Warning: This text on Captain America: Courageous New World accommodates spoilers from the movie’s trailer.
When the primary teaser trailer for Captain America: Courageous New World landed, I used to be fairly fast to see it (although not fast sufficient to get to cowl it for Escapist). What I noticed really excited me — a brand new feeling for Marvel movies, which I’ve discovered myself drifting away from by way of anticipation very like the remainder of the world. This one, nevertheless, regarded prefer it could possibly be totally different as one thing new with hints of a spy thriller combined with superheroism. Then the Crimson Hulk teaser hit. It was only a glimpse of the villain’s hand and bottom, however it immediately sucked all the thrill out of the trailer for me.
Regardless of my occupation requiring me to cowl the movie trade and write information about it, I had, surprisingly, steered away from any and all spoilers for Courageous New World. So I wasn’t conscious that Crimson Hulk is within the movie, however the shock of the character’s look isn’t the explanation that I really feel let down by the tease. As a substitute, it’s the truth that Marvel put the tease in in any respect, as if the studio’s confidence within the movie isn’t sufficient with simply Anthony Mackie’s Cap. It looks like Marvel desperately making an attempt to hype up pleasure with a “look who’s right here” second. These may be thrilling … however by no means in a trailer, even when Crimson Hulk is the film’s villain. Practically all the remainder of the trailer looks like a political thriller, teasing what could possibly be a very fascinating movie, however the large pink hand on the finish obliterates that immediately.
Crimson Hulk’s presence looks like Marvel as soon as once more throwing a personality into the combination simply to do it as an alternative of delivering the movie that the primary a part of the trailer teased. The kicker on the finish of the teaser (to not point out the poster that includes Crimson Hulk’s hand grabbing Cap’s defend) immediately makes the film really feel extra like one other “franchise-builder” as an alternative of a film of its personal. It takes all of the wind out of the sails of a teaser that in any other case felt like Marvel may need been making an attempt to do one thing that stands out. That’s a bit worrisome.
A whole lot of the time, I’m really a defender of the MCU as I’ve discovered that, whereas related, the franchise typically dips its toe into totally different genres and kinds. However this Courageous New World tease looks like Marvel failing to believe within the movie — prefer it wants Crimson Hulk to excite individuals.
I feel one other side of why the Crimson Hulk tease is disappointing is that it means the movie shall be each large superhero spectacle and spy/political drama, which the MCU has already failed at with Secret Wars, the place what was alleged to be a down-and-dirty spy sequence ended up in a literal vomiting of superpowers flying throughout the display screen. And, sure, this can be a bit hypocritical as I proceed to be insanely excited for Deadpool & Wolverine, a movie whose whole premise is “hey, you understand these guys, and now they’re collectively, and look Sabertooth too!” however that’s simply it. That’s Deadpool & Wolverine‘s whole premise; it’s not Courageous New World‘s. The latter’s tease of Crimson Hulk, regardless of how large a job he performs within the movie, feels disingenuous, not thrilling.
There’s additionally the truth that Courageous New World‘s Crimson Hulk tease falls flat due to a difficulty that plagues all movies however particularly over-hyped Marvel films: Studios present all the things off within the trailer. If Crimson Hulk is a serious a part of the movie and teasing him is akin to not exhibiting off the second predominant character of the film, then one would possibly argue that you need to tease him. Nevertheless, you don’t must. You don’t have to indicate all the things. There’s clearly sufficient happening in Courageous New World to chop collectively an fascinating trailer for the movie with out exhibiting Crimson Hulk and nonetheless depart one thing as a shock. Trailers don’t have to indicate off whole movies, Marvel.
There’s a very actual likelihood that I’m simply an outdated man yelling at a cloud, that this film will land and be superior. I’m, in any case, merely complaining about how a seconds-long clip on the finish of the primary teaser for a movie ruined the teaser and hype for me, not the precise movie. I’m nonetheless going to see Captain America: Courageous New World; I’m simply much less enthusiastic about it because of a pair of pink toes. However, man, do these pink toes appear to say so much.
