Film Review: Captain America: Brave New World

Introduction

Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World (UA), the fourth installment in the Captain America franchise and the 35th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, released on 14 February 2025. Helmed by Julius Onah, the film sees Anthony Mackie return as Sam Wilson, who must balance his responsibilities as the new Captain America while confronting international conspiracies, betrayals, and the monstrous emergence of the Red Hulk. While the film has its fair share of twists, action, and strong performances, an ordinary start and uneven momentum keep it from soaring as high as Marvel fans might expect.

Story & Screenplay

Written by Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, and Dalan Musson, the story sets up a solid political-superhero thriller. Sam Wilson and Joaquin Torres foil an adamantium smuggling deal in Mexico, leading to their introduction to Isaiah Bradley. Soon after, President-elect Thaddeus Ross invites Wilson to the White House to discuss re-forming the Avengers only for a shocking assassination attempt to implicate Bradley.

The screenplay (by Edwards, Spellman, Musson, Onah, and Peter Glanz) keeps the audience engaged with constant twists: Wilson and Torres’ investigation into Bradley’s innocence, Samuel Sterns’ manipulations, and the eventual transformation of Ross into the Red Hulk. The pacing ensures there is little downtime, and the web of deception and revelations keeps viewers invested.

That said, the film suffers from an ordinary first act. The initial Mexico sequence and White House setup lack urgency, making the entry into the story slower than ideal. Once the main conflict kicks in, however, the film builds momentum and sustains intrigue until the climactic showdown.

Direction

Julius Onah delivers a controlled and entertaining superhero thriller. He navigates between political drama and action spectacle with reasonable skill, though some portions particularly the early stretch feel restrained. Unlike the emotional depth of Captain America: The Winter Soldier or the large-scale intensity of Civil War, Brave New World operates in a middle zone, entertaining but not groundbreaking.

Performances

• Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson / Captain America): Charismatic and emotionally grounded, Mackie shines in both dramatic and action sequences. His performance reinforces his ownership of the Captain America mantle.

• Harrison Ford (President Thaddeus Ross / Red Hulk): A powerhouse presence, Ford balances political gravitas with ferocity. His transformation into the Red Hulk provides both menace and spectacle.

• Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres): Convincing and likable, serving as Wilson’s capable ally.

• Carl Lumbly (Isaiah Bradley): Excellent, lending vulnerability and quiet strength to his role.

• Tim Blake Nelson (Samuel Sterns): Menacing and effective as the scheming antagonist.

• Shira Haas (Ruth Bat-Seraph): Adequate as Ross’ security advisor, though her role feels underwritten.

• Xosha Roquemore (Leila Taylor): Strong support as the Secret Service agent.

• Cameos & Supporting Cast:

• Sebastian Stan delights in a cameo as Bucky Barnes.

• Giancarlo Esposito (Seth Voelker/Sidewinder) and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Copperhead) make formidable members of the Serpent Society.

• Liv Tyler reprises her role as Betty Ross with warmth.

• William Mark McCullough, Takehiro Hira, and Rick Espaillat add realism as global political figures.

The ensemble works seamlessly, with Mackie and Ford standing out as the film’s dual anchors.

Music & Technical Aspects

• Background Score (Laura Karpman): Atmospheric and impactful, enhancing both action and suspense.

• Cinematography (Kramer Morgenthau): Excellent, with crisp action choreography and striking visuals of political settings.

• Production Design (Ramsey Avery): High-quality, especially in White House interiors and action set-pieces.

• Editing (Madeleine Gavin & Matthew Schmidt): Sharp, ensuring tight narrative flow in later acts despite the sluggish start.

• Dubbing: Proper and effective for the Hindi release.

Box Office & Reception

Released at Gemini (daily 5 shows) in Bombay through Star India Pvt. Ltd., the film saw so-so publicity and an ordinary opening. Nationwide response was also on the lower side, reflecting lukewarm anticipation despite Marvel’s brand value. This suggests fatigue within the MCU fanbase, though word of mouth for later portions may give the film a steadier run.

Final Verdict

Captain America: Brave New World is a fair entertainer engaging once it takes off, but weighed down by an unremarkable beginning and lack of the franchise-defining punch Marvel fans may crave. Anchored by Anthony Mackie’s confident Captain America and Harrison Ford’s powerhouse Ross/Red Hulk, the film has enough spectacle and intrigue to satisfy loyal fans, but it doesn’t quite break new ground in the MCU.

On the Plus Side:

• Anthony Mackie’s solid performance

• Harrison Ford’s impactful Ross/Red Hulk

• Strong ensemble cast

• Engaging twists and turns

• Excellent cinematography and sharp editing (post-interval)

On the Minus Side:

• Slow, ordinary start

• Uneven pacing in the first act

• Some underwritten supporting roles

• So-so publicity and lower box office opening