Captain America: The Winter Soldier review

            I usually don’t quote Britney Spears but “Oops! They did it again.” Marvel and their film studio has created another masterpiece. This secondary tale of the “man out of time” takes what Joe Johnston started in Captain America: The First Avenger and advances it a quantum leap. I’ll be the first to admit that I am completely biased when it comes to Cap. He is my favorite superhero. I love the good ol stars and stripes, goody two shoes, service above all mentality of Steve Rogers. I also like the fact that Steve Rogers has never had a fair shake in life. He’s the anti-Tony Stark. No parents, frail, short, sickly, poor, and socially awkward. He’s the embodiment of most high school freshman, except he’s a fully grown man.

            Marvel’s first attempt at Captain America was decent but I did feel a little let down. Two iconic figures in the Marvel universe, Captain America and the Red Skull, and they barely have a full fight scene. Yes, I understand that Cap’s back story had to be established. Yes, I understand that HYDRA had to be established. But that does not negate the fact that for two people who are supposed to be excellent at hand to hand combat, the film’s final showdown was not as good as the final fight scene from The Player’s Club.

            But I digress, back to the current chapter of Captain America’s journey. He (Chris Evans) is in the 21^st century, working for S.H.I.E.L.D., and trying to live as close to a normal life as is possible for a 95 year old man who looks like a Calvin Klein model. He is not as clueless as he was made to seem in The Avengers. Chris Evans definitely seems much more comfortable in the role this time around. He is partnered with the Black Widow, a much improved Scarlett Johansson, and their chemistry is good. And thank goodness that the directors did not try to force a love triangle between Black Widow, Cap, and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) AKA The Falcon. Speaking of love interests, there is a small scene with Peggy Carter (Haley Atwell) and Cap. Definitely sad, but very fitting of their “what could have been” story.  

            The Russo brothers have taken the superhero genre and actually injected a plot with genuine intrigue. Basically, S.H.I.E.L.D. may not be protecting the liberties of the free world in the way that they claim. The higher ups, which include Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson, not Laurence Fishbourne), Maria Hill (Colbie Smulders), and Alexander Pierce (a very well played Robert Redford), are all suspect. Each character and their motivation are examined. Considering the situations with the Patriot Act and the ever growing hostilities with Russia, some of these invasions of civil liberties depicted on screen hit scarily close to home.

            The Falcon is a former paratrooper who helps military personnel deal with PSD. While watching the film, I kind of wondered where was this guy in Iron Man 3? I’m sorry, but I would have preferred him to be in that film than Don Cheadle. Anthony Mackie definitely balances the humanity of the character with the military expertise/ass kicker side. He has a good rapport with Chris Evans and is not relegated to just being “the sidekick”. He is exceptionally smart and combat competent. Mackie has been noted as calling his character “the first African-American superhero”, which any real nerd knows is a fallacy. But then again, he is a hell of a lot cooler than Meteor Man (sorry Robert Townsend).

              The main conflict comes between Cap and the Winter Soldier. I will not reveal his true identity, but it’s not exactly quantum mechanics to figure it out. And anyone who has any previous knowledge of Steve Roger’s story is very well familiar with the Winter Soldier. Sebastian Stan does a very good job considering his limited amount of dialogue. The Winter Soldier is ever bit Cap’s equal in terms of strength, speed, and fighting prowess. The showdown between Cap and the Winter Soldier is pretty good. There is enough emotional gravity to make the physicality resonate even more with the viewer.

            This film is probably Marvel’s best work since The Avengers and I might put this film above the previously mentioned one because this film has a better plot, better villains, and the film doesn’t have 6 superheroes to carefully interject. I’m still a big fan of the first Iron Man movie and believe that this film is definitely on par with that film. If one wants to include DC movies, I still think Batman Begins is the best comic book film adaptation but Captain America: The Winter Soldier is VERY, VERY close to its excellence. I hope DC takes a clue from the ass whooping that Marvel is dishing out on them and takes control of its own comic universe.

            I did see the film in 3D, and it was good, although the trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 stole the show. It looked AWESOME in 3D. I think the film will be equally enjoyable in 2D. The mid credits scene and the end credits scene are decent. The mid credits scene definitely sets up Avengers 2: The Age of Ultron and the post-credits scene puts a nice bow on what was a great treat to all movie lovers.