Displaying items by tag: Anthony Mackie

THE ELECTRIC STATE

US, 2025, 125 minutes, Colour.

Chris Pratt, Millie Bobby Brown, Woody Norman, Jason Alexander, Giancarlo Esposito, Ann Russo, Greg Cromer, Stanley Tucci, Holly Hunter, voices of: Woody Harrelson, Ke Huy Quan, Alan Tudyk, Anthony Mackie, Jenny Slate, Brian Cox, Hank Azariah, Colman Domingo, Kurt Loder.

Directed by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo.

There were high expectations for this big-budget action fantasy adventure, set in an alternate world in the 1990s. It was directed by the Russo Brothers who had moved from smaller popular films to three Captain America superhero epics and then to two Avengers adventures, Avengers Endgame registering the highest box office.

Then came this ambitious fantasy adventure, based on the graphic images by Simon Stalenhag, adapted by the Russo Bros regular writers for the Marvel Universe films. And a very strong cast of character actors led by Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown and including Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Holly Hunter, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Colman Domingo…

However, reviews were unfavourable and the film was not popular. However, there is much to appeal to audiences who like imaginative, futuristic fantasy adventures.

1. The status of the film, the budget, the cast, the directors? Based on an illustrated novel? Pull critical response?
2. The 1990s, the title, an alternate world history, humans versus robots? The title?
3. The American cities, the war, the deserts and outposts? The musical score?
4. Ethan Skate as hero and villain, his technology an empire, the robots, taking over the consciousness of human minds, the reaction of the humans, many living and vegetative life, rising up against the robots, the human victory, robots to the Exclusion Zone?
5. 1994, Michelle, history of the crash and her parents, in foster homes, Ted and his lazy life, Michelle at school, not using AI technology for her work?
6. Cosmo, the sense in robot, the TV character, Michelle’s brother, Christopher and his delight with Cosmo? Cosmo programmed with gestures, sounds, controlled by Christopher’s consciousness?
7. The sense of mission, the encounter with Keats, his history, his character, offhand, soldier? The visit to Dr Amherst and his declaration the Christopher was dead?
8. The adventure, the journey, the trek through the desert, Keats and is exploitations? The Exclusion Zone, home of the robot, Mr Peanut? Characters and voices?
9. The confrontation with Skate, his character, presumptions, using Christopher and his mind and consciousness, the impact for humans, robots?
10. The pursuit of Christopher, Col Bradbury, the deadly mission, candle Bradbury and is disillusioned with Skate, changing his attitude?
11. Michelle, PC at the robots, the confrontation with skate’s Army? The role of Bradbury?
12. Christopher, the explanation, his wanting to be disconnected, Michelle disconnecting? The further attacks, the attack on Herman, the smaller version?
13. The aftermath, Christopher dying, Skate and his loss of control, arrest? Michelle and her explanation of what it happened? And the possibility of humans and robots and the Exclusion Zone in the future?

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD

US, 2025, 118 minutes, Colour.

Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbley, Tim Blake Nelson, Giancarlo Esposito, Xosha Roquemore.

Directed by Julius Onah.

Chris Evans was the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, appearing in Captain America, The First Avenger in 2011, giving his back story. He then appeared in America, Winter Soldier and Civil War and a number of Avengers and Spiderman films. Anthony Mackie appeared as his associate, The Falcon, and now has the mantle of Captain America. (And Mackie appeared in the series, The Falcon  and the Winter Soldier.)

The world has been experiencing some disasters but, suddenly, an island has appeared in the Indian Ocean, a source of a new element which will help rebuild the world. Needless to say, desired by political leaders, desired by criminal powerbrokers. And an initial episode to get us into the frame of mind with Sam Wilson, now Captain America, with his apprentice, The Falcon, a brash young enthusiast played by Danny Ramirez, fly to Mexico to confront a villain, Sideliner, Giancarlo Esposito, and a buyer for the new element. When are in the picture, Capt America and The Falcon in their distinctive costume, their wings and flying, and the importance of the or defending, all attacking, shield.

