I’ll probably have to come back around to this. I’m slowly trying to force myself to go out to theatres a bit more, and last year I saw 4 films in theatres, which was up from the previous year. So, I’m shooting for at least 5, and this was my first trip. The movie was far too loud in some parts and the bluetooth failed me in others. So to grade the audio description would be unfair. last year, I mentioned this with the four theatrical trips I made (Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, inside Out 2, Deadpool And Wolverine, and beetlejuice Beetlejuice). The only one I haven’t rewatched is Kingdom Of The Planet of The Apes, because they forgot to bring the audio description to the streaming service.

but, I can at least give you initial thoughts. I was left a little baffled. Like, Kevin Feige really thought this would be the best way to introduce Sam as Captain America? If you plan on going, you might assume you would need to have seen the previous captain America films, and at least Falcon and the Winter Soldier. You actually need to add to that at least a passing understanding of what adamantium is, The Eternals, and definitely remember 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. For some reason, this pulls most heavily from that. despite that we no longer use the same Bruce Banner or Thunderbolt Ross, and Mark Ruffalo isn’t even in this film, they brought back Tim Blake Nelson from that film to be the biggest of the villains.

And instead of following up the Falcon and the Winter Soldier plot or bromance, Bucky is barely here, and they don’t follow up with Sharon Carter and whatever nefarious plan she had at the end of the limited series. this is an all new plot using really old characters that brings adamantium to the MCU through a movie few people liked (The Eternals), by saying that the giant titan was covered in adamantium, and this film is about brokering an international pact on sharing this new substance.

They still kept Isaiah from the Falcon And The Winter Soldier series, and he plays a big part. Cap also needs a new sidekick, because despite the endless amounts of heroes already in the MCU, none of them will appear, and he gets a new Falcon (Danny Ramirez). Remember, Sam never drank the super serum, feeling he could be the shield wielding hope like Bruce Wayne. To help his idiotic choice, the Wakandans have fit him with a Vibranium suit that is used as a catch all for how a human with no abilities is able to do anything more than what John Wick could do.

And in case you haven’t seen a trailer, or know nothing about Marvel, thunderbolt Ross is now President. He’s also now Harrison Ford. there’s also Thunderbolts coming out this summer, which also has Harrison Ford. Perhaps having this character in another film in the same year really loses the impact of what could maybe happen to him. Still, Harrison Ford is 82, and he’s now a Marvel hero of sorts. Not bad.

the problem is, this movie doesn’t work. It doesn’t pick up from where anything really left off. it has the same problem most Marvel movies set on earth have now, where we have too many known heroes, and yet none of them show up when shit hits the fan. Not even Bucky. Not even Bruce. Hell, I would have taken She-Hulk. the staggering lack of anyone bothers me now in these movies, because why keep expanding the roster, if you are just going to not invite anyone to the party? Remember when falcon popped into Ant-Man? that was cool. it worked. where is that cameo?

And villains matter, so if you are going to expect people to remember Tim Blake Nelson, maybe use him more? Casual fans are complaining about the MCU and all the shit they have to have seen or remember to follow and enjoy the movies, and you revive a side character from the Edward Norton Hulk movie? (Props to the Eric Baña cameo, by the way).

the worst part is Giancarlo Esposito, who is never the worst part of anything, but is here. He’s some random villain named Sidewinder, who seems to have no reason or purpose to be here except to fill time.

Sam Wilson deserved a brave new World. his limited series should have b ridged a gap for him (or he and Bucky) to have a bold new adventure, that didn’t involve a 17 year trip through Marvel to find a villain. And, Liv Tyler is so barely in this, she could literally be AI. there’s no reason for this. This can’t have been the best idea. Honestly, while not the worst of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is so far beneath what it needed to be, I’d have used the film as a tax write off, and made a Brand new Movie. I’m normally ready to fight for Marvel. I loved Thor Love And thunder, I enjoyed Quantummania more than most, Wakanda Forever is great, and the Multiverse Of Madness might have been better than the first. Not to mention, Guardians 3 is emotionally devastating. But, this? I can’t stand up for this. It is better than the Eternals, and a few others, but it is still in the bottom 5. The first three films are nowhere near the bottom.

Sam Wilson deserved better than this.

Rotten: Final grade: C-, Audio Description: TBD