A Real Gem - Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert, Reviewed

I can't recall how but a few years back I stumbled across an excerpt from the Hans Zimmer concert film Live in Prague (2017). It featured some of the most dramatic music from Christopher Nolan's Batman film, The Dark Knight, and was filmed like a rock concert in an arena, with multiple cameras and moody, dynamic lighting. Not long afterwards our whole household watched the concert in its entirety and enjoyed it immensely.

We've returned to it periodically and screened it for visitors a few times and everyone seems to have enjoyed it, and it has yet to become tiresome despite mupltiple vieweings. So when I learned that a new Hans Zimmer concert movie was being released to a handful of theatres, I was very grateful that Audrey and I were able to go to a Sunday matinee showing.

Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert is as good a concert film as the Prague one (shot in the Dubai Coca Cola Arena), with three music video-style sequences shot in other venues including the desert and the top of the Burj Al Arab. The best part though are the interstitial discussions between Zimmer and a handful of associates: Chris Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, Pharrell Williams, Billie Eilish, Johnny Marr and more.

Shot in b&w and in a different aspect ratio, they are so casual and personal that I hesitate to call them interviews. These amazingly frank discussions about the challenges of the creative process, remaining motivated and what it took to get Zimmer on stage the first time ("bullying" by Pharrell Williams and Johnny Marr, according to him...) and why he finds himself spending so much time there all come across as honest and unforced.

I was afraid these would be a distraction from the music I had come to hear, but all of these insights enhanced the movie tremendously and entrenched my impressions of Zimmer as not only a brilliant film composer but also jsut a solid, gracious and frankly delightful human. 

My favourite bits were Billie Eilish's producer brother Finneas asking if Zimmer cherry picks the best instruments to play when performing orchestral pieces live, and Johnny Marr (guitarist from The Smiths) marvelling at Zimmer's commitment to live touring, calling this charmingly awkward man a composer with the soul of a rock star.

At another point, Timothee Chalamet calls Zimmer (I believe) the greatest living composer, and it took me out of the film for a bit. 

Like a lot of people my age, John Williams' soundtrack to the first Star Wars album (and the accompanying liner notes!) was my introduction to film scores, and from 12 years old I began paying attention to the credits and film scorers. In addition to his tremendous accolades, including 5 Oscars and an astonishing 54 (!) nominations to date, he has scored some of my favourite films of all time. I mean, just from memory I am thinking Superman, Close Encounters, Raiders, Jaws, and Harry Potter.

In terms of recognizable movie themes, he is likely to be unequalled in my lifetime, while very few of Zimmer's compositions have that innate catchiness or stick in one's memory the same way. But then I asked myself: beyond nostalgia, how many of Williams' pieces have the same emotional impact that Zimmer's does?

While the rest of  Diamonds in the Desert played on (2:38 in total) I found myself catching my breath or dabbing my eyes at various points - of Williams' music, I think only the Schindler's List theme has had the same effect on me.

(I just played it to make sure, and yeah, there is definitely someone cutting onions somewhere in this house.)

The final piece of Zimmer's Gladiator suite ("Now We Are Free") chokes me up in way that has little connection to the bittersweet ending of that movie, and likewise for the intensely powerful "Time" that wraps up Inception. I don't have to think about my own late father to find "He Lives In You" from The Lion King: The Musical so emotionally resonant.

But thankfully there are other emotions to be triggered by Zimmer's repertoire: the building tension of Dunkirk, the fearful apprehension from The Dark Knight's "Why So Serious?", the adrenaline rush of Inception's "Mombasa" chase music.

And while I don't have a lot of time for Zack Snyder's take on my beloved DC superheroes, Tina Guo's blazing cello on Wonder Woman and Guthrie Govan's soaring electric guitar on Man of Steel are still exemplary compositions that clearly depict these legendary characters in my mind's eye as surely as George Perez or Curt Swan drawing them while simultaneously stirring my heart, and are even better live than on a studio recording.

If you are a fan of movies, music, movie music, the people who make movies and/or music or just creative staging and an exploration of the creative process, Diamond in the Desert is worth seeking out. Beyond even his music, Hans Zimmer is a gem beyond compare: warm, gracious, self-effacing and grateful.

Honestly, I think ranking musicians of composers like horses in a race is kind of a rube's game, should I hear anyone else describe him as the greatest living composer, I wouldn't be inclined to challenge them on it.

