Captain America: Brave New World

I know Captain America: Brave New World is the first Marvel movie of 2025. But I have to be honest my expectations were not super high. Even so, I was excited to see it. For the simple fact that this would be the first Captain America movie since Avengers End Game. Anthony Mackie’s official first feature film as Cap. I was more intrigued to see how or if they would connect this movie to Falcon and The Winter Soldier series.

In fact, in a recent episode of the Why I’m Geeked Show. I actually had Captain America: Brave New World on my list of most anticipated movies in 2025. Not because I had some grand expectations that this movie would change the landscape of the MCU. But instead looked for this movie to set the tone for the next phase of Marvel.

I expected to see more of the same from the Disney+ series Falcon and the Winter Soldier and that’s what we got. My favorite thing about Sam Wilson as Captain America is how they highlight that at the end of the day. He is just a regular guy. It's something that has always been a factor in Captain America’s character. Especially compared to other heroes. Granted Steve Rodgers’s Captain America had the super soldier serum. But compared to Thor or Hulk he is still just a guy.

That sentiment made us love Captain America even more cause we know it’s all effort and heart. Now that Sam Wilson is Captain America he is just a “regular guy”. You know outside of the suit and shield the sentiment hits even harder. Cause he really is just a regular guy with a suit and shield. Oh, and you know vibranium wings. You know no big deal. So with that in mind, I enjoyed watching this movie. But the real question is does that make it a good movie?

Captain America: Brave New World was okay. Is it the worst Captain America movie out of the four maybe? But is it a bad movie I’m going to have to go with a no. I do think Captain America: Brave New World is mid though. I realize that saying something is “mid” in today’s day and age is almost a death sentence. But Captain America: Brave New World is just another middle-of-the-pack MCU movie. Not every Marvel movie should be an Avengers-level event. If it were it would mean that we never get movies like Avengers: Infinity War. If you ask me we need a recalibration in the MCU not just a changing of the mantles. If you ask me Captain America: Brave New World is a good first step to accomplishing that goal.

Personally, I’m not a big power scale person so I’m gonna sit here and try to define who is street tier or not. But we need Marvel to do something so we can properly access these movies. From a continuity standpoint. Without getting lost in the weeds. Cause let’s keep it a bean if Red Hulk wasn’t in this movie. How many people are racing to see it first week? Sure it’s cool seeing a Hulk go on a rampage again let alone a Red Hulk. But if we are keeping it a buck in what world should Captain America be trying to solo a Hulk? So it automatically tells me as a viewer that we are about to see some major plot armor. Granted Sam put up one heck of a fight but at the end of the day, he is just a guy lol. Plus Natasha Romanoff isn’t here to sing us a lullaby. So all we are left with is to take a page out of Naruto’s manga and perform some talk-no-Jutsu for the win.

Now just because the ending of this movie was predictable doesn’t mean it's a bad movie. Just a predictable one. I think the biggest mistake in Captain America: Brave New World was making the Leader aka Samuel Sterns turn himself in. It makes all the time they spent building up his character mute. To go from having all the cards at your disposal to folding cause of one mishap. Is like having all draw 4s in Uno and quit because you got skipped for one turn. Mind control as a power or skill isn’t something that shouldn’t be tossed aside so easily in my opinion. The tension it creates is almost unmatched. Just based on the possibility of someone being compromised is enough to carry an entire film. If you have ever seen Smile 2 you know what I'm talking about. So turning yourself in just so you could gloat doesn’t sit well with me.

So in essence are there some inconsistencies with the story... yes. But does it mean that Captain America: Brave New World is not worth watching… absolutely not. But maybe you should wait for this movie to drop on streaming. Plus I’m just not as big a fan of happily ever after's all the time anymore. But this is a Captain America movie so what more can we expect?

Leaving the theater I can’t fake I was leaning more toward giving this movie an 8/10 G-Files Score. But the more I thought about it. Plus after having a long conversation about the film on the Why I’m Geeked Show with the homie Chrisylite. I concluded that Captain America: Brave New World is closer to a 7/10 G-Files Score. They did some dope things in this movie like finally addressing the elephant in the room. The gigantic Celestial that is poking up in the middle of the ocean. Also sharing the official discovery of adamantium to the general public. And of course Sam Wilson’s character development as Cap.

So like with most movies there are just as many good aspects as bad. Such as exploring the duality of what it means to be Black and Captain America. Trying to make the right decisions with who you align yourself with. While also being for the people and upholding the mantle. It’s a lot to get across in one movie and I think Anthony Mackie is killing it. My favorite cameo in this movie was Bucky Barnes’s cameo. Not only did he reaffirm to Sam why Steve picked him to take up the shield. But he also dropped a crazy bar expressing how Sam has changed what being Captain America means. For the betterment of society. During Steve Rogers’s time as Cap, it was a symbol that inspired hope. But now not only does it represent hope for a better world. But also it is something people can aspire to be now. Because at the end of the day, Sam Wilson is just a guy. But he is our Captain America.