After what seems like a very long time in waiting, the Marvel Cinematic Universe MCU) finally returns to try and dominate the cinema box-office once again. ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ offers up the first major chapter in the next phase of Marvel’s epic storytelling, setting up some pivotal paths to be explored in the future, whilst tackling a few big topics left over from the past phases.
With Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) now having taken on the mantle of Captain America, he faces new threats and challenges. This includes a nefarious plan involving Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt' Ross (played by Harrison Ford), who is now the President of the United States of America. An old adversary of his will enact a plan that could spark a devastating world conflict, transforming Ross into the destructive Red Hulk.
I expected a few surprises in this one, as Marvel look to recapture that magic of the ‘Avengers’ years as they usher in a brave new world of comic book movie storytelling. The end result is a perfectly enjoyable action blockbuster, not hitting the highs of the studio’s heyday like ‘Captain America: Civil War’, ‘Iron Man’ or ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, but one that ties up a few story threads nicely.
‘Captain America: Brave New World’ is essentially a sequel to the severely underrated 2008 effort ‘The Incredible Hulk’, which starred Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. As a huge fan of that film, I found ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ to be really good in addressing a few of those story arcs and characters. ‘Eternals’, an unfairly maligned chapter during the lockdown years of Marvel’s output also is directly referenced in this film, along with the first major mention of Adamantium – which fans will know ushers in the MCU’s future mutant (X-Men) element.
I’ve hated what the MCU have done with the character of the Hulk. After starting out so well in the first two ‘Avengers’ movies, he has essentially become a comedic punchline and side-character. So seeing Harrison Ford causing carnage as Red Hulk was a very welcome sight. The action set-pieces of the film are great, with IMAX being the best way to experience all of it on the biggest screen possible.
I’ve always been a fan of IMAX and is my preferred way to watch films – especially blockbuster action like ‘Captain America: Brave New World’. It features over 30-minutes of IMAX’s exclusive Expanded Aspect Ratio (EAR), featuring up to 26% more picture than non-IMAX cinemas, giving the viewer much more Marvel to love. Exclusively in IMAX cinemas, sequences of ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ visually expand to fill the screen – allowing fans to experience more picture with unprecedented detail and clarity. That, combined with a dedicated sound mix optimised for the auditorium’s unique sound system and custom cinemas design, creates a truly immersive viewer experience. If you can afford the uplift in cost, then IMAX is the best way to experience ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ in my opinion.
It doesn’t hit the highs of the golden era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ is a fine introduction to the next phase of MCU entertainment on the horizon. Anthony Mackie does well leading this franchise by example and brings a relatable charm to the title role. Harrison Ford may seem like he’s phoning most of this performance in, but even on this form he is better than most actors trying their hardest to impress. Hopefully we get another film where Hulk characters are given the opportunity to shine once again – for me they are an untapped resource for the MCU, especially if they are used properly.
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Tim Blake Nelson, Giancarlo Esposito Director: Julius Onah Writer: Rob Edwards, Malcolm Spellman, Dalan Musson, Julius Onah, Peter Glanz Certificate: 12A Duration: 118 mins Released by: Disney Release date: 14th February 2025
