At first, my expectations of this movie were low due to Marvel’s general malaise of recent years. Yet upon exiting, I felt this was an enjoyable popcorn flick with great acting performances (particularly from Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus Ross).
Carl Lumbly stands out as an impressive portrayal of Isaiah Bradley, an African American superhero who refuses to work for the government.
The Story
As the first Captain America movie since Avengers: Endgame, Captain America Brave New World looks to make an impressionful first impression. It begins strong, with an action sequence in which Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) takes down an enemy by jumping from above the atmosphere and landing with such force that it breaks the sound barrier – demonstrating his versatility as not just physical strength but intelligence in fighting off his foes. It shows Cap’s not simply fast or strong but can think outside the box to combat them successfully.
But once again, the plot devolves into chaos. It features elements from other Marvel movies like Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus Ross and General Dill with an overarching plot resonating themes seen in Civil War and The Winter Soldier while simultaneously linking back to The Eternals and The Incredible Hulk; plus it seems rushed and underdeveloped overall.
Red Hulk was my main point of disappointment in this movie; they introduced such an impactful character yet failed to fully explore his potential. He’s the primary reason I wasn’t as entertained with this flick and deserves his own standalone project.
Overall, Captain America Brave New World is a solid action movie with some intriguing concepts and ideas. While entertaining and returning to the series’ roots are certainly hallmarks of success, with more time and consideration it could have been even greater. Fans of the franchise should give this film a watch, but those hoping for groundbreaking story or stronger villains such as MODOK or Zemo won’t find much to love here. I still hope they can get it right in future movies; they have the talent here but need to step it up their game. As of late, they’ve been falling short and this movie wasn’t enough to make up for their shortcomings. I hope they can find their bearings for their next project and give us the ride we all deserve; until then I must wait – the future may look bright, but there is so much we could lose before then.
The Cast
Since we last saw Captain America in the MCU, this film feels like a fresh start – in large part thanks to Anthony Mackie’s remarkable portrayal of Sam Wilson – his performance is key and brings some heartful nuances to his role; plus he shares great chemistry with co-star Danny Ramirez.
Harrison Ford makes an impactful return as President Thaddeus Ross (aka Thunderbolt Ross in comic books). Harrison brings all the charm and intensity he brought to Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Blade Runner movies into this role.
Brave New World marks Marvel’s inaugural movie to feature an African-American director, Julius Onah. His international perspective can be seen through its use of multiple languages and characters from Japan and the Philippines – something which helps make Brave New World feel much more connected to other MCU films.
Carl Lumbly gives his performance of Isaiah Bradley from Super Soldier Experiments as one of the film’s highlights, though his story remains underdeveloped. Giancarlo Esposito’s menacing Sidewinder from SERPENT also stands out, although not getting enough screen time to truly become effective in combat scenes with Cap.
Liv Tyler stars as Betty Ross and Sebastian Stan stars as Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier; these characters provide some much-needed comedy relief during what can otherwise be quite intense and somber cinematic proceedings.
As with many Marvel films, Brave New World sometimes struggles to balance all its various plotlines. Though not as complex as others in the MCU series, there are too many awkward links between past events such as Eternals or past villains and current plot points – something particularly noticeable during its final act which feels rushed and overcomplicated. Luckily, it more than makes up for its shortcomings with incredible action set pieces; whether its run-ins with small groups of armed henchmen or fights at junkyards this movie features some amazing scenes!
The Action
Though Brave New World may not have a perfect plot, it does serve as an effective vehicle for Sam Wilson to demonstrate why he deserves the Captain America mantle. Though Sam doesn’t get much of a character arc, he does demonstrate how even without super soldier serum he can still be an exceptional hero; using his wings and jet pack demonstrates this skillfully while fighting. Though injured frequently – Sam never gives up fighting. This truly shows he is worthy of this great responsibility.
Action scenes in The Last Jedi are impressively intense and visually exciting, featuring stellar performances by Anthony Mackie (Falcon wings and shield) and Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross. Both actors bring something extra to the film.
As an avid Marvel Comics reader, I was delighted to witness characters return from the past in this new timeline – it provides an effective way to connect all the movies while starting a fresh start with MCU.
Captain America Brave New World remains an entertaining action movie despite some cliches and weak points, offering some of the most exciting fight scenes from any Marvel Cinematic Universe film: aerial dogfights, inventive uses for Captain America’s iconic shield, and Hulk-smashing confrontation are just a few highlights.
Rumors notwithstanding, it’s difficult to compare this movie with Winter Soldier as there have been significant rewrites and reshoots since then. While not as intricate, its political espionage feels somewhat rushed while dialogue sometimes falls flat and plot threads sometimes feel redundant and predictable.
Brave New World is an entertaining and exhilarating adventure, fulfilling its promise to introduce a new Captain America with panache and flair. An exhilarating action film with stunning visuals and stellar cast performances; I can’t wait for what comes next in this chapter of Marvel Cinematic Universe!
The Music
Laura Karpman has composed music for every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie since 2017. While it might seem unusual to hire a different composer for every film in this franchise, Karpman has proven an exceptional fit – her scores combine traditional orchestral music with emotive modern sounds while providing a consistent musical tone throughout each franchise.
As is often the case with sequels, there’s much material from previous movies to integrate into Captain America: Brave New World. Karpman does an admirable job at doing just this with her two new themes for Captain America: Brave New World; both feature prominently. One, an intense and sinister Conspiracy theme immediately appears during “Junkyard”, reaching its dramatic climax before transitioning into more subdued and reflective “No Phones”.
Sam Wilson himself is the main protagonist in this tale, so his signature theme stands out instantly as an elegant five-note motif that instantly connects him with nobility and justice – almost serving as his modern day anthem! In combination with action motif it creates an arresting, grandiose yet also slightly unnerving soundscape which directly competes against Conspiracy theme.
Both themes are employed sparingly throughout the score, with other tracks featuring various main characters from the film. Songs were specifically used to tell Isaiah Bradley’s story after being captured and experimented on by The Leader’s mind control victims; such powerful yet inspiring tracks as “Mr Blue” by The Fleetwoods offer hopefulness to Isaiah Bradley.
Kendrick Lamar, a frequent collaborator with Marvel Studios who previously contributed his soaring vocals and driving rhythms for both Black Panther and Guardians of the Galaxy soundtracks, adds epic needle drops that perfectly suit this film’s dramatic and bombastic atmosphere. His compositions complement its theme beautifully.