Thunderbolts(2025) is the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and as a long-time fan of superhero movies, I was both excited and curious to see how this team of antiheroes would come together. It was not like a typical Marvel superhero movie. Directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts brings together a mix of familiar faces like Yelena Belova(Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes(Sebastian Stan), and John Walker(Wyatt Russell). The group is forced to work together and save the world, not because they want to, but because they have no other choice. This was a promising premise! Thunderbolts are people with troubled pasts. At the same time there is plenty of action, adventure and humor.
The movie kicks off in Malaysia, where Yelena Belova is sent on a mission by a CIA director, Valentina Fontaine to destroy a secret lab involved in Sentry superhuman project. She assembles a team of Yelena, John Walker, Ava Starr(Ghost), and Taskmaster-under the pretense of another mission. However, it quickly becomes clear that the task was just a pretense to make them turn against each other. They learn that de Fontaine had planned to eliminate them to destroy evidence of her crimes. The movie is about the Thunderbolts escape the bait and discover hidden superpowers while trying to figure out the mess. It is a well written story full of twists and turns.
The performances in the film are outstanding. The story is even better. Each character has a sufficient backstory to emotionally connect with it. The superheroes are not just about crazy powers. They are human enough to make mistakes. I liked this as I was tired of watching cliche Marvel movies. The scenes involving the Void are some of the most memorable in the movie, with brilliant visual effects and psychological horror themes. Despite its darker themes, the film still has plenty of funny and heartfelt moments, especially in the interactions between the team members. The conversations feel natural and you start to have fun after a time.
However, I felt that the movie could have been a little quick paced. There is a lot of breathing space between two intense scenes which breaks the flow of the story. Also, some team members, like Taskmaster and Ava Starr, dont get as much screen time or development as they deserve. If you are not a Marvel fan, some of the flashbacks might confuse you without any context. However, it does not affect the narrative too much. I went with a friend who hasnt seen any Marvel movies, and he still thoroughly enjoyed Thunderbolts. Overall, the casting is good and the direction and VFX is perfect, something you would expect from a Marvel production.
Thunderbolts is a bold and entertaining addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It offers something different from the usual superhero team-up, focusing on broken heroes trying to find redemption. While its far from perfect, it is still a good change and definitely worth watching in the theatres. The music and visuals will keep you hooked to the big screen. Even the fights arent very typical and there are a lot of betrayals and twists that keep the story engaging.If youre looking for a superhero film with a bit more depth and darkness, Thunderbolts is definitely worth watching.