Vernal Geekquinox 2025: The Good Old Fashioned Days

With the theme being presented ahead of time as "Old Fashioned," I expected things to be a bit more, y'know, liquor-forward at Pete and Ellen's semi-annual dinner party - which would be weird give that nearly half the guests drink little to nothing at all while the other half tries valiantly to take up the slack.

And sure enough, the eponymous cocktail was on the menu, and the three of us who availed ourselves of it enjoyed it quite a it but I am getting ahead of myself.

Audrey and I always try to dress thematically where we can, with effort and success varying wildly from theme to theme. On this night she nailed it, pairing very well with Ellen, while my own meager efforts (a short sleeved shirt and cold war/Soviet looking tie (celebrating the Beatles "Back in the USSR") paled to Pete's sock garters and shorts ensemble.

The atomic age graphics on the menu make it clear that they were looking for a '50s-era hospitality thang, from delicious vintage cocktails and desserts right through to the main course of succulent roast beef.

Somehow the least exotic menu provided one of the tastiest Geekquinox dinners ever (not that anyone is crazy enough to rank them) and also the best-paced! Even the stuffed celery appetizers had a nostalgic charm. Followed quickly by a hot, sweet, Tom & Jerry - my new favourite warm cocktail - the day looked to be off to a splendid start.

I have never been one to fawn over a devilled egg - until now. The sharp, mustardy richness of the yolks even managed to overshadow the charm of the special plate they were served on, each egg secure in its own concave depression. We all wondered though - was something else meant to go in space in the center? People didn't used to...dip devilled eggs, did they?

While we waited for the main course to finish, Pete asked if I could mix up some Old Fashioneds for those who were interested, which turned out to be Totty, Audrey and I. It is one of those classic cocktails that is so simple and spirit-forward you might wonder why you would bother at all, but the addition of a sugar cube and orange bitters to whiskey (in this case, the Taber corn "Berbon" purchased as a Canadian alternative), adds both sweetness and complexity to the drink. The homemade (!) brandied cherry and orange peel garnish don't hurt either, and it also looks classy as hell when served in Waterford crystal.

One of the many improvements our hosts have introduced is moving the start time to noon, rather than 5 pm. This gives Chef Pete a lot more flexibility and time to chat, but just as critically, prevents the main course being served close to midnight. Those 2:00 am closeouts is hard on these 50-year-olds, but this meant the main course of a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings was coming to the table around half past three - which was perfect.

Pete had put his roast on at a low temperature around seven in the morning (Lord, bless and keep this man!), before searing it outdoors on the grill once the majority of it was medium-rare. A simple rub of salt and pepper gave it a brilliant crust and a main with no teeth at all could have comfortably eaten a generous slice. I actually cut a bite off with the edge of my fork instead of using a knife.

Our host was a bit disappointed with the Yorkshire puddings, which had not raised as he'd hoped, but the lack of fluffiness made them no less tasty. And the mashed potatoes (apparently also known as "Irish guacamole"?) and turnips were also delicious, particularly with the savoury gravy he had prepared. But the cheese-covered broccoli was a real standout, prompting numerous compliments from the guests. This cheese was meant to complement, not conceal!

The shrimp cocktail was left behind as the guests slowly digested their cow, but jsut around the time people were feeling the possibility of the capacity for eating again, Pete presented a plate of rumaki ; bacon-wrapped water chestnuts with seasoned chicken liver, a common treat at Trader Vic's back in the '50s. Very tasty!

Scott had helped slice quite a few onions earlier in the afternoon for soup and by ten pm it was ready to go in the oven and same some cheese and bread baked on to it. I adore French onion soup and have fond memories of ordering it when dining out as a child with my family, in the same style of handled earthenware bowls. Again, the nostalgia competed with the rich savoury broth and tender onions for what had the biggest effect on my happiness, and I ended up calling it a tie.

The final food offering of the night was a classic pineapple upside down cake. This might have been my first time having one and I hope it is not the last. Baking this sweet yellow cake upside down creates an amazing caramelized firmness to the top, while the cake remains moist throughout. Normally I am looking for ice cream, whipped cream or icing by my third bite of any cake but this dessert was a winner.

The Singapore Sling, another tiki classic, this time from Raffles Hotel in Singapore, made its appearance in the form of a nightcap, around 11 pm. Tart, sweet and strong, this mix of gin, cherry brandy and fruit juice was apparently created as a means of letting women imbibe alcohol, which was improper at the turn of the century. Despite having more of these than I should have (did I mention they are tremendously tasty?) the increased acidity did me no long lasting ill effects.

