Captain America: Brave New World (2025) Review

“Since when were they red?”

THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

We all want to make changes for the better, but they sure ain’t gonna be overnight.


PLOT


Captain America: Brave New World follows Sam Wilson continue helming the mantle left behind by Steve Rogers, whereas Joaquin Torres is being trained as the new Falcon. After taking back classified items from special ops mercenary Seth Voekel/Sidewinder in Oaxaca, Mexico, they continue training with Isaiah Bradley, a super soldier that was experimented on for years until escaping. All three get invited to the White House by the newly elected US President Thaddeus Ross. He invites them for a summit to discuss that the discovered ‘Celestial Island’ in the Indian Ocean is the source of a new metal dubbed ‘adamantium’, and hopes to avoid an arms race by establishing a treaty, that’ll govern mining and distribution of the metal. Before anyone can agree, Bradley and multiple other men are hypnotized to the song ‘Mr. Blue’ and try to assassinate the president until restrained. By the time they’re incarcerated, no one recalls their actions. Wilson suggests conducting his own investigation to prove Bradley’s innocence, but Ross shuts that down and gives that opportunity to his security advisor, former black widow Ruth Bat-Seraph. Despite the wishes from head of security Leila Taylor (Xosha Roquemore), Cap intends to investigate anyway. The day after, he calls Torres to analyze CCTV footage to discover there were flashing lights emitted from everyone’s cellphones which confirms the theory of mind control. Just upon this discovery does Cap get attacked by Sidewinder who was offered double pay to assassinate him. Shortly after the avenger does defeat him, he answers a phone call from the merc’s employer that something big is coming next. In the midst of this, Bradley gets transferred to solitary confinement due to an assassination on the other soldiers by another victim of mind control. Torres is able to track the call to come from a military prison in Green Back called ‘Camp Echo One’. He goes with Wilson and it is there when where the buyer is revealed to be Samuel Sterns, whose brain has been mutated but has granted him enhanced intelligence after being exposed to Bruce Banner’s blood. He explains that his past actions that he’s orchestrated are out of spite to Ross. He does not want to kill him, but wants to expose his selfishness since he had him solve his various dilemmas over the years with nothing in return. As he escapes, Sam & Torres get cornered by more brainwashed soldiers until being saved by Ruth who figured out the ordeal on her own. They go to Norfolk where Sidewinder is currently held in a training facility, where he reveals Sterns tends to destroy Ross’ legacy by inciting the US-Japan tensions since he used him as a think tank and expected a pardon. It’s proven to work when Japan presumes Ross is responsible for orchestrating the whole ordeal in Mexico. Before heading to confront the president at Celestial Island, Sam gives his acquaintance, Commander Dennis Dunphy, a box of medications for him to study. Cap confronts him on the USS Milius, where he intends to secure adamantium before Japan does. He presses him about his relationship with Sterns; It ends up working as Thaddeus admits Sterns was collateral damage for the Duel of Harlem that occurred between Hulk & Abomination and was also using him to create personal medications to prolong his life. He went this far in having Sterns save him because he hopes to have more time to salvage his relationship with his daughter Betty, as she couldn’t forgive him for sending the army after Banner. He even gave Sterns an empty promise in freeing him, but couldn’t relocate him out of fear of losing the meds. With all being said, Sam assures the president he’ll still make amends with Betty as long as he set things right. With Japanese warships flanking the ocean, two US Navy pilots get brainwashed midair by Sterns, causing Cap and the Falcon to intervene. In the process, the latter get shot down and survives, while the former is able to neutralize them both. As that happens, Sterns, having killed Warden Cooper (Pete Burris) & his unnamed wife, calls Ross and tries to get him enraged, which confirms the meds are poisoned, but the president is able to avoid giving him what he wants. When Torres gets hospitalized, Sam gets a visit from James Barnes (Sebastian Stan), now campaigning to be a congressman, who gives him the comfort that Rogers didn’t make a mistake choosing him to helm the mantle. Just as Dunphy discovers the pills to have gamma radiation, he gets killed by Sterns as well. Sterns would then turn himself in, only to tell Wilson this is his last resort to expose Ross as a liar. At a press conference outside the White House to address the official treaty going through with Japan, India & France, it quickly gets hijacked by Sterns who plays a recorded a phone call. As this causes the president to be overwhelmed by reporters and not having the opportunity to explain himself, his anger is unleashed and he transforms into a red skinned hulk. As he expresses all his oent up rage by destroying the White House, Cap eventually arrives to calm him down. After a lengthy fight, he succeeds by luring him to East Potomac Park, knowing he used to take Betty there to see the cherry blossoms when she was a child. Although Ross would be incarcerated and sent to the Raft for his gigantic outburst, his accords would be ratified as planned and Betty visits him, giving him his long awaited chance to reconnect. With Bradley being exonerated, Sam would visit a recovering Torres at the hospital who admits how much he looks up to him. The film ends in a post credits scene where Sterns, who is also incarcerated in the Raft, reveals to Wilson there will be a coming attack from other worlds.


