Brave New World, but it’s missing the one thing that made The Winter Soldier so iconic

The Marvel Cinematic Universe began with Iron Man, and he quickly became the brains of the series, always thinking ahead on how to save the universe from Thanos. However, when it comes to who is at the heart of the MCU, that role has always been given to Steve Rogers. Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers found Marvel Studios focused on showing Steve Rogers’ “Boy Scout” spirit. Initially, it seemed like an easy way to keep him away from the team, but it lacked the substance needed to be a standout over the long term. However, Captain America: The Winter Soldier depicts a Captain America struggling with a world morally beyond him and forced to question the people who gave him his power. Well, everything has changed.

Since 2014, The Winter Soldier has established a status quo that in some ways continues the MCU, and movies like Black Widow continue that aesthetic to this day. But Captain America: Brave New World combines the fantastical and thriller aspects of the MCU, bringing Sam Wilson on screen for the first time with a shield. Granted, I haven’t been this excited about a Cap movie since Captain America: Civil War, but no matter how great Brave New World was, there’s still a key element missing: a Captain America villain. I couldn’t help but notice that.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier was a success thanks to its villain

One of the things that makes The Winter Soldier so unique is that it’s not a superhero story, it’s a human story. Steve appeared in civilian clothes for most of the runtime, but the only reason he suited up again was because he needed protection for the final battle. But more than that, he dons a World War II uniform in hopes of jogging his friend Bucky free from Hydra’s mind control. However, like the heroes, the villains did not wear flashy costumes. While the previous film featured a clearly evil Red Skull, The Winter Soldier has a villain dressed up as a hero, leaving audiences wondering who to believe. I’ve always liked the chilling idea of ​​heroes not only sharing space with their enemies, but also being outnumbered when it’s too late. Seeing the underrated Alexander Pierce and Brock Rumlow co-star as The Winter Soldier, who was only wearing tactical gear rather than a proper costume, gave the stakes a more mature level that I had always admired. I was able to provide it.

The Winter Soldier was a moral battle that hinged on Steve Rogers’ legacy in both comic book history and the history of the universe. Steve Rogers thought he had defeated Hydra with the Red Skull’s disappearance in World War II, but instead he learned that he was not the only one from the past that was following him. Moreover, the realization that his best friend had been captured and manipulated into working for the enemy pushed him further into the dark web of intrigue. What makes this film so great is that the villains are directly influenced by Captain America’s past and the failures of his allies, and as a result, they become nothing more than Captain America’s villains. The point is that it cannot be. From a comics perspective, I liked how this adaptation of the popular run properly captures how terrifying the Winter Soldier is as a character. But narratively, this story is very tied to Steve’s story in particular, and the way it means no one can help him clean up the mess he’s partially responsible for. I liked it. Things like this made this movie special and helped establish a new status quo in the MCU. That being said, Brave New World unavoidably takes on some big stakes.

Captain America: Brave New World is missing Captain America villains

If you compare Brave New World to the comic book series that featured Sam Wilson, Sam was always battling outlandish and powerful villains. He more commonly fought Baron Blood and US Agent than Red Skull and Baron Zemo. This was mainly because giving powers to his enemies was a perfect dichotomy for Captain America, who isn’t a super soldier. As a result, it makes sense that he would face off against a powerful antagonist like Red Hulk and The Leader in the first film. But the big risk I realized is that these enemies aren’t essentially Captain America movies, and are more of a no-brainer for long-time MCU fans because the story goes beyond Sam Wilson as a character. It can be a big balance issue.

It’s no secret that at least one member of the Serpent Society plans to cause trouble for Sam throughout the movie, but unfortunately he’s not the one pulling the strings. Incredible Hulk villain The Leader could be the real mastermind behind this movie, and if so, Samuel Sterns hasn’t been seen since creating Abomination in 2008. , which will end loose ends from more than a decade ago. That may also be the reason why President Ross becomes the Red Hulk and poses a physical threat to Sam. I love seeing these worlds collide, as it perfectly encapsulates the weirdness of Sam Wilson’s Captain America series, but between characters who aren’t inherently tied to Captain America. It’s unfortunate that this is happening. On top of that, just as She-Hulk is dealing with issues with Abomination, another hero is taking on issues that Bruce Banner should have been dealing with, and his characterization in the MCU is less and less involved in the main story. Everyone would love to see the savage Hulk again, but it’s a shame that he might not be there to finish the events that started with him.

Additionally, the film took the political thriller approach of The Winter Soldier and, like all great Captain America stories, created tension and danger that threatened the White House and the nation. But this is also a great opportunity to explore deeper into the Serpent Society, which has unfortunately been greatly curtailed. Now that Hydra is gone, there might have been a change in the group of more gimmicky villains, led by Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder, and a chance to be taken more seriously. As it turns out, my biggest worry isn’t about the enemies Sam will face, it’s that Sam’s first big screen adventure will feature very few Captain America villains, and will instead be more like the never-before-seen Hulk movie. It’s something you can feel.

The Winter Soldier set a standard that Brave New World matches

Even though I’ve spent a lot of time voicing my concerns about the enemies in Captain America: Brave New World, I still couldn’t be more excited about this movie. As a fan, I love critiquing elements while getting excited about the finished product. Because at the end of the day, entertainment is key when it comes to movies about superheroes. That said, the goal shouldn’t be to recreate what The Winter Soldier did while Sam Wilson fights gamma-irradiated enemies and flies around the frozen sky. We need to learn those lessons and create something equally great. Perhaps this is largely because the Winter Soldier status cannot be surpassed, but it can be met.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” builds on the concept that all superhero movies should balance the character-driven storytelling of “The Dark Knight” with the action and spectacle of the Spider-Man movies. I always felt that it was established. Most of the time, but now everyone will almost always say, “It’s not the Winter Soldier.” In that sense, it’s no exaggeration to say that something like The Winter Soldier shouldn’t exist. This is a near-perfect superhero and Captain America movie, and a must-see for movie fans. There’s heart, action, and quality to build on in future entries to create a great arc for Steve Rogers and lead Sam Wilson to success. I’m not going to lie and say I wish there weren’t so many Hulk villains in Sam’s first solo movie role, but they still might have a reason for it. It’s not meant to surpass movies like The Winter Soldier, but instead inspires Sam to become the best version of himself, and when the sequel film is about to be released, Captain America: The Winter Soldier ” to be able to offer something as iconic as “.