My opinion on Captain America: Brave New World after my rewatch
Disclaimer: This is my opinion. I'm entitled to my opinion, and you're entitled to yours.
I genuinely love this movie, I think it's really good. Anthony Mackie is wonderful in this movie, and so is everyone else. I like how it ties together plot threads from movies that have nothing to do with Captain America, but it still has Sam at the center of them. The cinematography is great, the story really works for me. The fight choreography, for both the hand-to-hand combat scenes and the two main action sequences, the Celestial Island fight, and when Sam fights Red Hulk were great. The whole thing about rebuilding the Avengers hit a lot more differently on my rewatch, especially after Thunderbolts\*, and the emotional aspects were good. The scene with Sam and Bucky was so fun to see, despite the context, and I liked Ruth. My only problems are with the marketing, but given that the Leader was also a surprise, I don't think it would've been better if they focused on him as the villain in the marketing. I unapologetically love this movie, and frankly, it's my favourite MCU project of this year, but it's close because we've gotten great projects this year, and I don't think anything they've done all year is bad.
I genuinely love this movie, I think it's really good. Anthony Mackie is wonderful in this movie, and so is everyone else. I like how it ties together plot threads from movies that have nothing to do with Captain America, but it still has Sam at the center of them. The cinematography is great, the story really works for me. The fight choreography, for both the hand-to-hand combat scenes and the two main action sequences, the Celestial Island fight, and when Sam fights Red Hulk were great. The whole thing about rebuilding the Avengers hit a lot more differently on my rewatch, especially after Thunderbolts\*, and the emotional aspects were good. The scene with Sam and Bucky was so fun to see, despite the context, and I liked Ruth. My only problems are with the marketing, but given that the Leader was also a surprise, I don't think it would've been better if they focused on him as the villain in the marketing. I unapologetically love this movie, and frankly, it's my favourite MCU project of this year, but it's close because we've gotten great projects this year, and I don't think anything they've done all year is bad.
Commentaires
We need to feel sympathy for the dude.
Give him his “I can do this all day” moment
His Avengers besties stuff all happens off screen.
Them on the run? We get shown when they show up saving Wanda. What have they been up to all this time? Cap has a beard wow cool.
Even further back. Sam says I know a guy. Then recruits Scott off screen. Hell even in winter soldier he goes and gets his suit off screen.
He gets his red wing off screen. He gets arrested when Ironman blasts him off screen. He gets off the raft offscreen.
He gets to know what happens to Steve offscreen.
Yet when the movie comes out marvel expects the non fan audience to fall in love with Sam the way they did with Steve.
The rankings don't really matter, though, because I thought all the movies were great!
I *might* have preferred Sam to go up against villains who are more, uh, shall we say his power level? As it stands, though, they did a really good job NOT ignoring the fact that Sam was very much at the disadvantage physically there, and the way the story played out it really was believable (to me, at least) that Sam could instead hone in on his empathy and counseling skills to talk the Red Hulk down.
I really like Sam Wilson and I'm excited to see more of his character in the future!
Its so refreshing to see a character embody the kind of hero we need *more* of in the real world; not one who conqers with might, but one who sees how we can all be better and pushes to bring us there.
As a thunderbolts hater, I have to give it props for that
I'm nearly certain that was the WHOLE point of the film.
Worse than Iron Man, Capt America, Thor, Avengers <- all of 'em + sequels
Missing core.
i wrote a full review on my [REkzkaRZ blog](https://www.rekzkarz.com/2025/03/captain-america-brave-new-world-review.html)
Lowlights:
While I'm all for the 'changing of the guard' as RDJ and Chris Evans are leaving, still gotta have excellent writing.
SPOILERS AHEAD -- Plot holes & general criticisms:
- SWilson - Capt America - simply not good.
- Swilson - "Why didn't I take the super serum?" <-- was it an option? Then give him the damned serum!
- Doesn't anyone want to steal his suit now that it's worth $100 billion or more?
- His winged suit goes faster than military jet fighters?
- Vanishing helmet is pure BS.
- Red Wing is more effective than SWilson Cap.
- Sonic wave after landing - it doesn't break any furniture, but it knocks everyone down?
President General Thunderbolt Ross / Red Hulk
- Had a heart condition, couldn't get help -- so instead he got medical help from a mad supervillain!??! No one else would help him? WTH
- Ross' supervillain doctor says "take these pills, no more than 3 a day" and Ross doesn't check what they are with anyone else?
- The freakin' President doesn't have anyone else knowing his medications?!?!?!
- He invites super heroes / supervillains to Whitehouse, but has no super security onsite?
- Getting Rulk to cherry blossoms to appeal to his humanity -- that shouldn't work & SWilson should know that. His plan to 'relax the Hulk into giving up' shouldn't make any sense and shouldn't work. Or what about getting Ant Man or Wasp to go mini and enter Red Hulk, then expand inside his heart or brain?
- Red Hulk can be contained in The Raft? Hmmmm.... I don't think so.
The Leader
- super-genius, but couldn't escape Ross' prison???
- Had to invent mind control and Hulk-weapons in order to beat Ross?!?!?
- The Leader can hypnotize anyone to kill anyone using a phone app (???), but can't make Ross do what he wants?
- The Leader can't escape 'The Raft'?!?!?
Other Stuff
- Isaiah Bradley's old 'Orig Capt America' - when he's mind controlled, he shoots at President. Why doesn't he punch him? He was shown punching bags thru the walls just minutes prior.
- after Leader is exposed, Bradley is released? WTH? Maybe he'd get released as a secret agent into Shield or Avengers
- the idea that Bradley just walka free after assassination attempt on TV is quite a reach.
To me, this film was a wasted opportunity!
My only major gripe is that both women characters, Ruth and Leila are both pretty short changed and don't have any substance. They don't really develop and we don't really get to know them.
My two, admittedly, minor gripes are that of all the times for greenscreen to be apparent, I hate that its right at Sam's big speech to Ross. If I nominate a movie moment for a sneaky Disney Plus touch up, it's that one
I also thought, with Joaquin being shot down, we would get even a passing mention of Sam's old partner Riley who was similarly shot down. It's not a huge deal at all, but it felt like two moments that were similar enough to warrant even a passing mention
But overall, better movie than a lot of people claim
Oddly, however, Superman had my *least* favorite "original" score of the four, though. "Re-use Williams' theme and raise it an octave" was a huge misstep imo, and Son Lux (Thunderbolts) and Laura Karpman (BNW) did a lot more to push film music forward and enhance the emotions of their movies.
They cooked with the fight scenes tho.
I don't hate it, I don't have time for that nonsense. It was just one that left me thinking it could've been better.
Why the hell didn't Disney/Marvel just make THIS the new Avengers film? They could've brought back Hulk to conclude his story since they still can't make solo movies for him, while also finally giving us a team up with all the new heroes!
Copperhead: "I heard your rib go. You need a minute?"
Sam, in massive pain: "No, let's get this over with, I got shit to do today."
That was the moment I felt the character of Sam and the mantle of Cap merge. Cap tenacity + Sam jokes. Perfect combination.