Review of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) by Semen A — 04 Nov 2015

Captain America is one of the most well-known superheroes in comic books. He is the face of the United States of America for comic books. He is the leader of the Avengers and has been one of the most influential characters in the Marvel Universe. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the second movie in the Captain America solo movies in the Marvel Universe. Captain America has been seen in many other Marvel movies including The Avengers and The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Captain America: The Winter Soldier was released on April 4, 2014 and was directed by the Russo brothers. The thesis of the movie is that friendship can make you contemplate righteousness.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier begins with Steve Rogers (Captain America) trying his hardest to adjust to the modern world. His role in the world is to protect it but still try to live everyday life as a 21st century human being. Nick Fury has him and his partner, Natasha Romanoff or better known as Black Widow, going on missions.

Back to Nick Fury, he is seen in his high-tech car on the phone with a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent when he gets hit by a SWAT car. More cars come and they begin to fire at his car. An injured Nick Fury fights back and eventually gets out of the situation. He is almost in the clear when a masked figure fires at his car and takes Nick Fury out. Captain Rogers then arrives back to his apartment to find Fury in it and Fury tells him not to trust anybody and then gets shot. Captain America then chases the masked figure before he gets away. This masked figure goes by the alias, The Winter Soldier.

Black Widow gets hold of a flash drive that is eventually used to get information from a computer holding the mind of a past character in Captain America's life. They learn that S.H.I.E.L.D. is ran by many double agents who secretly support the terrorist organization known as HYDRA. HYDRA was first mentioned in Captain America: The First Avenger. HYDRA was ran by the Red Skull, the main antagonist of the first movie. It was believed that the terrorist organization died out after Captain America brought down the Red Skull at the end of the movie. Captain America and Black Widow are shocked to learn that they still exist.

Captain and Black Widow along with the help of a new superhero "Falcon" fight The Winter Soldier in the streets and eventually lose to him, but as he is walking away Captain America in one last effort throws his shield and cuts off his mask and it is revealed that The Winter Soldier is Captain America's lifelong friend and presumed dead Bucky. Bucky fought alongside Steve Rogers in WWII before getting thrown off a train to his death and was never seen again. HYDRA found him though and turned him into one of the most deadly assassins in the world. This is the moment when the mission turns personal and Captain America doesn't know if he can fight him. They go to a secret facility to heal the shot Black Widow where they find Nick Fury very much alive. He gives them 3 chips which will be used to take down the 3 enemy ships that are being used to kill many people in the world. They go on their way to take on the final fight.

The final act of the movie concludes with a one on one fight between Captain America and his once best friend. Captain America eventually takes down the enemy ships including the one he is on but at the cost of getting shot multiple times. In his final stand, he takes out The Winter Soldier but won't finish him off because he truly believes that the old Bucky is still in him. This backfires on him as The Winter Soldier begins to beat him unconscious and Captain America falls off the enemy ship and falls to his death. He lands in water and begins to drown. Right as the screen fades to black to symbolize his death, we see a hand reach out to rescue him. Cut to the next scene and we see Bucky drag his once best friend to land and walks away to disappear.

The thesis of the movie, Friendship can make you contemplate righteousness, is seen in the movie in a few instances but most noticeably through Steve Rogers and Bucky. Captain America only goal was to take out The Winter Soldier and save the world once again, but once he learns that The Winter Soldier is his lifelong friend who he thought was dead the mission affected Captain America. He couldn't pull himself to fight him. The righteous thing to do was to complete the mission and save the world. He eventually figures this out and pulls himself together to complete the mission but still couldn't find the strength to fight The Winter Soldier. This results in Captain America almost dying but it eventually works because he is saved by his past friend. This is also seen in the friendship between Black Widow and Captain America. Captain America in this case chooses righteousness over friendship when he decides to lie to her about Nick Fury being in his apartment.

Overall, this movie was a fantastic movie and really set up a lot for the future movies. The Marvel Universe has been making incredible movies after incredible movies. This one is no different. In fact, I would put this movie in the top 3 they have made. The dialogue, story, action, comedy, etc. was all fantastic and was very well made. I would suggest seeing this movie along with the other Marvel Universe movies. The way they connect all the movies together into one big story is very interesting and entertaining. I would give the movie a 9/10. The new Captain America movie, Captain America: Civil War, comes out May 6, 2016 and I know I will be in line to see that movie.