Captain America: The Winter Soldier Review

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Directed by: The Russo Brothers
Written by: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeeely

Starring: Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Scarlet Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, etc.

After the first Captain America film, The First Avenger, Chris Evans' Steve Rogers was a noble, diplomatic and heroic character that despite his first solo adventure in the MCU being pretty by the numbers and just average compared to the films that came before.  While his WWII debut as the world's first super soldier didn't exactly captivate fans, his leadership as the leader of the Avengers in their first blockbuster assembly turned out to be an even better showcase of the character and his incredible moral compass.  But what would follow in his follow-up sequel tho??? ......The answer is far better to be seen than described honestly.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier is one of those rare sequels that not only surpasses the original but does remarkable task of switching up the tone and feel of a solo Cap film by giving us one of the MCU's most brutal and visceral story to be told yet.  Taking Cap out of the past and into the modern day for his sequel was the best (and frankly, only!) option Kevin Feige and his team of writers could have thought of for bringing this traditional, man out of time to become more of hero that must contend with the present day in ways that are complex, thoughtful, emotional and expressive of how it would change him.  Chris Evans's third performance as the Star Spangled Man is by far his best yet and it's because the gloriously darker script being written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who surprisingly also wrote the First Avenger.  Whether it was Kevin Feige's personal vision for a modern day take on Captain America or Anthony and Joe Russo's much more surreal and excellently dramatic direction as storytellers, the film is just so incredibly well thought-out and structured leaving the vintage, conservative era of the 1940s world that inspired Cap in the first place for a 2010s spy thriller with some truly unreal espionage touches that work seamlessly with the character.

Because of this sudden and welcomed shift in genres, we get to see Cap's character grow and change so drastically over the course of the film.  At the beginning, he's your typical soldier fighting for America's security and protection during a standard S.H.E.I.L.D. mission to actually questioning the national security of America and how much freedom is involved in stopping major disasters/attacks like the Battle for New York from happening again.  Suddenly, Cap's world goes from the black and white traditionalist mentality we say in his first movie to a more open minded, shockingly gray area here.  It's truly spectacular writing with both Markus and McFeely feeling so much more home here than they did trying to recapture the classic era of Cap's origins.  The First Avenger didn't leave much room for moral ambiguity given the 1940s America is about as patriotic and one sided as you would expect.  But 70 years later, the world has changed and because of it, Steve has to quickly acknowledge what he thought of his country isn't what it use to be and one he is strongly against, especially when finding out about S.H.E.I.L.D.'s own agenda for making sure their world is protected by any cost.   Samuel L. Jackson returns in top form as Colonel Nick Fury, who becomes the first target of H.Y.D.R.A.'s when they have infiltrated the enormous organization from within right under his nose and he is forced to deal with those consequences head on in one of the many harrowing action sequences of the film.  While we don't get much of him, the time spent on Fury is awesome and Jackson is a veteran bada$$ of the screen at this point it is welcomed as well as always appreciated.

But Nick isn't the only member of S.H.I.E.L.D. returning to assist Cap in his most dangerous hour yet as Natasha Rominoff aka Black Widow returns as Russian superspy and co-Avenger alongside Cap.  Scarlett Johansson just grows more efficient and undeniably mesmerizing onscreen as the child soldier turn one of the world's greatest assassins who once again gets to show off some of the most impressive, elegantly choreographed action set pieces.  Everytime she's onscreen during a fight, we are delivered yet another elaborate and immersive sequence of her using her unreal skills as a combatant and she doesn't miss a beat at all.  I also enjoy getting to know Natasha more on a human level as with Nick Fury's life in jeopardy and H.Y.D.R.A. shocking takeover of S.H.E.I.L.D., we get to see more of the vulnerability and bit of backstory of the woman behind that signature widow's bite from the comics that are beautifully used for the first time here.  She also has great chemistry with Evans, both dramatically and comically, able to more than stand side by side with the classic all American hero as his female counterpart in her own way instead of his sidechick.  Speaking of sidekicks, we are introduced to yet another Marvel hero from comics in Sam Wilson aka the Falcon, played with lots of charisma and nobility by Anthony Mackie.  A retired army vet turned into the iconic flying fighter with technology advanced wings was such a remarkable addition, especially in showing just how amazing in scale the action scenes in this movie can get.  Seeing him effortlessly dodging and maneuvering while taking fire in particular was a marvel (Ha! :P) in special effects and the Russo's tremendously well sequenced direction during the final battle.  But it's also the bond that he naturally builds with Steve by becoming quick close friend and confidant of his when he is on the fun from H.Y.D.R.A.  Also, "on your left" has become one of those moments from the MCU that became one of the best payoffs later in Endgame, so it was great to see the beginning of that new dynamic between these two men here. :)