THOUGHTS


The best way to discuss this film is through Pros and Cons.


PROS: The Multiverse Saga has been quite the roller coaster for MCU fans have had their share with films and shows that may not have been the same quality we got from the Infinity Saga. A new generation is not easy to impress because the expectations will constantly change in unfair fashion. In one way, this was the case because so much of a Captain America movie would be different without the previous lead. Julius Onah helming the director’s chair was a bold choice definitely because I wasn’t impressed with what we got from The Cloverfield Paradox. Since I still enjoyed Luce, I chose to give the benefit of the doubt. And in all honesty, I don’t really think this disappointed me the way it may have to others. In a general sense, the espionage vibe is still effective here because even if you have an idea where it’s going, you’re still hooked and I remain entertained. The action is well edited with moments like the White House setup, Camp Echo One escape and the opening Oaxaca standoff. The visual effects are still mostly at a strong suit when it came to Sam & Joaquin’s suits in use, the establishment of Celestial Island and the motion captured done for Red Hulk. As a fan, these moments are a big deal for a few reasons. The fact the former makes adamantium canon in this setting of Earth 616/199999, that means we’ll get a new Wolverine with or without Hugh Jackman. Getting to see the Red Hulk feels like a full circle since the character made his comic debut in the same year that the MCU debuted. Seeing the character at full strength and not holding back at any second until calmed down proves exactly why Banner creating Smart Hulk is a wise decision. This movie was meant for long terms fans because you’re really missing out if you haven’t seen The Incredible Hulk, the main film that most of the recurring characters originate from. We’re still not getting another hulk movie due to universal never intending to sell back the rights, so we gotta make due with what producer Kevin Feige is compromising with. With this movie coming out fresh off of an election year, I felt so much of a reflection in what was done with the portrayal of Thaddeus Ross in comparison to the past. It was hard to see the role recasted due to William Hurt passing away in 2022, but Harrison Ford was a great replacement due to matching the emphasis this character was a guy who was visibly flawed but mostly felt reasonable. He was out of line to go after Banner after he had defeated Abomination, but his actions after that are quite understandable. As a man who wanted to defend the country and simultaneously wanted to protect his legacy, he was quite respectable putting his trust in another who had all the right reason as well to go against him. You can’t help but relate to his desperation because we all have felt that way when we try so hard to get what we want, only for it to blow up so bad. It was a matter of time for him to hulk out with or without gamma exposure because there is no way a man with such responsibility can keep it all together 24/7. And for a few seconds, he understood you can’t weaponize what can’t be controlled. It wasn’t all for nothing though because if we were able to see Liv Tyler make a long overdue return as Betty, she proved she still loves her dad no matter his faults. Should the world be desperate that we would need his help by Doomsday, I’d be open minded about it. Having said all that, I think Ross’ arc shows us there is no shame in expressing vulnerability and the ongoing value of teamwork besides legacy. With Ross depicting desperation, it is Sam Wilson’s arc that is the other side of the coin, representing the firmness we gotta have in taking on all the obstacles that are thrown at us. Anthony Mackie is still a great lead as the second Captain