February 19, 2024 – A lot of critics don't like superhero movies, preferring realism and art films. I like superhero movies because they are aspirational rather than realistic. This new Captain America movie effectively rebuts some of the anti-superhero arguments.

In “The Rise of Superhero Culture and Why It Matters,” Doctor Nauman Naeem argues, in Psychology Today, “If we do not look after each other nobody else will, which is the main lesson we should take from the superhero culture. However entertaining the superhero movies, they should not leave you with false hope of an external saviour.”

Some critics have pointed at two key superheroes that they blame for our current political problems, Batman and Iron Man, both are white men who inherited their wealth, but nonetheless go on to fight crime and corruption. Some argue these two superheroes led to the rise of Donald Trump and Elon Musk (who has been likened to Iron Man) who inherited wealth and now claim to battle crime and corruption.

The latest superhero movie is a bit different, with an unusual kind of superhero, a black man, Sam Wilson (played by Anthony Mackie) aided by a Hispanic sidekick, Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez of “Top Gun: Maverick”). While this addresses the criticism of the lack of diversity in superhero movies, it also steps right into the bullseye of right wing anti-DEI critics.

This brings me to the reason I like superhero movies. It is because they are not like real life. In real life, people who obtain power are often corrupted by it, and they do great harm to the powerless and vulnerable. In Marvel superhero movies, superheroes follow the motto that with great power comes great responsibility. That's what very few powerful people do.

In “Captain America: Brave New World” Sam Wilson decides to fight for his country, even at a time when the government is working to reduce career advancement and generational wealth opportunities for black and Hispanic people. An even more negative attitude towards the government is held by Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly of “Doctor Sleep”) a black Korean War veteran unjustly imprisoned for years.

Bradley, an enhanced super soldier, is Wilson's mentor. He is so bitter about the government's treatment of him and other blacks he almost refuses an invitation to the White House that Wilson arranges for him. The White House reception turns into a disaster, and an attempt on the President's life.

President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford, who takes over this role from the late William Hurt) is an old nemesis who once had several members of the Avengers imprisoned, until they were released from prison by the original Avenger, Steve Rogers. Ross meets with Wilson and asks him to bring back the Avengers, but Wilson doesn't trust Ross to do the right thing.

It turns out that Ross is trying to do the right thing, but he is also hiding a dark secret involving a mad scientist with an enhanced mind who has a scheme that threatens the entire world. Against orders, Captain America and Falcon (Wilson and Torres) decide to find out who is behind the attack on Ross. Cap and Falcon soon find themselves in the middle of a battle which could trigger a world war over alien technology.

This movie has a number of very impressive action scenes, and it has a compelling plot and some good performances. Below the surface, it also offers a perspective on what it means to be patriotic, to risk your life for a nation that puts you last, and seeks to keep you down. It is the same issue addressed in George Lucas' 2012 film “Red Tails” (Lucas paid for this film himself. No studio wanted to finance a movie about World War II black pilots).

In addition to those actors I have already listed, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan, reprising this role) has a cameo and Shira Haas, Giancarlo Esposito and Tim Blake Nelson all have substantial roles in this movie. Nelson plays Samuel Sterns, reprising a role he first played in “The Incredible Hulk” in 2008. Esposito (“MaXXXine”) plays a scientist known as Sidewinder, leader of the Serpent Society. Haas (“Foxtrot”) plays Ruth Bat-Seraph, a former Black Widow, now an aide to Ross.

This is a pretty entertaining movie that raises the question of why soldiers, who swear an oath to the constitution, should follow the orders of leaders who have broken that oath. A post credits scene with Samuel Sterns hints at a planned upcoming movie about an impending large alien threat to earth. This movie rates a C+.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff (no extra charges apply). I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

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