Review: Captain America: Brave New World Wows Upon Release Despite Criticism
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) latest installment Captain America: Brave New World, which released on February 14, has received numerous conflicting reviews, with some praising it and others criticizing it.
The film, starring Anthony Mackie, Sam Wilson, as Captain America, and Harrison Ford as President Thunderbolt Ross, takes the viewers through an action-packed adventure. However, the antagonist who pulls the strings throughout this political thriller is a brilliant supervillain known as the Leader, who is portrayed by Tim Black Nelson. The Leader uses mind control to disrupt Ross’s multi-nation treaty centered around a newly discovered raw material, adamantium, causing a three-way conflict between himself, Ross, and Wilson.
This later develops into the climax, where Mackie’s character acts quickly to stop two mind-controlled American fighter pilots from starting a war with the Japanese navy. Ultimately, the Leader turns himself in for his actions before revealing that he has poisoned the President with pills filled with a high dose of Gamma Radiation, turning him into the Red Hulk. Wilson engages in an all-out battle with the monster, defeating him by helping the commander-in-chief take control of his body and take accountability for his prior actions.
The film was excellent due to superb acting from Mackie and Ford, who brought their respective characters to life. New additions Sabra, portrayed by Shira Hass, and Joaquin Torres, portrayed by Danny Ramirez, were outstanding in their supporting roles. Nelson captivated the audience’s attention with his portrayal of the gamma-powered supervillain, the Leader
#CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld is INSANE and I loved it. Again, the mcu fans and critics judged way too harshly. Not only do you have great action but great chemistry, emotion, suspense & CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT? Sam Wilson embodies and becomes Captain America pic.twitter.com/JCd2LWIzVG
— maximoffs|| (@inhumanscarlet_) February 17, 2025
The blockbuster action-adventure was criticized by others who thought the film lacked the wow factor and originality that other Marvel films have had. Some critics cited the main issue as the film feeling like a sequel to the 2008 Incredible Hulk film, but without the Hulk.
#CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld epitomises everything wrong with most of what the MCU produces now – unsure of what it wants to be, poorly written, devoid of any emotion or build-up, visually uninspired, and formulaic. I feel so bad for Anthony Mackie, because he’s FANTASTIC as Cap pic.twitter.com/YF6KTdIC5l
— Henry (@HenrysReviews23) February 14, 2025
Other viewers were on the fence, thinking the film was not great, but also not as horrible as some had described.
Ok, #CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld:
— Cole Hardy (@ColeHardy116) February 14, 2025
– Ignore the bad reviews!
– Not perfect, but still a lot of fun
– Anthony Mackie was the perfect choice for Cap
– Harrison Ford delivers a super fun performance
– Action is a lot of fun when you get it
– Final battle was worth the build up pic.twitter.com/WihNPO0bBo
Despite the mixed reactions from viewers, watch the film for yourself, purchase tickets at your local movie theater.
