Captain America: Brave New World Movie Review : A thrilling but uneven superhero saga

Story: The fourth edition of the Captain America franchise follows Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as he embraces his role as the new Captain America. An international incident involving the powerful metal, adamantium, leads to geopolitical tensions, with various nations vying for control over the rare resource.

Review: Sam Wilson comes into his own as Captain America in a standalone movie in the Marvel Comic Universe and the superhero franchise. The movie kicks off with an adrenaline-fueled sequence as Sam Wilson and his new sidekick, Joaquin “Falcon” Torres (Danny Ramirez), thwart an illegal adamantium deal in Mexico. This earns them an invitation to the White House, where newly elected President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford, stepping in for the late William Hurt) spearheads a global treaty to distribute adamantium among nations. But diplomacy takes a dark turn when super-soldier Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) and four others launch an unexpected attack on Ross, resulting in the former’s arrest and Wilson being fired.

Determined to uncover the truth, Wilson and Torres dive into an investigation that exposes a mind-control plot orchestrated by Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson), who seeks revenge after Ross breaks a promise to free him. What follows is a convoluted but action-packed mission, with Captain America and Falcon stopping a war between Japan and the US, as Ross transforms into the Red Hulk.

Directed and co-written by Julius Onah, the film delivers on spectacle, but its sprawling narrative sometimes stretches thin, balancing political intrigue, heroics, and a crisis involving mind control by Sterns. The action sequences deliver edge-of-the-seat thrill, but the long-drawn narrative often disrupts the movie’s pace. Sam Wilson takes over the mantle from Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) in the previous installments, choosing to forgo the serum to enhance his abilities. While this decision opens the door to exploring his self-doubt about being the right choice for the role, the film doesn’t delve into this aspect as deeply as it could have.

The narrative tries to weave in elements from previous editions, but viewers who haven’t closely followed the franchise may find it challenging to connect the dots. That said, the political intrigue, camaraderie between Captain America and Falcon, the action, and performances make this an enjoyable outing.

Anthony Mackie, as the more grounded and slightly less ‘super’ superhero compared to his predecessor, is relatable and proves to be a worthy successor as Captain America. Danny Ramirez brings charisma to Falcon, clearly enjoying the role and making him effortlessly cool. Harrison Ford stands out as the once-villainous but now somewhat reformed military general, while Shira Haas makes a strong impression as Ruth Bat-Seraph, a former Israeli Black Widow turned Ross’s head of security.

Captain Amerca: Brave New World is a serviceable instalment, though the CGI remains somewhat underwhelming. The face-off between Captain America and Red Hulk is a highlight but arrives too late into the movie. Despite its convoluted plot and occasional pacing issues, Brave New World delivers thrilling aerial battles and hand-to-hand combats, strong performances, and enough spectacle to entertain superhero fans.