Review of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) by Filipeneto — 08 Mar 2021

I am not a comic book expert, but there is something I can guarantee: this film deserves our full attention. If "Captain America: First Avenger" turned out to be pleasant and full of quality, this film proved to be a worthy continuation. It will not be correct to say that I was surprised: Marvel has provided us with excellent productions, and it is difficult, therefore, to keep expectations low. However, in the end, I was satisfied.

The plot goes back to Steve Rogers' past to reveal the existence of a rival to his height: the Winter Soldier, a super soldier, like Captain America, whose origins and past are closely related to Rogers. I don't know if this story is faithful to what is told in the comic books, but I also feel that, for me, it doesn't matter. The plot is developing well, with space for action and the fight scenes are good and seem real.

Chris Evans returns to the role of Captain America, and he is skilled, heroic and energetic. Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Redford also do an excellent job, at the level of the best they have done so far in their long careers. Scarlett Johansson and Anthony Mackie seem to have received characters tailored to them, especially Johansson. Sebastian Stan is good, but he didn't get my attention much. Emily VanCamp is good, but her character is not very relevant and is not very interesting.

But where this film really excelled was in the quality of production values, and the most technical aspects. Cinematography, for example, is sharp, elegant, with excellent filmmaking and an absolute command of color, movement, and shadows, which make the film visually extraordinary. Add to that the grandeur of the visual effects, the latest generation CGI and, of course, the action and fighting scenes, and the result is overwhelming. The sets and costumes also deserve a note of great praise: I especially liked the sets at the Avengers headquarters, a futuristic and elegant complex that seems to have been taken from an urban planning project in an Asian city. The aircraft also look magnificent and impress. The soundtrack, on the other hand, is quite good, it fits perfectly in the film, but I confess that it was not in my ear and that I did not find it particularly memorable.