But true to form, the last of us stayed up until nearly one in the morning chatting and catching up - truly the best 'dish' of any Geekquinox. Thanks again Pete and Ellen!

Paneling Pride Vs. Prejudice

I was pretty nervous - I had just watched a very well-done and moving documentary about reluctant gay activist Delwin Vriend called Pride Vs. Prejudice that we had screened at our church for PIE Day, and I was about to introduce a very prestigious panel. I was very gratified when the three panelists laughed at my introductory joke: "A lawyer, a professor, a playwright, a senator, a member of the order of Canada and a drag performer all walk into a church….and it's only three people!"

Kris Wells, Darrin Hagen, Doug Stollery and Yours Truly

The panelists in question were writer, director, and composer Darrin Hagen (familiar to many Edmontonians as a member of  Guys in Disguise), the co-counsel on Vriend v Alberta, Douglas Stollery, and Impact Producer Kristopher Wells.

The Affirming Ministry Team at St. Albert United Church had asked for permission to screen the film as part of PIE Day, an opportunity to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with acts that are Public, Intentional and Explicit. Senator Wells, having spoken at our tenth Affirimiversary back in October, kindly arranged for us to not only show the movie but suggested a brief panel might be a useful educational experience as well.

When we met earlier in the week to talk about the event, some of us were concerned about bigoted individuals perhaps coming in to make a ruckus or disrupt things, but Darrin said he was honestly more concerned about the "I have more of a comment than a question..." people monopolizing the time. In the end we agreed that as moderator I would ask them each a questions or two and try to keep the session around 15-20 minutes.

The film itself is incredible and I highly recommend checking it out when you get a chance. It will undoubtedly end up on some screening service or another after its time on the film festival circuit wraps up, but I fully intend to purchase the BluRay at the earliest opportunity. They are taking the film to festival in Poland shortly, but the film's website also lists screenings like ours if you want to see it sooner.

Even as someone who remembered the headlines from the case at the time, hearing from the people directly involved with the case and its aftermath was absolutely fascinating; hearing Delwin Vriend himself recall being fired from his position at King's College right here in Edmonton for nothing more than being gay is chilling. Hearing how he was denied a hearing by the Alberta Human Rights Commission is infuriating and seeing how passionate lawyers working pro bono took his case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1998 is empowering.

Reading about the case and the decision gives you an impression of its importance, but not the struggles and personal impacts along the way:

• Learning that Justice McClung of the Alberta Court of Appeals turned his back on counsel Sheila Greckol while she was making her argument, in a brutal and flagrant display of disrespect.
• Hearing that someone had placed religious pamphlets condemning homosexuality on every seat in the chamber of the Supreme Court before the lawyers.
• Watching former city councillor Michael Phair get emotional as he talks about the death threats he received following the decision, while regressive activists were trying to pressure the PC provincial government and Premier Ralph Klein to invoke the notwithstanding clause. 

A good documentary not only provides clarity, it also produces insight. The best of them provoke an emotional connection to the subject matter or people involved, and at our screening you could hear laughs, applause and tearful sniffles as the story played out over 80 minutes.

Afterwards I got to engage the panel briefly, and I dearly wish I could remember their responses verbatim, but I was just too wound up and excited.

I asked Darrin about his directorial decision to juxtapose the historical clips and modern day interviews of those involved with shots from a queer history bus tour of Edmonton (led in part by none other than Michael Phair) and he confessed it arose in part out of his need (and distaste, apparently!) for shooting 'B-roll' for such projects. Seeing Vriend share parts of his story with people on that bus really underscored the sense of history behind it.

Doug graciously redirected my question about the challenges of working on such a high-profile case as one of the few 'out' lawyers at the time to how much more impacted other people had been, including Phair and Vriend himself. He also talked about the current US President's decision to blacklist legal firms who had represented people he considered enemies (removing their security clearances without cause, among other things), making it riskier to be perceived as being in opposition to him, and making it more difficult for them to get quality legal representation.

But he also took the opportunity to thank the United Church of Canada for seeking intervenor status on the case so that when other faith-based groups tried to assert that 'religions' were not in favour of making sexuality a discernible and protectable human right, the UCC could stand up as the largest protestant denomination of the time and make it clear that this was simply not true.

