Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Though I may not be very familiar with the comics from which they are based, I have, for the most part, enjoyed the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. From “The Avengers,” to the more recent “Iron Man 3″ and “Thor 2,” the films are consistently fun, and rarely a dull experience. And somehow, Marvel has outdone itself once more with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” creating possibly their most thrilling film to date, with the possible exception of “The Avengers.” It is the start of what should be a promising summer for movies. “The Winter Soldier” takes place approximately 2 years after the events of “The Avengers.” Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is still adjusting to life in the modern world, after being frozen in ice for 70 years after what happened to him in “Captain America: The First Avenger.” He now works for S.H.I.E.L.D., headed by Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson). But, things are starting to shake up, as an attack is soon made on S.H.I.E.L.D’s own members. It is up to Cap to save the day, along with Natasha Ramanoff aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and newly found friend Sam Wilson aka Falcon (Anthony Mackie). What makes “The Winter Soldier” so engaging is not only its intense action sequences, but also its refreshingly original story. Think of an espionage thriller similar to “The Bourne Identity,” in which an evil organization is running beneath a seemingly good one, and is also secretly led by high-level officials, including one named Alexander Pierce (shrewdly played by Robert Redford). The ultimate plan of this evil organization may be one that has been overdone, but the journey to get there is full of twists and turns, even relating back to Captain America’s own past in several ways. It makes what would have been a typical action film into something deeper, where the quiet moments are just as enjoyable as the loud ones. That being said, this action superhero film is also everything you hoped it would be. Captain America, who seems from the outset to be Marvel’s most “boring” superhero, is here a joy to watch. He tumbles around with his powerful star-spangled shield, blocking off bullets while simultaneously slamming bad guys left and right; he sprints across the screen at super speeds, never appearing to tire or slow down; and he kicks and punches with karate and jiu-jitsu moves, with no one standing much of a chance against him. But, it also appears that Captain America might have met his match, as he soon confronts a powerful soldier with the same abilities as himself, known as the Winter Soldier. The intense battles between the two bring us even to the point where we worry if Cap is going to make it (although planned sequels might already answer that question). Moments like this help to humanize the character, as we realize that, behind the colorful suit, this is also a human being, even if a super-charged one. Chris Evans, who plays Captain America, brings heart and soul to the role. Completing the trio of superheroes is Black Widow, who was before seen in “Iron Man 2″ and also “The Avengers,” and a new character named Falcon who, equipped with a winged flight suit, literally flies across the screen, as his name suggests. The scenes between the three characters are among the most entertaining in the Marvel series, especially in the climactic final battle. And keep an eye out for Nick Fury, who has a much larger role in this film than he has in the past. “The Winter Soldier” may be a darker entry in the Marvel series, yet it is still ripe with that light-hearted humor so typical to them, which comes at the most precise moments. It is easy to tell that Anthony and Joe Russo, who direct the film, have a background in comedy, as their timing is always just right. For humor, thrills, action, and even some unexpected emotion, “The Winter Soldier” is hard to beat. And be sure to stick around for a scene after the credits, which shows a scene that is a tie-in to what is sure to be another enjoyable entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I really enjoyed this movie. Sequels are really hard to do because of the expectations from the first movie. But this movie delivers. Great plot that flows nicely. Great fight scenes. Chris and Scarlett have great chemistry. You really felt in what Steve was fighting for. Steve is a moral man that does not take sides because he shares gender, race, country, religion, or political parties. A very rare quality in people. I see that side of me in him. I don't care if your my family or friend, if your right your right. If your wrong, as a real friend I will tell you that your wrong. Too many people don't care if their family, friend, or politician is wrong, they will defend them no matter what. We have seen that with the liberals and Biden. Easily the worst president in history. Yet they lie and twist everything no matter what he does. There is a difference between supporting a friend or family member when they are wrong. But supporting does not mean defending them. Too many people get that mixed up. But Steve is always aiming to do the right thing. And in this movie, he knows that his friend Bucky is still in there at the end and is willing to do what he has to do to help him. I would have liked to see more Nick Fury in action rather then being the politician of the group. Falcon is a nice supporting character who loves his country and loves his fellow soldiers. The three make a great team.

This was a great movie! I pre-ordered the Blu-ray and was ecstatic to get it, having not got the chance to watch it in theaters when it came out back in the late spring. While I was sort of luke-warm with the first Captain America movie, I had higher hopes for this one. I had read the source material for the Winter Soldier and was a big fan of that story line. I knew they were going to incorporate Scarlett Johansen's Black Widow into a large part of the movie and would also be introducing the character of Sam Wilson - aka The Falcon. The movie previews looked great, and it had been a very long wait for this to debut on video disc. And the wait was completely worth it! This movie was fantastic! Great writing, great acting, great cast, great action sequences, great effects, and a very satisfying story line from start to finish. I enjoyed this movie immensely, and even having just watched it, wouldn't hesitate to watch it again, tomorrow. I loved it and would almost say that I enjoyed it better than The Avengers. However, some of my enthusiasm is probably based on the newness of the movie, so I can't say that with absolute certainty. Avengers may have been a bit more fun, but this movie was enjoyable on a more serious level. I highly recommend this movie to all fans of the genre! Also, if you want to read more about the origins of "The Winter Solider," pick up either Winter Soldier by Ed Brubaker: The Complete Collection or Captain America Omnibus, Vol. 1 to get the full picture. I can pretty much guarantee that we'll be seeing more of him in future Marvel movies - and that's a good thing!

