Short but quick review:

With my very adventurous wife out of the country, chilling with gorillas and lions in Africa, I took myself on a valentine’s date to see Captain America: Brave New World. 🙂

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I *definitely* did not expect “in this movie, we’re going to resolve some loose ends from The Incredible Hulk (2008).” And yet…

Anyway, I mostly loved it. It’s kind of in the same vein as Captain America: The Winter Soldier, hitting a number of the same beats. Government corruption, diplomatic/international incidents, a brain-washed ally whose innocence needs to be proven, appeals to empathy are the solution, etc.

Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson is a worthy heir to Steve Roger’s legacy as Captain America, and it’s clear that while he operates in a very DIFFERENT manner, he is no less EFFECTIVE at the job. He’s actually STRONGER than Steve in certain regards: his empathy is higher, his stake in this world is greater, and he’s much more invested in those around him. I am happy to watch this Captain America.

Sam and Thunderbolt Ross (now the president) are like Steve and Fury in The Winter Soldier: uneasy allies, rivals, and two different philosophies. And just like that first time, Captain America has to go off the grid to do what’s right.

Harrison Ford brings some real gravitas to Thunderbolt Ross, and his performance is great. Cap’s sidekick Joaquin is pretty solid as a scrappy and somewhat reckless techy Miami kid trying to prove himself. And who wouldn’t want to watch Carl Lumbly whenever possible?

Giancarlo Esposito had a glorified cameo in the movie, but it was still good. I’m always here for casting that manny.

I hadn’t been following the controversy about the movie, so for me, Ruth Bat-Seraph was an unexpected addition. In the comics, that character is the controversial Sabra, and she’s basically Captain Israel, and they softened both her character and her allegiance. Here, she’s a former Black Widow who happens to be Israeli. I didn’t see any use of her forename from the comics. There are basically no other markers of her original character. Her height (she’s very short, like, 5’0” maybe? 4’10”?) was a bit distracting, but since I’m a giant, I have no room to talk.

I also appreciated that the characters really feel like superheroes. They’re trying to minimize loss of life, they don’t kill the baddies if they can avoid it, etc.

All in all, pretty solid. 8 of 10.