Thunderbolts (4 Stars)

B-O-B.

Spell it backwards. What does it say?

The same motherfucking shit.

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Captain America: Brave New World (3 Stars)

"Captain America: Brave New World" arrives with the weight of a legacy. The earlier entries in the series built a reputation for tight storytelling, grounded stakes, and a sharp blend of political tension and character-driven drama. This new chapter tries to continue that tradition; however, it never reaches the clarity or emotional power of its predecessors.

The story sets up promising themes about leadership and responsibility, yet it rarely develops them with the sharp focus seen in "The Winter Soldier" or the ideological heft of "Civil War". Those films thrived on conflict that felt urgent and personal. Here, the central conflict feels scattered; the narrative moves between subplots that compete for attention instead of supporting each other. The result is a film that feels busy rather than purposeful.

Anthony Mackie carries the shield with conviction. His performance is sincere and committed; his scenes that deal with the burden of legacy are among the film’s strongest. Yet the script never gives him the same depth or arc that Chris Evans enjoyed. Sam Wilson’s internal struggle feels stated rather than explored. The earlier films balanced action with intimate moments that defined Steve Rogers as a character; this entry misses that balance and leans heavily on exposition.

Action has always been a hallmark of the series; however, the set pieces here lack the precision that made sequences like the elevator fight in "The Winter Soldier" or the highway battle unforgettable. The choreography feels looser. The editing cuts too quickly to create impact. Instead of tension building through physical stakes, the film often relies on CGI that softens the grit that once set the franchise apart.

The supporting cast is solid, yet many characters feel underused. Motivations are introduced then set aside. Relationships that could deepen the emotional core remain at the surface. Earlier films used their ensembles to shape the story’s moral and political dimensions; this time the ensemble drifts around the edges.

Tonally, the film struggles to find its identity. It gestures toward political commentary yet rarely commits to a viewpoint. It hints at espionage yet never creates the paranoia that defined the franchise’s strongest moments. The film moves quickly, yet without the thematic weight that once made Captain America stories stand out in the broader MCU.

In the end, "Captain America: Brave New World" is serviceable entertainment with a committed lead performance and flashes of inspiration. It simply lacks the tight structure, grounded action and emotional clarity that made the earlier films some of Marvel’s best. The shield still shines; the story beneath it does not.

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Thunderbolts (4 Stars)

The star after the film's title in the poster isn't a mistake. It's an asterisk. Asterisks are used to draw a reader's attention to a note written at the bottom of the page. In this case, it's not a written page, it's a film, and the asterisk is pointing to a message at the end of the film, after the credits. After the credits we're told that the team temporarily calling themselves the Thunderbolts will call themselves the New Avengers.

Unlike the usual Marvel films, I have no feeling for the characters. The Thunderbolts first appeared in 1997, well into Marvel's post-canon era, when I rarely read comics. All I know is that the team members in the film aren't the same as in the comics, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Marvel's films are famous for their mix and match approach, taking characters with the same names as in the comics, but often with different powers and always with different costumes. There's no respect for the original source material.

Having said that, I have to admit that it's a good film. It's one of the better Marvel films in recent years. Florence Pugh carries the film as Yelena Belova, the new Black Widow, but my favourite character is Bob. He's fascinating. But watch the film yourself if you want to know why.

Captain America: Brave New World (3 Stars)

I don't know what to say about this film. It's not a bad film, definitely not as bad as "The Eternals". But it isn't a good film either. It's just boring.

This is the first film in which Captain America is no longer Steve Rogers, he's Sam Wilson. The torch has been passed. In the course of the film Sam repeatedly says that he's only a second rate Captain America because he hasn't taken the super soldier serum, and yet just look at him. He fights better than Steve Rogers ever did, even when he isn't flying. That doesn't make sense.

I can't say much more without giving away spoilers. If you're a Marvel fan like me, nothing will stop you going to see the film in the next few days. Today was the film's first day in the cinema. I usually wait a few days because the cinema is too full on the first day. Not today. The cinema was almost empty. That made me sad. It's as if the word had already spread that the film isn't worth seeing. Let's wait a week to see how the box office figures develop.

And to round off my day, when I went home I slipped on the ice in front of my house. Right on the steps. Luckily I fell on my soft rear parts and didn't suffer much damage, but I tried to stop the fall and slightly injured my right hand. I have two small cuts on my fingers. What a way to end a day that was already disappointing.

A Different Man (3 Stars)

This is the 19th film in the Stuttgart Fantasy Film Festival.

Sebastian Stan plays Edward Lemuel, a man with a disfigured face. He's attracted to Ingrid, the girl next door. She becomes a close friend, but he's too ugly for her to want a relationship. He takes part in the trial of a new drug, and he's cured. He looks like Sebastian Stan! Rather than telling people his looks have improved, he changes his name and pretends to be a different man. He tells everyone that Edward has killed himself. He finally has a relationship with Ingrid, who no longer recognises him.

So he lives happily ever after? Not quite. He meets Oswald, a man whose face looks identical to his old face. The difference is that Oswald is outgoing and self-confident. Ingrid falls in love with Oswald.

That might sound like spoilers, but a lot more happens in the film. At first the film disturbed me. Edward was so ugly that I found the film distasteful. But as the film progressed it grew on me. I've given it a three star rating (i.e. average) because I don't know what to do with it. I need to watch it again, and I might rate it higher.