David R. Walker

Posts Tagged ‘Danny Ramirez’

Captain America: Brave New World

Director: Julius Onah

Cast: Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Tim Blake Nelson, Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Sebastian Stan

Running Time: 1 hour 58 minutes

Film Rating: 7 out of 10  

It’s been nine years since the last Captain America film and a lot has changed, hence the title of the new film Captain America: Brave New World.

Nigerian born American director Julius Onah takes the helm of this Marvel film with Anthony Mackie (Detroit, Gangster Squad, The Hurt Locker) in the lead role as the new Captain America Sam Wilson opposite Oscar nominee and Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford (Witness, Star Wars, as American President Thaddeus Ross, who is desperately trying to piece the world back together post Avengers: End Game.

Anthony Mackie does a brilliant job as the new Captain America complete with a new shield and some really cool gadgets along with his young sidekick Falcon played by Danny Ramirez (Top Gun Maverick) as Joaquin Torres. Mackie and Ramirez make a good team as they battle the so called evil American President played with considerable irritability by Harrison Ford. President Ross is trying to negotiate a special deal for the celestial island in the Indian Ocean with Japan, France and India, while taking special pills for his heart and trying to retain his equanimity.  

Things go wrong for Thaddeus Ross when he survives a strange assassination attempt supposedly by Captain America aka Sam Wilson’s friend Isiah Bradley played by Carl Lumbly (A Cure for Wellness, Men of Honour). Bradley is locked up and then tried to be disposed of by the evil Serpent commander Sidewinder expertly played by Giancarlo Esposito (The Usual Suspects, Do The Right Thing).

All of these characters seem to be out of sync, as the real villain only emerges much later in a complicated narrative concocted by scriptwriters Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman and Dalan Masson. That’s already one too many scriptwriters but fortunately what saves Captain America Brave New World is the appearance of the creepy villain, a shadowy Elephant man type figure named Samuel Sterns expertly played with gothic relish by character actor Tim Blake Nelson (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Bricklayer, Nightmare Alley).

Tim Blake Nelson is excellent as the mastermind who manipulates not only Thaddeus Ross and Sam Wilson but the entire Washington establishment. Funny how life is imitating art right now.

With high end production values and Disney’s affluence behind it, Marvel does a decent job of reimagining Captain America in the mid 2020’s. This Brave New World is one that is a media-saturated American society filled with devious misinformation, manipulation and megalomaniacs.

The action is cool, the suits are awesome and there is a big red surprise at the end of the film, so catch Captain America Brave New World in cinemas now.

Captain America Brave New World gets a film rating of 7 out of 10. This film is entertaining, action packed and filled with a unique quirkiness which elevates it firmly into the fantasy realm.

As usual with Marvel films, wait until the very end for a golden nugget.

Recommended viewing for Marvel fans only.

Top Gun: Maverick

Director: Joseph Kosinki

Cast: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Val Kilmer, Ed Harris, Monica Barbaro, Danny Ramirez

Running Time: 2 hours and 11 minutes

Film Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Only the Brave and Oblivion director Joseph Kosinski does a sterling job directing the highly anticipated long awaited sequel to the 1986 smash hit Top Gun directed by the late British director Tony Scott. Fortunately, superstar Tom Cruise reprises his role as test pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell as he returns to the San Diego Airforce base to train a new set of elite air force pilots including Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw the son of the original Rooster and Maverick’s wingman in the 1986 film.

This time the younger Rooster is played superbly by prolific actor Miles Teller of Whiplash fame as he tries to prove himself as a test fighter pilot while reconciling his father’s legacy and his grudge against Maverick, the less than orthodox fighter pilot instructor.

Following a glittering and highly successful film premiere at the 2022 Festival du Cannes, in which Tom Cruise and co-stars showed off Top Gun: Maverick to the Cinema world and now on world wide release, Top Gun: Maverick as a 2022 cinematic spectacle does not disappoint as the screenwriters skillfully weave elements of the original Top Gun film into this stunning adrenalin fueled film filled with bravado, awe-inspiring aviation stunts and a group of muscular and strong test pilots all vying to be the best. Watch out for the infamous beach scene.

Pete Mitchell’s only concern in teaching his new group of recruits besides building team spirit is to make sure every member of the team comes home from their nefarious mission against an omniscient and unmentionable enemy alive and kicking. Maverick, which is his call sign, tells all of the young aspiring pilots, don’t think, just do it because time is the enemy.

Throughout the story of Top Gun: Maverick there are hints to the original film which was a 1980’s smash hit blockbuster and launched Tom Cruise as a superstar.

Complete with glossy shots of Maverick riding a motorbike into the Californian sun or assisting his love interest Penny wonderfully played by Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind) steering a huge yacht off the coast of San Diego, Top Gun: Maverick works as a glossy and sleek homage to the 1980’s action film and a tribute to military aviation, which does not disappoint. In fact it glows in admiration at the courage and spectacle of fighter jets doing dog fights across icy landscapes.

As a film and a fitting sequel to the original, Top Gun: Maverick excels on every level and shines through as Tom Cruise’s passion project a film that he had to get made right and with the correct co-stars.

All the supporting cast of Top Gun: Maverick are superb including Oscar nominee Ed Harris (Pollock) as Chester Cain, Jon Hamm as Admiral Beau “Cyclone” Simpson, actor Bill Pullman’s son Lewis Pullman as Lt Robert “Bob” Floyd and of course the other alpha male of the squadron Glen Powell as Lt Jake “Hangerman” Seresin.

Audiences should watch the original film first, however Top Gun: Maverick is equally thrilling providing a stand alone big screen spectacle of flying, action and tension seldom seen in 21^st century cinema.

Saturated with golden Californian sunshine and a huge dash of nostalgia, Top Gun: Maverick is a brilliant aviation film and will certainly keep audiences engaged especially in the last section of the film as Maverick and the young Rooster land in enemy territory.

As an adrenalin fuelled fighter jet action film, Top Gun: Maverick gets a film rating of 8.5 out of 10 and is highly recommended viewing only to be appreciated on the big screen.