'Captain America: Brave New World'-A Brave Success

Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America in "Captain America: Brave New World." Courtesy of Marvel.

Star-spangled butt-kicking by Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez acting like Goose from "Top Gun", running like one was in "Three Days of the Condor", alien-like make-up on Tim Blake Nelson, a suave bad guy played by Giancarlo Esposito, and Harrison Ford going from a gruff grandpa to an angry Red Hulk are all the things that emphasize the brave in "Captain America: Brave New World." Contrary to the mixed reviews from others, I enjoyed watching Brave New World because of the impressive character development of Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson/Captain America, more people of color in the cast, SFX in the case of Captain America and the Red Hulk, costuming, and musical scoring by Laura Karpman. Sam Wilson had to live up to the Captain America mantle the hard way, and he did great.

Taking place a few years after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson/Captain America, played by Anthony Mackie, is caught in the middle when a former Super Soldier named Isaiah Bradley, played by Carl Lumbly, whom you may recognize as the voice of Martin Manhunter from the DC Animated Universe, is brainwashed into attacking newly-elected President Thaddeus Ross, now played by Harrison Ford of Han Solo/Indiana Jones fame. While investigating, Wilson must train a new Falcon, Joaquin Torres, played by Danny Ramirez from Top Gun: Maverick, and contend with new villains, played by Tim Blake Nelson and Giancarlo Esposito, who plan to put him, Ross, and the world into anarchy.

Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, and Carl Lumbly as Sam Wilson/Captain America, Joaquin Torres/Falcon, and Isaiah Bradley, respectively, in "Captain America: Brave New World." Courtesy of Marvel.

When Mackie as Captain America was re-introduced, I enjoyed how he showed up looking flashy like Apollo Creed from "Rocky" and took on members of the Serpent Society with impressive choreography. Next, a perp said "The Captain America I wanted to fight was bigger than you," and Wilson said "Sorry to disappoint" and beat him down. That's also when I saw Giancarlo Esposito as a man known as Sidewinder. Esposito didn't look like his prior role as Buggin' Out in Do the Right Thing, but he looked fierce while he shot at Captain.

Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres/Falcon was a grand addition, too. He flew in battles dressed like Boba Fett and acted like Goose from Top Gun with his enthusiasm for working with Wilson and Bradley. Comic relief aside, Torres proved to be a capable fellow soldier. He made a great case that Wilson was the right man for Captain America's mantle when he said, "I wanted to be Sam Wilson because that guy won't ever give up."

Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres/Falcon and Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America in "Captain America: Brave New World." Courtesy of Marvel.

As for Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross, I didn't really like him. His character didn't beam with pride while in the office, and it took him the whole film to change his gruff ways. Regardless, I extend a great job to the people at Imaginarium and Technoprops for their role in Ford's motion capture performance as Red Hulk.

Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross and Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America in "Captain America: Brave New World." Courtesy of Marvel.

Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross/Red Hulk in "Captain America: Brave New World." Courtesy of Marvel.

I give "Captain America: Brave New World" a 9.5/10. Great job to the cast and crew, specifically Mackie for his performance and producing part of the film, Danny Ramirez, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tim Blake Nelson, production designer Ramsey Avery, costume designer Gersha Phillips, and composer Laura Karpman for scoring similar to the music from Jaws along with great electronic beats. In addition to Karpman's score, check out the song "I" performed by Kendrick Lamar featuring "That Lady" by The Isley Brothers. See what Marvel cooked up in "Captain America: Brave New World."

'A Complete Unknown'-The Complex Tale of Bob Dylan

Poster of ‘A Complete Unknown.’ Taken by William Beavers. Copyright ©️ 2024, Searchlight Pictures.

Before watching Timothée Chalamet as iconic singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, I didn’t know much about the man aside from his birth name or his being an icon of the 60s counterculture era. While it seemed like director James Mangold retold the story of 'Walk the Line' with more R-rated language and folk music as opposed to rockabilly and country, ‘A Complete Unknown’ still had some good powerful moments. Not only did it show Bob Dylan wanting to prove he wasn’t some nobody; other famous singers such as Pete Seeger or Joan Baez, played by Edward Norton and Monica Barbaro, were helping people cope with 60's troubles such as JFK’s death or the March on Washington, through the power of heart and music.

Beginning in 1961, ‘A Complete Unknown’ chronicles Dylan’s adulthood from meeting folk legend and his idol, Woody Guthrie, played by Scoot McNairy, at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital to his success in folk music to his complex love triangle with Sylvie Russo, played by Elle Fanning, and Joan Baez, played by Monica Barbaro. Despite the turmoil in the country, Chalamet as Dylan was able to lighten things with a lovely singing voice in classics such as "Song to Woody" or "Times They Are A-Changin'". Dylan’s energetic yet rude manager Albert Grossman, played by Dan Fogler, was right about his beginnings; he did look like “a cross between a choir boy and a beatnik.” Thank you, costume designer Arianne Phillips. Chalamet did well with copying Dylan’s great guitar and harmonica playing, even when his character broke from the folk genre at some point later.