Finally. Dr. Wells spoke about the timeliness of revisiting the Vriend decision, not only terms of  its 25th anniversary when production started and the 20th anniversary of gay marriage in Canada, but also in light of the recent backsliding for the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly in Alberta. Gay and trans youth have had many supports including gender affirming care moved out of reach, and earlier this week, the unionized City of Edmonton employees announced they had been told to remove Pride flags from Edmonton Public Library properties in a commitment to 'neutrality.'

The senator also tied the need for increased education and activism to our current trade war and annexation situation, generating vocal support and applause when he said, "I never want to see us as the 51st state of anything, do you?"

Well over a hundred people came to our screening, most of whom were not regular attendees at our church, which was gratifying to see. We also had a free will offering with proceeds going to St. Albert Pride in the Park, which will hopefully help them increase its impact this summer after some organizational challenges last year. 

Everyone I spoke to was impressed and moved by the film, with many people asking where they could watch it again; when I find out, I will be sure to post it here.

Before leaving I made sure to let all the panelists know how much we, and particularly I, were that they were able to attend - these are very busy people - and to be such gracious guests! I especially thanked Doug, who, when we were discussing possible panel questions had expressed a preference for one, but gave me a two paragraph explanation for the other just so I would have it.

It is gratifying and reassuring to know that individuals committed to justice and equality and education still exist, and that there are others who can help bring their stories into the public eye.

And gosh, if someone sees Pride Vs. Prejudice and decdes to dramatize it so that even more people can learn about it - so much the better!

Making Room

"It's not that I have given up on wargaming," I said to Audrey, "Lord knows I still have enough models, but boardgaming and RPGs make way more sense from a time and social capital prespective."

"How do you mean?" she queried.

"Wargames can be adapted to play with groups, but they are designed for the most part to be head-to-head encounters between two individuals," I explained. "If I set up a game with someone, I need to prep by putting together an army list, unpack or pack up an army's worth of models, and if I am hosting, deploy a tabletop full of scenery.

"The game itself, including unpacking, chit chat, scenario selection, deployment and re-packing will take a full afternoon or evening at minimum, and while tremendously fun, is only entertaining for two people."

"I think I see the issue..." Audrey mused.

"That's right!" I continued. "I can put the same amount of prep into a role-playing game and that is entertainment for 4-7 other people instead. And even less preparation is needed for a boardgame! There is only so muich free time, and while I still enjoy painting models, I would far rather do it for smaller scale skirmish games or characters and monsters for D&D than units for large armies."

Why did this topic come up? Well, with Fenya moving home from Toronto this month, we need to make a little room around this place for her stuff. As our household's most egregious accumulator, it fell to me to go through a number of boxes in the basement closet, some of which haven't been moved in years.

I was initially resistant to simply giving away some of these items, many of whiuch were rare or represented an expenditure in terms of effort well in excess of their physical value. But in the end, it was helpful to have younger people in my life who I know will put a number of these things to far better (i.e. any) use than I have over the past two decades in this house.

The go-pile

What kind of things? Well...

A bunch of old pressed-foam scenery, including a very cool cemetery

An entire fortress (with unpainted gate house because I had two of these and kept the other one)

Some siege towers with which to besiege the castle (and can you believe it, the little drawbridges still lower when you turn the wheel at the bottom!)

...and siege equipment for both attackers and defenders

Two Formula Waagh racers I converted out of old Ork warbuggies and snotling pump wagons back before Gorkamorka was released

Some unbuilt city ruins for Warhammer 40,000

And despite selling it instead of giving it away, it was still hard to part with this entire Tenth Company/Space Marine Scout Army, still in the wrap and with nearly a kilogram worth of bitz for converting them!

I finihsed going through the closet today and found some non-wargaming goodies that raised some nostalgia but went to a better home, like this electronic Star Wars Battleship-style game:

And when the recipient tells you this was an item on their childhood Christmas wish list for multiple years, it certainly makes the divesting a lot easier to take!

Other things went straight to recycling; old cylinders or movie reel canisters that could have become scenery but failed to actualize, a broken Planet Killer spaceship from Battlefleet Gothic, and over a dozen 80-90% empty spray cans of varnish and paint are headed to the Eco Station.

One of the film canisters also contained an esoteric and nostalgic assortment of bits: a keychain from Terrace BC, a handcuff key, a Canada flag lapel pin, a piece of petrified wood and four miniature badges featuring a beloved comics character.

