Captain America: The Winter Soldier

For Captain Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), the two years following his exploits in “The Avengers” has not been easy. He is still coming to grips with being a man out of time, as the world around him is a much more dangerous and complicated place than the one he grew up in.

He runs missions for S.H.I.E.L.D. under the command of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), and is often accompanies by a team of agents as well as his fellow Avenger Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

A recent mission has lead the Captain to question some of the tactics used by S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fury decides it is time to be more open with Rogers about the pending plans of the agency which involve launching three Super Carriers that will eliminate threats before they happen.

Naturally this sort of “Gunboat Diplomacy” does not sit well with the highly ethical Rogers but Fury tells him he needs to get out of the past and become aware of just how different and dangerous the world they live in has become.

Fury believes that the Captain does have some valid concerns and uncovers that things may not be as they appear. When a vicious and well coordinated attack happen, Captain America is called into action and soon finds himself facing a deadly assassin known as The Winter Soldier.

The heat soon rises making Rogers soon question whom he can trust as a deadly conspiracy that holds the fate of the world in the balance erupts, and only Rogers and his team can save the day.

The film is an intense thrill ride that mixes the best elements of the Marvel films with solid action and a dramatic thriller. There are strong performances all around and the addition of Anthony Mackie and Robert Redford to the already strong ensemble was a masterful plan.

Directors Anthony and Joe Russo (Who are said to already be signed for the next Captain America film), clearly have a grasp on the material and they deftly combine action with a human story full of ethical dilemmas and personal motivations to deliver a film that is so much more than the usual FX laden films that are common with comic book related films.

Marvel Studios has once again upped the ante and have continued their amazing run of film success and keep getting better and better. There are several hints dropped about other characters and events in the upcoming Marvel cinematic universe as well as plenty of treats for fans. You will want to stay for the two additional scenes that take place during the credits as they give fans a hint of what is to come next year with “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”.

Until then, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is a spectacular summer event film, as an it is a non-stop thrill ride and a textbook example of how to bring the best elements of a comic book to life.

4.5 stars out of 5.

 

Second Review by Barnetty Kushner

 

Captain America: The Winter Soldier picks up right after where the Avengers left off, he works for S.H.I.E.L.D, but he has trouble trying to adjust to the new modern society. If you’re not too familiar with the story of Captain America (Chris Evans), his real name is Steve Rogers, who during WWII participates in an experimental program that turns him into a Super Soldier, becomes the symbol of Freedom and leads U.S. troops into battle also against HYDRA-a Nazi-esque type militant group lead by Red Skull.  Around 1945, while attempting to stop a rocket, Captain America crashes into the frozen tundra of the North Sea where he was presumed dead.   He wakes up after having been frozen for 65 years, to present day, and quickly tries making sense of the “New World.”

The sequel, which is based on a series of comics written by Ed Brubaker, “The Winter Soldier,”  Captain America struggles with trying to figure out whom to trust when Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) becomes the target of an elite assassination lead by The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), a deadly HYDRA assassin whose true identity remains a mystery even to himself.  With new enemies comes new friends; Captain America enlists the help of Falcon (Anthony Mackie), an ex paratrooper with the rocket powered winged suit.  Cap, Falcon, and Black Widow(Scarlett Johansson) attempt to figure out which side they are on by uncovering the truth behind the decisions being made by state department leader Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford).

The first movie was by far the least entertaining of the recent franchise comic book film adaptations that have emerged from Marvel Studios over the past decade.  Glad to see they’ve managed to release a sequel that is better than its first installment.  Yes, the underdog story that people have come to love about the first movie is gone; most of the movie is spent in true “superhero” style action and adventure.  It’s nice to see genuine relationships develop between the three main ‘good guys’ in this storyline.   If you’ve enjoyed going to the movies to watch some of the most famous comic book characters come to life, this movie will not disappoint.

4 out 5