More returning/new characters are Agent Maria Hill, played once again by Cobie Smulders of "How I Met Your Mother" fame and she nails her character as always even when given limited screentime.  I do admire that she is a mainstay in the MCU as well as Fury's most trusted confidant.  There's also Sharon Carter or Agent 13 played by Emily VanCamp.  I love how she starts off as a potential love interest for Steve before being revealed as this secret agent constantly watching over him without his notice until all hell breaks loose. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention acting legend, Robert Redford, as Secretary of S.H.I.E.L.D. affairs who turns out to be the man behind leading H.YD.R.A. in their resurgence up to the modern world.  I love Alexander Pierce as he has a backstory with Fury that makes the unforeseen betrayal a lot more heavy and involving more depth than you'd expect.  But once again, you can't be surprised by S.H.E.I.L.D.'s Project Insight turning out to be a massive weapon to take out important figures in the country....not to mention killing millions to save billions!  He definitely made him one of the better MCU villains, especially on how his plans introduce to us to probably the best MCU villain at the time aka the Winter Soldier himself.  As soon as the title for the film was revealed, comic book fans knew what was coming but the execution of the Winter Soldier and how truly terrifying he is whenever he's onscreen.  He's a super soldier himself but the complete opposite of Cap and while that has been a trend with MCU villains being mirrors of the heroes, it's made far more emotional and gut wrenching when Winter Soldier is revealed to be Bucky himself.  Sebastian Stan is incredible onscreen the as the soulless, focused assassin who is deadly enough to not only be more than a match for Cap but given both Black Widow and Falcon a run for their money during various fight scenes.  And my god, those fight scenes! :)

I really can't talk about them enough as they are not only well choreographed with some of the most brutal and visceral fighting we've seen from the MCU yet but there's this more grounded and practical execution with the action that feels more tangible than the special effects spectacles of other MCU films.  It really works for Cap and his world as he's a soldier with advanced strength, speed and agility so it would make sense that lethal forms of hand to hand combat would work best for him.  Cap as well as the rest of the characters in action get to show off some truly unreal fighting techniques and man has that shield looked more badass onscreen with how effortless it is incorporated into Cap's tactical instincts on the field as well as unforeseen attacks that bring too much excitement to the film.  The Russo Brothers really do have a specialty when it comes to direction as the cinematography here is gorgeous and cinematic excellence.  It gives the film a scope and feel that is so refreshing to see by making the film more suspenseful as an action thriller that never stops moving toward an even more intense series of events.  It's no wonder these two were chosen for last two Avengers films as they are able to juggle so many characters while giving them all time to shine whether villain or hero.  Even Frank Grillo's sleazy, smug Brock Rumlow makes for a charismatic henchmen you can't help but love to see get defeat by our heroes.  He always seemed so full of himself and overconfident, it's no wonder he was the ultimate reason for his demise by not shutting down his ego for one second. lol

I can talk about this film almost endlessly as it really was and still remains to be one of the MCU's more challenging film in terms of adding something new and different to the MCU and succeeding beyond it could have failed.  There was A LOT of time and focus to revision a bolder, daring Captain America story for the modern day by giving his character as well as the film itself this maturity and edge that really tests the confines of Disney's family friend interconnected superhero franchise.  This feels more in vein with a Batman film with lots of mystery, graphic violence and deep investigation while being hunted down by the villains throughout which moves the story along at a swift but breathtaking pace.  While Marvel hasn't exactly succeeded since with taking a detour from its reliable formula (Oh "Eternals"), we can at least look back on second Cap film and remember how truly shocking it was to see such a more serious, aggressive superhero flick that mixes genres together to a rather magnificent product at the end of the day.  It's a rousing blockbuster that feels wonderfully written and beautifully shot whether during intimate moments that quickly build on tension or the spectacular spy inspired sequences that only add to not only the world endangering threat at hand but what is personally at stake for Cap with having to face the greatest friend he has ever known to win the day this time.  WOW! Bravo! :)

"As tremendously stunning breakaway from the campy, comedic sci-fi fantasy adventures of the previous Marvel films, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" confidently asserts itself as one of the MCU's finest offerings with possibly one of the best superhero movies of all time.  Chris Evans is in top form as well as supporting, continuously complex characters in Scarlett Johansson's Rominoff and Jackson's Nick Fury.  The villains here are a masterwork of motives and jaw dropping twists as well as the high octane fight/action scenes that pull from other genres of film that work even better here than most.  This is a film from the Infinity Saga not to be missed and will get you even more excited once it ends; leaving more for Cap's follow-up adventures in "Civil War" to come as the Winter Soldier story doesn't exactly end here. ;)"

Final Film Score: A+