And since they don't take up much space, some of this gets to stay - at least for now.

2025 Oscars

This was the Oscar party that nearly wasn't - I really wasn't feeling it in the days leading up to the 97th Academy Awards. Despite my best intentions I had only seen two of the ten nominees for Best Picture, I was bummed about Denis Villenueve getting snubbed for a director nod for Dune Part 2, we'd had some bad family news earlier in the week and then Glory and Audrey were away visiting Oma this weekd so I was on my own for decorating and setup (not my forte!).

And to be clear, the setup is not a whole lot of work. I smoked a brisket for the meat course (17 hours, but it's not like you need to pay a whole lot of attention the whole time), and a delightful pot luck covers the food angle, and we recycle the decorations from year to year so there is little to no procurement involved. But the decorations are important, because without them, you aren't hosting a party, you are just watching tv with friends. So we did all the things we usually do.

A lot of surprises this year, and a few categories got blanked, with none of the guests correctly predicting a winner. Pete got the most correct predictions with nine, but Andrew's two correct guesses won him the draw for the movie tickets.

Pete also led the March of the Dead with seven and I was close behind with five, some of whom I had probasbly forgoteen I'd known about (Dabney Coleman, Roger Corman, M. Emmet Walsh, John Amos, Jon Landau (producer)).

And the moment people started arriving, I was glad I had overcome my reluctance. "Hearing that Pete and Ellen had watched six films this weekend, including a best picture nominee this wvery morning, filled me with joy. Celebrating movies is not only a worthwhile endeavour, it is a household tradition going on more than twenty years now. 

A lot of us were gratified to see an indie film like Anora walk away with as many trophies as it did (Best Picture, Director, Actress, Adapted Screenplay and Editing), especially with so many people referring to it as 'strip club Cinderella'.

And there were some tremendous speeches again this year - not the laundry list of thank-yous, and not Adrien Brody's extended play, but the plea for peace in Gaza from the Israelis-Palestinian filmmakers of No Other Land, or Sean Baker (Anora) pleading for more commitment to seeing movies in and making movies for big screens. Even Conan O'Brien's mock ad for "CinemaStream - a building designed for streaming films" touched on this. 

So yes, despite not really having a dog in the fight this year, I am glad I watched and even gladder to have a group of movie-fan friends willing to come and watch with us!

All For the Want of a (Rusty) Nail

About a decade ago, I bought a large bottle of Drambuie at the airport duty-free shop while coming back from a work conference. It was too good a deal to pass up, I liked liqueurs, and I had fond childhood memories of Dad wrapping up many a nice meal out with a cup of coffee and a shot of Drambuie on the side. 

And Drambuie, a whisky-based liqueur made with herbs and heather honey, is a darned fine sip on its own, but I began to wonder what else it could be used in and upon researching, discovered it was a key ingredient to one of Frank Sinatra's favourite cocktails, the Rusty Nail.

Like a lot of classic cocktails, it is pretty simple: two parts blended scotch to one part Drambuie, stirred and served over the rocks or crushed ice with a lemon peel garnish. It is a potent drink, since even the liqueur portion is 40% ABV, but as a post-dinner sipper or nightcap it is a genuine treat, with just enough head-loosening properties to engage an appropriate amount of relaxation, reflection or conviviality, as a situation might require.

When I mentioned my (at the time) recent pivot to this beverage to Mum back in 2014, I was elated to discover that it had also been a favourite of my father's, a revelation that delighted me to no end.

I don't always have Drambuie in the house, and sometimes when I do, I don't want to mix it with the whiskeys on hand that are meant for sipping on their own. But I picked up a handle of Dewar's the last time I was at Costco and used an accumulation of Scene points to facilitate the purchase of a bottle of Drambuie shortly thereafter, once I realized hopw long it had been since I had sipped or served a Rusy Nail.

We had company last weekend and I put one together for one of our guests, and they quite liked it, which I have found to be a pretty common reaction from just about anyone who will take their spirits neat on occasion.

Despite the fact they are served cold and over ice, the Rusty Nail is by no means a drink for a warm, sunny day - quenching one's thirst with a Rusty Nail is ill-advised to say the least! But on a cool winter's night, with the majority of the weekend behind you and a full work week only hours ahead, taking one's sweet time unwinding with sips of a vintage cocktail is an experience to be savoured... and shared, if one is lucky enough.

