When I sat down to watch Captain America: Brave New World, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As the fourth installment in the Captain America series and the 35th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe(MCU), it had a lot to live up to. Directed by Julius Onah, with a screenplay by Rob Edwards, the story picks up after Sam Wilson has officially taken on the mantle of Captain America. Joining him is Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon, who brings a youthful energy to the duo. As a die-hard MCU fan, the movie was a rollercoaster of emotions.
The movie juggles multiple plot lines. It begins with Sam Wilson and Joaquin Torres on a mission in Mexico to stop the Serpent Society from selling stolen classified materials. President Ross’s discovery of adamantium on Celestial Island invites an assassination attempt on him where mind control is used to frame Isaiah Bradley for the attack. Captain America has to deal with his internal battles as well as handle his newfound responsibilities. The climax involves a chaotic battle against Red Hulk in Washington, D.C. which was visually stunning!
Anthony Mackie shines as Sam Wilson. He knows what it is like to live under the shadow of the shield. He is good at depicting what it means for Sam to be Captain America in this day and age. His interactions with ordinary people look very natural. He doesn’t have super-soldier serum or god-like powers; he’s just a man trying his best in extraordinary circumstances. Most importantly, the fight scenes are well-choreographed. The aerial battle near Celestial Island feels out of the world. Another standout actor for me was Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley. His character’s struggle against systemic injustice delivers an emotion-packed performance.
However, I couldn’t help but feel that the movie was trying too hard to connect dots across the MCU rather than focusing on telling a single story. Watching Brave New World felt like revisiting old Marvel magic but with some cracks showing through. I loved the political thriller elements, but too many subplots spoiled the narrative. The villains were underdeveloped, and everybody already knew Ross will be turning into red hulk. For casual viewers unfamiliar with MCU, the film can feel overwhelming. However, it is still an engaging watch and worthy of a Captain America movie franchise. Anthony’s character was inspiring and the theatre cheered on his dialogues. Although, a lot of them would have also missed the old captain America.
Captain America: Brave New World isn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but a valid succession of the MCU. Die-hard Marvel fans have dozens of Easter eggs and connections involved; for casual viewers, it’s a fun film with great visuals, soundtracks, and dialogues. The film also carries themes as systemic injustice and what it means to be a hero in the present world. If I could describe it in a sentence: Brave New World is a bold but jumbled chapter in Captain America’s story.