Review of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) by Juan M — 23 Oct 2015

Marvel rarely if ever fails, and this standalone film is definitely one of their best. One of the Phase 2 additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (the Russo brothers), and is written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.

The Winter Soldier focuses on Captain America still trying to adapt to the modern world, but has to deal with actions by SHIELD that he disagrees with. After an unfortunate event, the Capt and Black Widow team up to investigate a conspiracy and battle a new threat: the Winter Soldier.

This film became of one of the most anticipated of 2014, and an earlier release date than traditional blockbusters raised the anticipation, and the results speak for itself. Marvel has once again succeeded at creating another standalone film, and one that improves on the predecessor while also adding new elements to the MCU.

Winter Soldier feels much more grounded and realistic thanks in heavy part to its focus on global security, and whether or not our heroes are safe from the threat facing them. The action is filmed in a Jason Bourne-ish way, with bits of shaky cam (that you can follow), hand-to-hand combat, and great choreography.

There's even a great highway battle with the Winter Soldier wielding a knife that blew my mind. The Russo brothers are known for comedy, but this proves they have great talent for action, as proven by tense action sequences and making the characters much more human by getting them hurt and exploring them.

The visual effects work is great, and the practical effects work well too since the Russos wanted more practical effects, which create a much more immersive and realistic experience. The cast is great of course, with Chris Evans really coming into his own as Captain America, getting a look into a man that's still not too sure of SHIELD's actions and the world he lives in.

Scarlett Johansson kills it once again as Black Widow, giving audiences a strong female heroine that never lets up when it comes to fighting, and the choreography enhances it. Anthony Mackie is an exciting new addition as Falcon, a tough, humorous guy with a cool flight suit.

The Marvel humor is there, and it never fails to leave you laughing. The entertainment value is high, thanks to great action and spectacle, which results in a fun time at the movies. There's even social commentary on global security and corporation corruption, making the events taking place much more realistic as you can buy that something like this can happen.

Sebastian Stan is great as the Winter Soldier, creating one of Marvel's best villains, thanks to a menacing appearance and lack of subtlety when it comes to attacking his foes. His M-16 with a grenade launcher and knife wielding skills make him a terrifying presence, and it gets emotional and personal when he fights Capt.

Whenever the two fight, you see this distance between them, the sense that two former friends are truly foes, that the person the Winter Soldier was is gone for good. It's exciting, intense, and emotional, a perfect three-way combination.

The Winter Soldier feels much more different than any other MCU film, which is a good thing as it adds something fresh to the franchise, and I can't wait for what comes next in Phase 3. One of Marvel's strongest films yet, and a must-watch.