Aside from the good singing, Chalamet’s portrayal reminded me of Joaquin Phoenix’s iteration of Johnny Cash. He had Cash’s love affair trouble and began dressing like the Man in Black and acting erratic. Despite his great harmonies with Baez, Dylan was like the main character in ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, wandering into trouble before he does something about it. But, in a way, that shows people like Dylan are flawed characters instead of larger-than-life celebrities.

Back to the bright side, Fanning’s portrayal of Sylvie Russo was great. What she lacked in singing with Dylan, she made up for with her profound mind about current events and forcing Bob to be real with himself and his music, namely opening up about who he was before his career and where he's going now. If nothing else, at least they had a cute first date watching a Bette Davis movie. 

Though Russo didn’t carry a tune, Barbaro as Joan Baez certainly could with songs such as ‘House of the Rising Sun’ and despite somber tunes or world events, Barbaro sang beautifully. Barbaro's character also makes Dylan focus on his ego. Norton as Pete Seeger was great not only in singing songs like "This Land is Your Land" or "Wimoweh (Mbube)," but was a voice of reason for Dylan in and out of the music business. He was a sweet man even when the critics were bashing him, and he was a man who, despite his celebrity status, lived for the simple things such as family.

‘A Complete Unknown’ may be geared towards fans of Bob Dylan or 20^th-century folk music. I give it a 7.5 out of 10 because it needs a happier ending for Dylan and his acquaintances. It also needs scenes of Dylan’s upbringing. Nevertheless, great job to the cast, crew, and musicians. Watch ‘A Complete Unknown’ and tell me your take at https://cnmtcrvwvers.blogspot.com.

Sonic 3-Dark Turn, But Still Shined Brightly

'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' poster. Copyright 2024, Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

"Start with the great fireball," Tails, voiced by Collen O'Shaughnessey, 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3.'

When I saw 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' on New Year's Eve '24, it was like a cross between 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Spider-Man: No Way Home.' It was like those two particular films given that Sonic the Hedgehog, voiced by Ben Schwartz, took a dark character turn while trying to ferret out Shadow the Hedgehog, voiced by Keanu Reeves. Fortunately, Blue Justice snapped out of it to save the day and hang with his friends and family. 'Sonic 3' brings back the usual lovable antics of Team Sonic and Jim Carrey, this time playing Doctor Eggman and his grandfather, and shows some emotional journeys that make Sonic mature and Eggman and Shadow less one-dimensional villains.

Taking place after 'Sonic 2', Shadow the Hedgehog, voiced by Reeves, breaks out of a military facility to get revenge on the people who locked him up. Despite assistance from Tails, voiced by Collen O'Shaughnessey, who you might remember as voicing Jazz Fenton from 'Danny Phantom', and the Thor-like might of Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba, Sonic is no match for Shadow's brute force and teleportation powers. Reluctantly, the boys have to work with Eggman, played by Carrey, and stop Shadow from wreaking havoc on the rest of the world.

The film starts with some heavy electronic and string music as Reeves' character brings back some of Reeves' previous role of  Neo with his kung fu prowess against armed soldiers, then transitions to Sonic having a fun moment in the woods with Tails, Knuckles, and Tom "Donut Lord" and Maddie "Pretzel Lady" Wachowski, played by James Marsden and Tika Sumpter. Shadow is like Electro from 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' with the menacing power and background music. But something good about Shadow is that a human from years ago didn't see him as a monster, and he took time to enjoy the beauty of the stars at night. But all that changed when the human died, and Shadow only acts this way now to get the pain away from him. So, he makes a convincing villain, strong enough to beat Knuckles, spoiler alert, but he's down-to-earth, too.

As for Eggman, the crew established that his conceited and harebrained personality stems from a lack of a comforting parental figure growing up. Next thing we know, he meets his grandfather. They bond like Dr. Doofenshmirtz and his dimensional counterpart in Phineas and Ferb, with The Beach Boys highlighting their buddy nature. They also outsmart a laser security system by dancing around in suits that remind me of 'The Incredibles.'

Back to the humans, Tom and Maddie Wachowski looked like they were enjoying retirement while staying behind at home during Sonic's mission. But it's funny how they realized it was boring without Sonic and the boys' action. Once they joined the team in England, Sonic looked like his classic light blue self in the sunlight.

As the collision course with Shadow led to some angering moments, Sonic was like Tony Stark and Peter Parker looking for vengeance. That threw me off most of the time, but going through that darkness made Sonic realize how much he needed his team and family.

I liked Sonic's maturity, Shadow's fighting, and the usual antics of Eggman, the humans, and Team Sonic. I give the film an 8 out of 10; it just needs a backstory for who/what brought Shadow to Earth and why, and maybe a little more screen time for Krysten Ritter, showing her making Sonic a part-time agent or giving him a statue like Rocky's or something.