In theaters, most are expecting the worst and the air is tense, but when Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) takes to the screen, the audience is quick to be enraptured by the scenes ahead. Afterward, they’re left with a question: is Marvel going down, or is it about to take to the skies?
In “Captain America: Brave New World,” we find our new Captain America, Wilson, in a hard position at the center of an international incident — a scramble for a newly discovered material known as Adamantium — when a supposedly premeditated attempt on the President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) takes place. But when someone close to him is suspected to be involved, Wilson takes it personally. President Ross sets Wilson aside, removing him from the case, but that doesn’t stop him. The stakes are raised, and not everything is as it seems.
It’s a common belief among Marvel fans that the quality of Marvel movies has suffered in recent years, particularly with the transition from Marvel’s Infinity Saga to the beginning of The Multiverse Saga. People perceive Marvel Studios as a company that is spreading itself too thin as a result of producing multiple high-budget limited series.
So it’s understandable that with the recent release of “Captain America: Brave New World,” people would expect it to be substantially worse in quality than previous movies such as “Avengers: Endgame” and “Iron Man.” On IMDB, the rating for Brave New World currently stands at 6.1 out of 10. Considering that the movie came out on Feb. 14, 2025, the rating isn’t bad, but one could argue that it has room to also fly up in rankings.
When looking at Rotten Tomatoes, we can find mixed reactions to “Captain America: Brave New World,” with a 48% Tomatometer but a 79% Popcornmeter. One well-known critic pointed out that Wilson comes off as more of a side character in someone else’s story. With these critiques being echoed by many on the platform, other conflicting opinions on platforms such as Screen Rant present a different view.
While some admit that the film isn’t nearly as iconic as previous Captain America movies — especially compared to Chris Evans’s portrayal of the hero — it’s still considered an enjoyable movie by many, with Wilson emerging as an admirable character.
In short, the reviews vary widely, highlighting the need to consider several perspectives.
Realistically, everyone is going to have a different opinion about movies, whether it’s ones you watch in a theater or ones you see from the comfort of your couch.
When I sat in the theater to take a chance on this brand new movie, I felt like the build up to the climax had everything it needed. Whereas predictability in movies is often a problem, I was led along the route in a way that didn’t feel predictable, because Wilson felt like someone I could follow and root for through his struggles as if they were my own.
Having read a lot of books in my time, ranging from fantasy to historical fiction, I’ve gotten rather good at feeling the direction of a story, which leaves me satisfied but a bit bored, so it’s always fun when something occurs in a way I can’t easily predict, such as in “Captain America: Brave New World.”
When Ruth Bat-Seraph (Shira Haas) walked onto the screen, stern-faced and straight-to-the-point, she was a cause of tension, having been appointed as President Ross’s new security advisor who took over the case after Wilson’s removal. Despite the cause for conflict, Bat-Seraph was an icon in my eyes. As her character developed and more about her was revealed, such as her past that tied her to a previous Marvel heroine’s name, I expected that connection to be elaborated upon.
Except it wasn’t.
The connection was noted as a point of interest between Wilson and Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), who takes up the mantle of Falcon, but the connection is not delved into very deeply or clarified like it could have been.
Her story was more brief and lightly touched upon. More could have been done with Bat-Seraph, but I do understand that there was already a lot going on in the movie considering the international dilemma the plot was centered on.
Every movie has flaws — that is to be expected. But from my point of view, this movie was not as bad as the people surrounding me and the internet are saying. It was better than expected, and I am pleasantly surprised.
“Captain America: Brave New World” breaks through belief, surpassing expectations and leaving you wondering what the future of Marvel truly holds.
