S. A. Payne

Despite all the negative advance word from dubious internet sources, Captain America: Brave New World is actually a good film. It maintains the vibe that worked best for the Captain America series, the Ken Follett-type spy movie, and delivers a film that feels influenced by Richard Condon's "The Manchurian Candidate". It also functions as an origin story for Cap, because this is a different Captain America than the one in previous films. This Cap doesn't have the advantages of being automatically the strongest one in the room, so he has to be the toughest one. He suffers a few cuts and bruises throughout the movie but in best heroic tradition he muscles through. He voices concerns about his own ability, but then confidently trusts in them. The movie is at its best in the first half where these struggles are most prominent. And there's a good storyline with the Isaiah Bradley character. The end is a big action set piece that provides the requisite superhero action. I enjoyed it and look forward to seeing this Cap in his next film - hopefully with the same stylish director.