any day of the week.

Despite Ford’s impressive portrayal of Ross and his complex (and possibly red) inner demons, the film’s action, while undeniably slick and well-crafted, fails to bring anything new or memorable to the MCU. It frustratingly adheres to a formulaic structure, which feels like a significant missed opportunity for what could have been a gripping political thriller, similar to its predecessors. The 35th entry into the MCU could have marked a bold new direction for both the star-spangled hero and the wider universe. Instead, it feels tired and stale, as if our titular hero’s wings have been clipped, leaving him unable to rise above this uninspiring and frankly bland story.

Despite stellar performances from Mackie and Ford, with the former more than proving himself worthy of the shield, Brave New World is a political thriller that seems too afraid to go for the jugular in these politically fraught times, while also lacking in thrills.

Top Gun: Maverick – Film Review

Cast: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Ed Harris, Val Kilmer, Monica Barbaro, Charles Parnell, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis

Directors: Joseph Kosinski

Synopsis: After decades of service in the US Navy, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is called back to train some new recruits for a dangerous new mission…

Review: What more is there to be said about Tom Cruise? For over four decades, here’s an actor who has poured his heart and soul into his projects, pulling off death-defying stunts, all to provide the audience with thrilling entertainment, which has cemented his reputation as one of the best action movie stars of his generation. While his most jaw-dropping stunt work has come in the Mission: Impossible franchise, arguably the first of the many iconic roles that he’s provided audiences with over the years was the cocky US Navy Pilot in Top Gun. Now, somewhat much later than planned due to numerous delayed release dates, Cruise is taking audiences back to the skies once more, for an utterly enthralling sequel that will please long-time fans of the original and new fans alike.

After more than three decades of service in the US Navy, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is right where he wants to be, serving as one of the most skilled pilots whilst continuously avoiding the calling of a higher rank that would prevent him from taking flight ever again. However, upon the request of Tom “Iceman” Kazinsky (Kilmer), he’s called back to Top Gun to lead the training of a batch of new recruits, billed as the best that the Navy has to offer, for a highly perilous mission that will test their skills as pilots to the limit. However, whilst training these new recruits, Maverick must contend with the fact that one of the new recruits is Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Teller), the son of his late best friend Goose, who died whilst flying with Maverick.

To reprise a role after over 30 years can be a risk, as it can so often be one of two things. It can either tell a story that is worth telling, or it could (especially given Hollywood’s love for using nostalgia) be used as a mere excuse to print money at the box office. While this sequel does walk the line between being nothing more than a nostalgia trip for fans of the original, it does earn its place as a more than worthy sequel. However, while the script by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie certainly weaves some of that nostalgia into the story by immediately blasting Kenny Loggins’s opening song in the opening credits, it is also a story that packs plenty of emotional weight, especially where Maverick, and where he is at this moment in his life, is concerned.

Cruise, as he so often is, is effortlessly watchable. He exudes the swagger, charisma and cockiness that made him such made Maverick such an instantaneous icon of 80s action cinema. However, through all that charisma and extraordinary skill to fly a fighter plane, there’s an overriding sense of guilt that despite being cleared of any blame for the death of Goose, Maverick still feels responsible for what happened. It is a responsibility that he is forced to confront when Goose’s son Rooster becomes one of his pupils. While Maverick has to balance his desire to be the father figure for Rooster that he never had and his teacher, Rooster continues to harbour resentment for Maverick’s part in his father’s death. The dynamic between the two creates an emotional arc that drives the story forward, whilst allowing Teller to remind us of what a talented actor he is with an extremely impactful performance.

For the majority of the new recruits, while they are all charismatic presences, any attempt at a backstory or character development for any of them, apart from Rooster, is minimal at best. This also goes for much of the rest of the new cast. There is an extremely emotional moment between Maverick and Val Kilmer’s Iceman. Jon Hamm shines with what little screen time he has as a Vice Admiral who would love nothing more than to ground Maverick for good. For Maverick’s love interest, there’s no mention of Kelly McGillis’s Charlotte. Instead, she is replaced by Jennifer Connolly’s Penny, a past flame of Maverick’s whose only purpose is to give him the motivation to ensure he makes it back home.

Re-teaming with Joseph Kosinski, who helmed Tron Legacy and Oblivion with Cruise, it’s not overstating it to say that these aerial action scenes are some of the most exhilarating action scenes that have ever been put to film. It is estimated that a whopping 800 hours worth of footage inside real-life planes was shot, enough time to watch the extended editions of the Lord of the Rings trilogy approximately 70 times over! It is an extraordinary herculean endeavour from all of the crew, from Kosinski’s immaculate direction to the terrific sound work, it puts the audience in the cockpit of these planes like they are in the cockpit with these incredibly skilled pilots as they train for the toughest mission of their naval careers. When it comes time for the mission during the all-important third act, the tension is dialled to the maximum and never lets up for the rest of the film. After all those delays due to the pandemic, Top Gun: Maverick earns its wings by becoming a rare sequel that surpasses its predecessor in just about every single way.

A spectacular combination of pulsating spectacle, combined with a grounded and emotional story that pulls on the heartstrings, ensures that this is a sequel that passes with flying colours and will truly take your breath away.