In Sam Wilson’s first solo adventure as Captain America, he goes up against arms dealers, mercenaries and the occasional irradiated president. “Captain America: Brave New World,” starring Anthony Mackie as the titular character, takes place soon after Sam Wilson takes up the shield. He fights through political corruption while facing a new threat linked to the Avengers’ past.
The film takes place after the events of “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” which set up Sam Wilson as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s new Captain America. Characters from prior projects, such as President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, Joaquin Torres and Samuel Sterns all make appearances. Brave New World not only creates links with past projects, but also further builds the universe of the MCU. The most notable addition is the introduction of adamantium, a new element that has massive implications for future films and characters, such as fan-favorite Wolverine.
One of the film’s biggest drawbacks lies in its pacing. The movie moves fast, with characters such as Ruth-Bat-Seraph having little attention or development. Villains such as Sterns are underused, which is especially frustrating since his character has great potential to pose a massive threat. Despite the pacing issues, characters like Ross, the morally conflicted president, and Isaiah Bradley, a fear-struck veteran, are well-developed. They receive most of the spotlight, which gives them excellent character development at the expense of the others’ growth across the film.
Aside from the pacing issues, “Brave New World” conveys a stand-out tone. While most MCU films focus on outlandish and fantastical elements, this film sets itself apart by sticking to a serious and gritty tone. It takes inspiration from political thrillers, featuring dark cinematography and convoluted mysteries that unravel the malfeasance in global politics. The film also provides excellent commentary on modern politics, highlighting the struggle of unjust imprisonment and political corruption in ways that stay with the film’s tone and message.
While the tone stands out, the film’s fight scenes aren’t anywhere near as good as other works by Marvel. The most impressive action lies in aerial combat, with both Captain America and the Falcon engaging in fights with fighter jets and taking on enemies from a bird’s eye view. While the cinematography makes the most of the ground-level fight scenes, basic fight choreography is easy to spot. Larger-scale fights, while initially promising, quickly lose momentum and end lacking luster.
One of the film’s brightest spots lies in its visual effects. Computer-generated characters, such as the Red Hulk and Celestial Island, all look amazing, with great attention to detail in every frame. Overall, the film is a testament to the MCU’s high standards with CGI.
The movie additionally features a massive cast, each playing their roles excellently. The standout of the film is Carl Lumbly’s Isaiah Bradley, a traumatized and demoralized victim of the United State’s horrifying experiments during the Korean War. Bradley mirrors real-life struggles, with his story alluding to the infamous Tuskegee experiments in which African-American people were used as subjects to study syphilis. Lumbly gives a stunning performance, portraying the trauma of his character heartbreakingly.
Harrison Ford acts as President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, a morally conflicted and cornered leader who has to deal with his past catching up to him. Ford performs exceptionally well, fully committing to the character through fitting rage and in playing the character via motion capture during Ross’s transformation into the Red Hulk.
“Captain America: Brave New World,” while featuring an excellent tone and further exploring its world, fails to develop its characters and plot fully. However, it redeems itself through gritty and realistic performances, an excellent ensemble cast and entertaining aerial action. The world of the MCU further expands with 2025’s first installment, with future films such as ‘Thunderbolts” and “Fantastic Four: First Steps” arriving soon.
Rating: 4/5 stars
