3/13: A listing has the movie releasing in 4K/Blu-ray on May 13.
3/14: It was a solid movie but just lacked that oomph to put it over the hill. It's not as bad as the critics say but yeah, not the best choice of director, the writing needed another punch up, and the movie played too safe with the politics. Sure the strikes might have had a part to play but Onah's inexperience was felt. Once you're a guy in suit against a Hulk, only so much they could do. I'll echo the critique of Sterns just turning himself in to complete his plan. It was great to finally have Betty back but then only for a few seconds over the phone and showing up at the Raft for a visit. US and Japan having tensions felt weird. China would have made more sense but I guess that was a business decision to get it in the Chinese market. Born Again is doing a better job at not holding back with its political themes. Here, it felt too restrained. It was 'ooo, let's do Manchurian Candidate - that's a political thriller that would be cool to reference!' And yeah, would have had more interesting if Bruce was in the mix. One of the dumber things was once Ross turned into Red Hulk, the teams and drones only had bullets to shoot him with. In what world would bullets work?
Really enjoyed the banter between Sam and Isaiah and Sam and Bucky. Isaiah wanting to keep the film on his phone was a funny little touch. Was thinking the same thing when Sam asked him if his team wrote that speech for him. Also a nice little bridge into Thunderbolts* with his quick appearance. 'Sam being a Captain America people aspire to be' connecting with Torres' bedside admission was decently done. Sam calling b.s. on Bucky and the serum in the final fight was hilarious. Had a feeling the Wakandan tech would save his butt in the end but on the flip side, kind of wrong he needed the tech to win. Adding in Esposito as Sidewinder was a smart move. Dude ate up his scenes. Would have liked a whole movie with him as the villain.
Once more, the MCU remains 2 years ahead of us. The White House invite solidified it's during April 2027 as it basically starts on Election Day then 5 months later. Only canon snafu I noticed was they more or less said Sterns was in Ross' custody the whole time when Stern says he worked for Ross for 16 years. But the Fury's Big Week canon tie-in comics established Fury actually had him. So more in actuality, it would have been after the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., likely Ross made some moves and took him to Echo. The comics were rarely acknowledged but still. Eh! Another military camp used as a front for a secret base, heh.
Ross felt the pressure for the Avengers to return telling Sam "the people" want it. Hmm. Seems like another plant to seed Thunderbolts* and the idea of a government-sanctioned Avengers, woof. Finally addressed Tiamut and pretty on the nose to call it Celestial Island, wonder if that's coincidence they used "celestial" and another seed for X-Men, the introduction of Adamantium.
Sterns calculated the likelihood of a Multiverse war. Ok. Kind of a limp into seeding Doomsday and Secret War but whatever.
Well, and I guess we'll find out soon enough who Ross's VP was since that will be the new President.
My favorite easter egg was the Scary Movie/Leslie Nielsen nod, lol. Callbacks..hm, well the Washington Monument can't catch a break can it?
3 to 3.5/5 at best. Carl Lumbly and Giancaro Esposito were the stand outs for me.
.