Obligatorio (But Not Bad) - Captain America: Brave New World, Reviewed

Since Avengers: Endgame, Marvel's movies have suffered from more than a bit of "what do you do for an encore?" None of the entries in Phases 4 or 5 have grabbed the interest of viewers the way previous entries did, which I suppose is kind of natural - not only is the Infinity Saga a tough act to follow in general, Captain America boasts what is likely the best superhero trilogy ever with First Avenger, Winter Soldier and Civil War. So to say that both Anthony Mackie and his character Sam Wilson have some immense boots to fill in Brave New World is a fairly significant understatement.

So let's get this out of the way: it's a fairly mediocre movie, as movies go. With the exception of the villain reveal (which Marvel has done a great job keeping out of most of the trailers and such), there is next to no tension in this film - next to nothing in the way of surprises. 

Given the death of William Hurt and the recasting of the legendary Harrison Ford as Gen. (and now President) Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, I don't know how they could have marketed this film without spoiling his inevitable transformation into the Red Hulk, but wouldn't that have been cool?

The aerial scenes are great but the on the fight segments on the ground don't appear to be up to the high standard we've come to expect from the MCU, although the climactic showdown is handled pretty well over all. But they also aren't throwing them in every seven minutes to keep you awake, so that's good. Does it feel like director Julius Onah is out of his element at times? Yeah, kind of. Is BNW too 'woke'? No, don't be stupid - what the hell does that even mean?

Story-wise, turning the snake-themed villain cadre the Serpent Society from the comics into a mercenary outfit with the same name led by an uncostumed Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder was a welcome discovery. It is a new nod to the slightly more grounded villainy the previous Cap had to deal with, and was apparently one of the big elements added in reshoots. And yes, reshoots are never the kind of thing you want to hear about, but I am willing to bet they came away with a stronger movie than they might have had without them, and besides, who doesn't like a bit more Giancarlo in their genre cinema?

So in some ways, CA:BNW feels a little like a salvage operation, not unlike the second Black Panther film, Wakanda Forever. And like it, I think the filmmakers deserve some kudos just for pulling off something coherent and entertaining while navigating the increasingly complex continuity of the MCU.

For my perspective, an adequate entry in the series is a little disappointing (given the strengths of the previous films) but not a loss or a defeat in any way. But remember, I am not buying my ticket as a movie fan who likes comic movies; I am going because I am a comics fan who wants to see beloved properties treated with respect.

And I got that, for the most part.

I like Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson a lot, and the film pulls no punches in showing that, as Pres. Ross tells him to his face, "you are no Steve Rogers." He is not as strong, not as fast, not as durable, nor as resolute. But they make it clear that his heart is just as big as skinny Steve's, the kid from Brooklyn who could do this all day and hated bullies.

Linking the story to Carl Lumbly's Isaiah Bradley, who received the super-soldier serum during the Korean War and was tasked with taking down Winter Soldier before being disavowed and imprisoned was a great touch. It lets us address the racial issues at play with a Captain America of colour without making it the focus of the film.

Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) is just as anxious to become the new Falcon as he was when introduced in the Falcon and Winter Soldier Disney+ series, and has much of the same swagger as Sam did when introduced in the second Cap film. He brings tech skills and heart, but will need more to become a sidekick we will clamor to see.

Saga-wise, I know many viewers will be heartened by the absence of a multiverse story (despite that being the name of this current set of Phases!), but be warned, it does get hinted at. Mostly I was glad to see them finally address the new landmass created by the Celestial emerging from the Indian Ocean in 2021's The Eternals. This was a movie where I remember more about the post-credits scene than the film itself, which is not a great sign, obviously.

More critically though, Celestial Island gives them a great way to introduce Marvel's other famously made-up mineral, adamantium. And having the initial tension revolve around an international treaty regarding the island and its miraculous metal was a great angle, but hopes for a Tom Clancy-like approach are never really met. (Note to filmmakers - despite being the Commander-in-Chief, the President should never be shouting orders like "launch interceptor missiles" on a warship - even if it is Harrison Ford!)

In the end, Captain America: Brave New World is by no means a must-see, even if you haven't succumbed to "superhero fatigue." But if you are curious at all about the progress of a character willfully stepping into shoes too big to fill, or the evolution of the MCU in general, we certainly didn't come away feeling disappointed.