America in the MCU because he is still able to be a good man by staying true to himself. The one thing he does embrace most like Steve Rogers would is be loyal to his friends. His relationship with Isaiah Bradley was special since Carl Lumbly portrayed him as his polar opposite, a rightfully pessimistic man who has dealt with America at its worst and can’t believe in the good that’s left, whereas Sam always reminded him there’s still hope. When he was used by Sterns to go after Ross, he definitely was a big victim in this since he didn’t have control to his actions, while what happened to the president was his own doing. The fact Wilson didn’t take Sterns’ bait when it came to having the other brainwashed killed minus Bradley proved he had restraint in how he wanted to save his friend. On the other hand, Torres proved to be a great successor of the Falcon as Danny Ramirez shared the motive to have a strong sense of duty. He was always eager to join Cap in the fight because he knew he’d make a bigger difference fighting by his idol’s side. And he takes it to the point of putting his life on the line because that’s what an avenger would do, not just a soldier. As much as it scared Sam because he didn’t want to cope with guilt of losing him, he’ll always respect how much he inspired him. One unexpected ally to come from this ally was Ruth because being a widow acting on her own free will, it can hard to predict her mindset. Shira Haas showed her to be a capable but also a no nonsense figure because she’ll focus on believing what is true and will respect anyone who can get things done. So in this case, she respects Sam for figuring out of Sterns without her. The biggest difference Sam has from Steve & Bucky is that he chose to not take a super solider serum to better his chances. Knowing that he chose to take on Red Hulk without it is pretty damn brave when you look back on it and I’m sure Ruth respects him even more for it since she definitely didn’t have her own resources to help him. But since they were on the same page, I wouldn’t mind seeing her in Doomsday either. With all the good guys narrowed down, it is easy to say who was the real threat but still a surprise to see a face we all doubted to see again. Like Betty, Tim Blake Nelson makes his overdue as Sterns and embrace the villainous persona comic book fans remember him by, The Leader. His appearance may not be comic accurate, but the makeup succeeds in making him downright creepy. What sets him apart from his eccentricity is that he’s delusional into thinking he is the victim. He doesn’t earn any sympathy because he doesn’t take accountability for his actions. He shouldn’t be mad at Ross for lying to him since he created Abomination who took many lives in Harlem before Hulk defeated him. If he was really smart before the gamma exposure, he should’ve not duplicated Bruce’s blood who knew how bad he wanted to be rid of it at the time. Had he used his sentence as a chance to rehabilitate and not be bitter over his doing, he’d be a useful ally too but it’s his own doing he is where he is. And in the long run, I’m not even mad that he’s the one to explain to Sam the multiverse exists not because he’s smart enough to predict it, but because other heroes that know like Doctor Strange are occupied and don’t have the time to tell him soon. Another villain that caught my eye was Sidewinder. Giancarlo Esposito was a great choice because despite not having powers, he was quite cunning in the pleasure he has in killing for money. He may not be as strategic as Sterns, but was still smart enough to being close to getting what he wants, which was a reduced sentence is not freedom. It is a bothersome decision for other members of SERPENT society to be widowed out of the movie, but I’m sure they’ll help him be an ongoing problem for Cap after the Multiverse Saga is over.


