That's 'Captain America: Brave New World' watched. I really, really wanted to like this film more than I did. Wouldn't call it bad, despite the overall lack of character development and humour, certain plot holes, and a geopolitics-heavy storyline that went out of its way to not go anywhere, not say anything, and to remain ironically apolitical, the movie had its moments. So, all in all, it was...um, fine? Okay? Adequate?
Really wish they didn't use the Red Hulk so much into the marketing. With the character being practically in every piece of promo for the film, it's rather surprising how little, and how late, he comes into the plot. Given how clear it is that the movie itself intends him as its main big reveal, I think it would have worked much better if they kept the whole thing as a surprise. Same goes for a certain character appearance or two. There's a reason *those* scenes in 'Deadpool & Wolverine' worked so well and had the impact they did.
For better or worse, in true MCU tradition, 'Brave New World' offers several nods to things that happened before, which after 17 years of films and TV shows can give someone a lowkey "have you studied for this test?" feeling while trying to keep up, that unavoidably takes away some of the enjoyment. It also offers several promises of what is possibly coming next, some interesting, some too vague to decipher. I just wish more focus was also put into what story the film was trying to tell before the credits rolled.
[Edited to include thoughts on the audiobook] I was happy to receive an advanced reading copy of 'Leeta Simtar: A Life on Two Planets', a novel by Annie Fox. The book at its core is primarily a Sci-Fi coming of age story about the life of Leeta, a young girl born as an an interspecies hybrid, who for multiple reasons has always felt like an outsider among the people of her home planet, whose norms and ideals are not too dissimilar to Star Trek's Vulcans. As Leeta's spontaneous personality and heart-driven decisions often clash with the expectations and actions of those around her, she stands out among them, and inevitably is made to feel like the inability to fit in is a fault of her own, but at the same time it also gives her the desire to discover more of her past.
Beyond the main Sci-Fi elements, the story's main themes revolve around the notion of not belonging, how it very often shapes people into thinking that there is something wrong with them, and how eventually breaking out of that mentality, finding and accepting yourself, and finding people who love and accept you as you are, is vastly more important than trying to fit into a box that you don't belong in.
It's always refreshing to see stories that act as reminders that, even if blood-related family or people you grew up with aren't always ideal, supportive, or even present in your life, there is love and approval to be discovered among people who see you, care about you, and understand you and embrace you for who you are as a whole, even the parts of yourself that you may consider flawed, and who you can fully feel at home with. The message that found family bonds are equally as strong, and also a crucial aspect for self-acceptance, is always an important one, especially for younger people who are in the process of discovering themselves and their place in the world.
I have recently also had the chance to listen to the 'Leeta Simtar' audiobook, before its release, and it certainly didn't disappoint. When it comes to audiobooks, narration is key, and theatre and voiceover actor Maria Marquis did a brilliant job bringing the world and characters to life. From the way she conveyed emotions to the tone of each individual person, she really helped elevate the story with her performance. For anyone who prefers audiobooks to reading, I can't recommend this edition enough.
The book is coming out March 11, 2025.
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