‘Captain America: Brave New World’ (2025) Movie Review - Mediocre Marvel

I hope Marvel makes a marvelous movie someday. Unfortunately, today is not that day. Julius Onah's Captain America: Brave New World is as unoriginal, as style-free, and as unadventurous as other films and shows in this universe. And yet, Brave New World is comparatively better than most Phase Five Marvel productions, although this isn't much of a compliment. The screenplay, apparently written by five writers - Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson, Julius Onah, and Peter Glanz - derives most of its power from the central mystery of the plot. Who's that man manipulating people? Also, how was he able to control Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) through a song (Mr. Blue)? Can Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), the President of the United States, be trusted? He tells Sam (Anthony Mackie), the new Captain America, that he wants to restart the Avengers. Has Ross really changed, or is he wearing a mask? How is Ross related to that mind-controller? These questions, for a while, keep you invested in the Brave New World. At the same time, however, you realize the movie has nothing else to offer.

Brave New World has an airtight plot. It's so sharply focused on its narrow objective that it kills your imagination. While watching the film, your mind doesn't come up with wild possibilities, creative interpretations, or even mild amusement. Onah takes the story forward mechanically through dry, rigid images. When Sam and Joaquin/Falcon (Danny Ramirez) fly in the air, we don't look at them with awe. Brave New World, like many superhero flicks produced by money-hungry corporations, lacks a crucial dimension: a sense of wonder. By bringing superhumans to the level of mere mortals, movies like Brave New World aim to render mythical, magical experiences tangible. This new Captain America doesn't take the serum so the kids can learn they don't require sci-fi hokum to become a superhuman. You just need to be yourself (while you're at it, get yourself some high-tech gadgets). The message, however, looks phony here, thanks to the stench of mediocrity present in the film's atmosphere.

Brave New World's idea of generating drama involves making Ford look like he is suffering from constipation. His Ross wants to reconnect with his daughter, but his longing is devoid of emotional fervor. A moody Ford is all you get in the name of drama and emotions. His past is homework that one must do in order to root for his desires. And if you go into the theater without any memories of The Incredible Hulk (2008), you will find yourself feeling indifferent towards certain characters and their motivations. Isn't it absurd that these films are incapable of standing on their feet and require the support of some other work in the franchise to give themselves a dramatic dimension, which, even with all the homework, comes across as weak and insubstantial? If you want to see how unimaginative all the five writers are, consider the mind-controlling villain. What does he achieve with his powers? He turns his victims into violent killers. That's it. This is all the mind-controlling he can do with his superpowers.

What about Red Hulk? The character has been sold as the film's main highlight by the studios (he appears prominently in the poster), but alas, the red beast gets very little screen time here. His presence gives Brave New World an illusion of energy and momentum, which you welcome wholeheartedly in a film that is mind-numbingly unexceptional. However, I don't think fans would be too pleased by the cameo-like appearance of Red Hulk. This angry muscle is nothing more than a marketing gimmick to lure in Marvel diehards. I feel sad for the fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead of well-written, well-directed films, they get teasers and advertisements. They sit through the end credits only to get more lame jokes or lame teasers. I won't be surprised if, during the screening of one of these lackluster Marvel films, a Marvel devotee would end up transforming into Hulk. Who needs gamma radiation when this dull cinematic universe is capable of giving you a bad temper?

Final Score- [4/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times