Thunderbolts* – Budget of $200 million – 2 hours and 6 minutes
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Yelena completes another mission for CIA Director Valentina but doesn’t feel fulfilled. So, she visits her father, Alexei, the Red Guardian, for help. He tells her the best way to feel fulfilled is to do good for her country. He felt his best when he saved people and was the public face of good. Yelena leaves Alexi and calls Valentina. She agrees to do one more job and then become a public figure. Valentina tells Yelana to go to an Ox Corp black site and destroy everything inside, including a target. Yelena agrees.
Valentina stands before Congress for her impeachment trial. They believe her positions in the CIA and Ox Corp give her unchecked power. Valentina tells them she stepped down from Ox Corp but has a seat on the board. Congress doesn’t believe Valentina but recesses to gather more evidence. Valentina warns them that the Avengers are gone. They must create new heroes to protect the Earth. Valentina leaves the hearing with her assistant, Mel. She tells Mel to clean everything they can use against her in the hearing.
Congressman Bucky Barnes attends a Battle of New York exhibit with Valentina and Congressman Gary (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Bucky runs into Mel and gives her his business card. He can tell that she’s uncomfortable taking orders from Valentina. He offers a helping hand if she needs a way out. Then, Bucky pulls Gary aside. He tells Gary that Mel may switch sides. However, Gary wants Bucky to focus on his job. He demands that Bucky read the evidence packet for the next hearing.
Yelena arrives at the black site. As Valentina promised, Yelena has access to everything. She sees the files to destroy but can’t locate her target. Then, John Walker hits her. She retaliates but stops because he is not her target. However, she is his. During their battle, Ava, the Ghost, appears and attacks John because Valentina hired her to kill him. They battle, and Taskmaster appears. Ava kills Taskmaster in the battle. The remaining three continue to fight and accidentally hit a button on a box. The box opens and releases Bob. They demand to know how Bob got there, but Bob doesn’t remember. Ava, John, and Yelena argue until they realize that Valentina set them up to kill each other and wipe her slate clean. They feel the heat rise, and a countdown clock appears on the wall. They must escape before Valentina incinerates them.
Mel second-guesses Valentina’s leadership when Valentina instructs Mel to kill her operatives. However, Mel alerts Valentina that they survived and released Bob. Valentina thought scientists killed Bob with the others. Now, she wants to use him for his gifts. She demands that Mel get her to the site and save Bob, but everyone else can die. Valentina and Mel don’t know that Alexei is their driver. He drops them off and rushes to warn Yelena. Mel calls Bucky and gives him the details. He rushes to find the three and brings them to the hearing as evidence of Valentina’s crimes. Yelena, Bucky, Red Guardian, Ava, and John Walker will form the Thunderbolts. They assume their enemy is Yelena. However, they will battle the void inside all of them.
Marvel fans, you asked for a more story-driven and gritty MCU. This movie delivers. The writers assume you have seen all the Marvel movies and series, so they don’t waste time recapping the characters’ deep backstories. They bring up their indiscretions in jest but move on with the plot. The opening sequence changed. It only includes pages from the comic books. Then, the music and image go dark. Viewers know they are in for something different. The script starts with Yelena wanting more from life. Bob echoes her sentiments later. Those feelings give this story a new direction that Marvel has yet to explore. Most of the audience has experienced feelings of loneliness, nothingness, sadness, shame, and even depression. This film is the physical manifestation of that. And it engulfs everyone in Bob’s orbit. These visuals will hit your core. The film’s quips are original, funny, and perfectly acted and timed. The only downfall is the first battle scene between Bob and the Thunderbolts. It’s reminiscent of Hulk and Loki. It’s cartoonish and overly computerized at a time of seriousness. This picture isn’t a brightly colored, definitive good-versus-evil storyline. It allows for more complex thought and lives in the grays. If this is the new direction of the MCU, then they need to stay on this path. Viewers should remain for the mid and post-credit scenes (click for a spoiler).
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
There’s something wrong with me – Yelena
The light inside you has dimmed, even by Eastern European standards – Red Guardian
There’s a bad guy and a worse guy – Valentina
But I am here for you – John Walker
That’s my suit – Ghost
I was 90 – Bucky
You said I was all mighty – Bob
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