Captain America: A Brave New World was expected to be the new groundbreaking moment in Marvel’s new phase, marking a fresh start with Anthony Mackie stepping into the role of Captain America. However, instead of receiving the expected praise it should have received, the film has sparked a mix of reviews and comparisons to the other movies in the Captain America franchise. Marvel fans have eagerly waited for the new Captain America movie following Avengers: Endgame and the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. This movie follows Anthony Mackie returning as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson, who has officially taken up the mantle of Captain America. After meeting with the newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. As the world watches, he must uncover the truth behind the crisis and face the mastermind pulling the strings.
When the trailer dropped, everyone was excited to see what this movie would be about and its potential connections to the new phase of Marvel and the next era of the Avengers. However, when the film premiered during Valentine’s Day weekend, there were a lot of mixed reviews. Rather than a smooth transition between Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson, Brave New World has become one of the most debated films in recent MCU history. From critical reviews to online discussions about race and representation, the film is proving to be much more than just another superhero blockbuster.
When the film premiered, it received a 49% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes but an 80% audience score rating. Some critics felt the movie struggled to balance its action sequences with its political themes, while fans said they believed the movie was fantastic and loved how it set up future films for the new phase. Despite the mixed reviews, the movie performed well at the box office, earning $88.5 million in its opening weekend and surpassing $100 million over the President’s Day holiday.
Senior Kiera McCarter said her thoughts on the movie, stating, “I don’t understand why it received such a low rating. Sure, some of the CGI was off, and there were a few corny lines, but overall, it felt like a great Marvel movie. Sam Wilson being a Black man portraying Captain America is something we need right now, and Anthony Mackie did an excellent job in the role. I give it a solid 8/10.”
Beyond the film’s box office numbers and action sequences, there’s a bigger conversation happening about representation. In various interviews, Anthony Mackie spoke about the significance of playing a Black Captain America, saying the role “means everything” to him, allowing the younger generation to see themselves as heroes on screen. While many people love the diversity and the progress of this character’s development, others say that Marvel should make sure that the story and plot of the movie should take more precedence. “Of course, some people are having mixed reviews about this movie because of their biased opinions on an African American taking on the role of Captain America, but this just shows you where we are as a society and how even though, in my opinion, this movie is very good and gives fans some things to look forward to in the upcoming films, they will just say negative thoughts on the movie because who is playing the new role now,” said Sophomore Aniyah Thomas.
Overall, Captain America: Brave New World may not have received the acclaim Marvel hoped for, but it” has undoubtedly sparked conversations. Despite the controversial opinions surrounding the film, this version of Captain America is here to stay and will play a significant role in the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Whether people embrace it or not, Sam Wilson’s Captain America is set to become one of the central characters of this new era, and many fans can’t wait to see what’s next.