Enter from the wings, newly elected American Pres, Theodore Ross, played by Harrison Ford now in his 80s and entering into the spirit of the Marvel Universe with some enthusiasm. He has had a bad reputation in the past, alienated from his daughter, but now insists that he is change. He is negotiating an international treaty, especially with the Japanese Prime Minister, the safe use of the new element.

Then some mayhem, an attempt on his life at the White House, shooters, including a close friend of Sam Wilson now released from jail are taken back. And the revelation of the villainous mastermind, Samuel Sterns, appearing as something of a mutant, played with sinister relish by Tim Blake Nelson. In fact, in prison, he has been experimenting with all kinds of drugs, feeding them to the President, working on mind control for assassins, ambitious to be in power of the element.

In a way, so far more a less expected – and this has disappointed some of the Marvel fans. However, there is a huge set piece towards the end, the Pres himself victim of his medication, transforming into a large Redcap Hulk, wrecking all kinds of destruction including demolishing of half the White House. (And, since the film was released after the re-election of Donald Trump, there is the temptation to look at all the mayhem scenes are some kind of allegory, the Pres morphing into a red raging monster-figure, attacking everyone, demolishing everything, even the destruction of the White House!).

The quiet finale, peace and some prosperity restored, millions in prison. However, marvel fans should not race for the exit during the credits because there is a substantial sequence right at the end. The future?

1. The Marvel Universe, Steve Rogers as Captain America, Anthony Mackie as the Falcon, participation in The Avengers movies? The television series featuring The Falcon? Sam Wilson as Captain America?
2. The interconnections in the Marvel Universe, the connection with The Hulk?
3. The role of Captain America, as initiated by Steve Rogers? The distinctive uniform, the wings and flying, the significance of the shield? The Falcon as apprentice, costume and shield, wings, learning?
4. The global situation for the film, post-apocalyptic situations, the United States, hostilities, the emergence of the island in the Indian Ocean, new element, powers wanting possession of it? The working for a treaty for participation in its use?
5. The establishing of Anthony Mackie as Captain America, presence, personality, African-American hero? Seeing him in action, flight, the operation in Mexico? Hostility towards President Ross? Being summoned, the discussions with the president, his change of situation, working towards the agreement and a treaty? His previous antagonism towards the president?
6. The operation in Mexico, Sidewinder and his presence, the buyer, absence, the conflict? The character of Sidewinder and his presence, deals? The return from Mexico?
7. The character of the president, the election, in the wings, the discussions, his address to the people, the acclaim, Together? The first hundred days, the discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister? The discussions with Sam Wilson, his assistant and her presence, Ruth and her security? Sam Wilson investigating her? Joaqui Torres and his computer skills and investigations?
8. The character of Isaiah Bradley, his past, imprisonment, skills, meeting The Falcon, the brashness of the young man, Bradley and his strength? His antagonism towards the president? Sam Wilson and rehabilitating him, the invitation to the White House, dressing up, the security, the ceremony, the president, the shooters, Bradley and his role, overcome, imprisoned?
9. The consequences, Sam Wilson and investigations, the prison, the laboratory, the information, the profiles, the medication, the character of Samuel Sterns?
10. Sterns, his appearance, mutations, imprisonment, his experiments, the president and his dependence on him for medication, his control of the president, his power, wanting the element? His experiments, mind control?
11. The president, the visit to Japan, the Japanese Prime Minister wary? The failure of the mission?
12. The return to Washington, the press conference, everybody gathered, the replaying of the tape, the president and his deal with Sterns? Sterns and his control, the transformation of the president into The Red Hulk? The mayhem into action? The confrontations?
13. The return of the president to himself, imprisonment, his accepting responsibility, the visit of Sam? His alienation from his daughter, her visit?
14. Sidewinder and his defeat? Captain America and his future, The Falcon?
15. The significance of the post-credits sequence, Sterns in prison, the challenge to Captain America, the future?