CONS: I’ve given this movie a fair amount of credit, but there are a lot of things that hold it back from being far better. I got nothing against William Mark McCullough playing another cooperative for Sam as Dunphy, but he only exists in the script to do Bruce’s part in revealing the pills’ being laced. I would’ve not said anything if there was an excuse on why Sam doesn’t reach out to Banner. If this movie is taking place during the She Hulk show where he went off world to meet his illegitimate son, I wish that was implied. I understand it was hard for Liz & Bruce to separate when the latter was on the run because he was trying to protect the former, but it’s so awkward neither kept in touch by the time Hulk was praised for his efforts in fighting off the Chitauri in New York (and whooped Loki’s ass with ease). It’s not that I was against Bruce dating Nat, but besides me being bothered that he moved on pretty fast, it still feels weird Betty didn’t seem to try reaching out on her end. I even laughed so hard one of the SERPENT henchmen didn't even use the shield against Sam and just threw it on the ground to pick up later. It's like he knew he'd lose and just had to stall for Sidewinder in unconventional fashion, which is so weird because it was for sure a lack of trying. Also, having seen The Incredible Hulk many times, I already knew the song ‘Mr. Blue’ was a reference to Sterns’ alias that he used to communicate to Bruce when he was on the run. My takeaway from it is that Ross didn’t recognize the meaning of it after Sterns calls him. Since he knew about the aliases during the conclusion of his original hunt for the Hulk, it is mind blowing that he didn’t catch that. It’s even weirder that not even he had someone check the pills. If he really wanted to live, that is the biggest precaution he should’ve taken. It was cool for Sam to use a salver to stop Ruth from shooting Bradley, but I refuse to believe he was agile enough to throw it as hard as he would for the shield. And if Ruth thought Bradley's attack was coordinated, Ross should've been in a way more safer room than a conference room. It's even odd for Sam to not mention Bucky used to be mind controlled, which would've way more leeway to investigate. Since Bucky got pardoned for his past actions as The Winter Soldier, it's a surprise not even Ruth puts a second thought until things get worse. And why does Sidewinder go after Sam on his own? If he really wanted to ensure success and have the ultimate bragging rights of killing Captain America, he should’ve had SERPENT goons with him. Also, why is Isaiah the only to be scheduled a death sentence before the others get executed by another brain washed soldier? Not hearing the others get the same sentence is too strange to notice when you think about it since they were all controlled to do the same thing. With that being said, Ross should’ve let Bradley out sooner since he figured out Sterns was the mastermind before Cap did. It then sounds the guard asks Ruth for an escort not because she's a lady, but it should've more of a statement instead. Widow or not, it shouldn't be her choice to be escorted to visit prisoners accused of assassinating the president. If I'm gonna mention any continuity errors, I don't see the point of Joaquin leaving his smartphone if he's still gonna take his smart watch to a place he and Sam don't want to be tracked. And let's be honest, the rest of the guard watching over Sterns should've aimed at Sam's legs, even before they get mind controlled. Also, I don't blame Sam doubts of his inner strength and claims having the super soldier serum would've favored him, but was there really any left? Zemo destroyed the other samples but if you're saying the government still had the same samples used on Blonsky and Sam found out about it, that shit should be clear. Moving on, how did no one spot Sterns in public before he confronts Sam one last time? He’s got a disfigured green head, that shouldn’t be hard to notice. And if anything could've prevented Ross hulking out a little longer, he should've not had another press conference when he hadn't even signed his treaty yet. It even makes me wonder if Sterns dropped those headlines himself in advance before he got arrested because it's hard to know how long it takes for those to be published while Sam flies his way to the White House just after Ross finally hulks out. Lastly, where was Bucky when Ross turned into Red Hulk? I know the point of the climax is to see Sam show his worth and selflessness as a hero, but it’s so weird how he just saw him and doesn’t even reach out after not giving any reason why he couldn’t. I know he’s running for congress at this point, but a hulk should be something to pause your campaign for. If you can ignore these problems however, I think you’ll enjoy everything else that was done.
In conclusion, Captain America: Brave New World may not be the best entry in Phase 5, but is far from terrible for still an exciting espionage narrative that leaves you hooked. If you are caught up with the MCU, then it’s a no brainer you’ll like this too once you make the time.