Captain America: Brave New World – My Honest Review (Spoilers)

 I saw Captain America: Brave New World on opening weekend in Dolby at an AMC theater, and I have a lot of thoughts. I didn’t want to rush through this review because I really wanted to process everything about the movie. There will be spoilers, so consider this your warning!

My First Impressions

I was at San Diego Comic-Con when Marvel announced this movie, and I even got to see an early clip teasing Adamantium, the rare metal from the Marvel universe, playing a major role. I’ll be honest—I was a little underwhelmed at first. The trailers gave away too much, which took away a lot of the surprise factor.

That said, one of the strongest elements of the film was Isaiah Bradley’s story. Played by Carl Lumbly, Isaiah was first introduced in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, and seeing his story continue was one of the most powerful aspects of the movie. His performance was outstanding, adding depth and emotional weight to the film.

Plot Breakdown

The movie picks up not long after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) stepping fully into his role as Captain America. He’s trying to gain the trust of the American people while avoiding getting too caught up in politics—though, of course, politics finds him anyway.

Meanwhile, Sam is also mentoring Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez), the new Falcon. Sam is hesitant about letting Torres take on such a dangerous role because he knows firsthand the risks of being a hero.

The Mission Begins

Early on, Captain America is sent on a mission to recover a stolen item from a terrorist group in Japan. He doesn’t know what it is at first, but after an intense action sequence in a chapel—where he saves hostages, including priests and nuns—he retrieves the object.

Later, Sam is invited to the White House, where President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Harrison Ford) is discussing a newly discovered metal (likely Adamantium) from Japan. This moment also brings Isaiah and Torres into the mix.

The Plot Thickens

During the White House scene, something strange happens—small flashes of light from cell phones cause people to go into a frenzy, attacking the President. In the chaos, Isaiah and five others are captured and imprisoned.

Sam immediately senses something is off. When he tries to intervene, President Ross dismisses him, claiming he’s “too emotional” to be involved. Undeterred, Sam follows the trail back to his original mission, trying to uncover who the real buyer of the stolen item was.

The Big Reveal

This leads him to Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson), aka The Leader, a villain first introduced in The Incredible Hulk (2008). Sterns has been secretly working on a project that connects back to the President.

It turns out Sterns was once promised a better life in exchange for his scientific genius—specifically, his ability to cure the President’s cancer. Instead, he was imprisoned and used as a pawn. Seeking revenge, he devises an alternate plan: assassinate the President so he can finally be free.

But things take a shocking turn—before the assassination attempt is successful, Sterns infects President Ross, causing him to transform into Red Hulk.

The Final Battle

This leads to the climactic showdown: Captain America vs. Red Hulk. The battle is intense, but amidst the action, there’s a moment of understanding between them. Ross realizes too late that he has lost control over what he set in motion.

What Worked & What Didn’t

What I Loved

• The emotional weight – The movie explored Sam Wilson’s struggle with leadership and the burden of being Captain America in a deeply personal way. His dynamic with Isaiah Bradley was especially powerful.

• The mentorship element – Sam training Joaquin Torres as the new Falcon felt authentic and added heart to the film.

• The old-school Marvel feel – While not perfect, this movie had more of that classic MCU vibe compared to recent entries.

What Fell Short

• Predictable plot twists – The trailers gave away too much, so some of the big moments didn’t land as hard as they should have.

• A weaker villain presence – While The Leader was a nice callback, he didn’t feel like a major threat. The real danger came from Red Hulk, but that moment was saved for the very end.