CAPTAIN AMERICA – BRAVE NEW WORLD!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Brave New World is a solid addition to the MCU, though it does feel like a filler film. It almost plays like an extended episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier—which isn’t necessarily a bad thing—but it lacks the grand scale of previous MCU films.
Marvel seems to be in a strange place right now, struggling to recapture the heights of Infinity War and Endgame. In many ways, they are their own worst enemy. That said, the story is decent, and the characters are engaging. One of the film’s standout moments is Thaddeus Ross transforming into the Red Hulk—an excellent bit of cinema.
Anthony Mackie delivers a strong performance, and I really like him in the role of Captain America. His dynamic with Danny Ramirez is still developing, though it doesn’t quite reach the level of his relationships with Steve Rogers or Bucky Barnes.
The film is enjoyable, featuring two fantastic action set pieces, but it suffers from behind-the-scenes issues. With reports that the film was essentially re-shot four times, some scenes feel hastily put together—almost as if they were filmed just weeks before release.
Despite its flaws, I’d still recommend seeing it in theatres. I’m a big advocate for cinema, especially at a time when theaters are closing across the country. Few films drive audiences to theaters like Marvel’s big-budget blockbusters. That said, if you decide to wait for Disney+, I wouldn’t blame you.
A side note: I highly recommend watching The Incredible Hulk before seeing this. Many forget it’s part of the mainline MCU because Edward Norton originally played Bruce Banner, but Mark Ruffalo’s version is the same character. Watching Eternals might also help with certain plot elements. Additionally, if you haven’t seen The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, some aspects—like Isaiah Bradley’s character—might be confusing.
Overall, I’d rate Brave New World a solid 3 out of 5—a mid-tier Marvel film, but still worth checking out. If you’ve seen it already or plan to, let me know your thoughts.
Peace.