Well, here we have the sequel I wasn’t really looking forward to and wasn’t especially interested in. I liked the first movie well enough, but the idea of another movie didn’t interest me all that much. I’m just not that into Captain America as a character. But I must say, whatever expectations I had were shattered. This movie was excellent. It was nicely-paced and struck a good balance between humor and drama; something that isn’t always easy to do. All the major characters worked well, even the Black Widow, who I normally just roll eyes at and quickly lose interest in. I will say that the titular Winter Soldier was a bit undeserved. He didn’t really do much, other than look vaguely menacing and incredibly hot (note to self: watch for guys cosplaying as him when Comicon rolls around). I also like that Nick Fury was actually given a larger role, which is a nice change of pace from his normal habit of popping up, making a couple of quips and leaving again. The movie itself did indeed live up to the notion, as its directors said it would, of feeling like a 1970s political thriller (complete with Robert Redford), with a bit of action thrown in; and the action was, for the most part, in service to the plot. That’s something fairly rare in many movies now (I’m looking at you, Michael Bay). It was also nice to see some discussion about the ethics of SHIELD and the way they behave, though I wish it had been more than a surface discussion. I also really enjoyed seeing Captain America get a lot more characterization than he had in his previous two major appearances. The one minor complaint that I have about the movie is that it was a bit crowded with main characters. We had Captain America, Falcon, Nick Fury and Black Widow, in addition to several different villains. I like a good ensemble cast, but there is a limit. Seeing the Winter Soldier get a bit more development would have been nice, too, but mostly I just spent time looking at him and thinking, “Giggity!” a lot. As a final word on this movie, be aware that there are two credits teasers. One, that actually matters, happens in the middle of the credits. The other, which doesn’t, really, happens at the end. Stay for both, unless you’re at the theater I work at, in which case get out quickly! We have a mess to clean up.

I would give this 4 1/2 stars if I could. I am stunned, absolutely stunned, that Marvel has maintained such a high quality series of movies. Even the flawed movies, like "Iron Man 2" and "X-Men 3," are worthy movies if not great ones. Compare this to the original Superman films with Christopher Reeve, whose quality declined appreciably over time. Look at almost any extended series of movies and you see that in just about all cases, they turn into garbage over time. (Harry Potter is a notable exception. The filmmakers really did a remarkable job with that series.) Just as an example, Superman II, while still a worthy follow up to part 1, introduced those weird additional powers at the end of the film (Supes threw a a cellophane "S" off his chest at one of the Kryptonians). Part III was a simply bizarre mix of slapstick comedy and dark themes. And, of course, part IV was appalling--the less said about it, the better. Consider also the Alien series, beginning with part III, and the original Batman series beginning with the arrival of Joel Schumacher. Of course, Marvel did have some misfires, especially toward the beginning of the super-hero phenomenon in cinema...I'm looking at you Fantastic Four and Elektra. On the whole, however, the people overseeing the production of these movies are doing a remarkable job. The DC people are doing a pretty good job too. Christopher Nolan is very possibly the most gifted director of his generation. Also, I say without shame, that The Green Lantern was not as bad as it was made out to be. I was skeptical that an exciting Captain America movie could actually be made, but I was very impressed with both the first film and with this one. Cap's powers are fun to see, for sure, but his action sequences aren't exactly like those in Iron Man. The filmmakers wisely balance the excitement of Cap's powers with an interesting story that has drama, surprises, and intrigue, a la "Three Days of the Condor" or "The Day of the Jackal." It has a lot of action, but is is also a relatively sophisticated film, particularly in terms of its story, filmmaking artistry, and powerful presence of the great Robert Redford.

In the closing days of World War II Captain America defeated Hydra, killing its founder and leader The Red Skull when they crashed into the water while fighting aboard a gigantic bomber enroute to wreak devastation upon New York. The Red Skull is dead but did Hydra also die? Everyone thinks so but did this evil organization, in fact, survive the death of its leader and continue into the present day using far more subtle methods to gain its ultimate end: World domination. 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' explores that premise in this sequel to the original Captain America film. Like the original, this sequel features plenty of action, excellent CG effects and some old friends, including Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce. In addition to the nearly non-stop action, however, the film asks some penetrating questions that in an age in which most people seem to be afraid of their neighbors - especially if those neighbors look and worship differently - seldom get asked. For example: In order to feel safe, must we purchase a sense of security by using our basic freedoms as currency? Must we, in fact, surrender those freedoms to government agencies we hope will not abuse their power to control and manipulate us? Even murder us 'for the greater good...' Captain America doesn't think so, but he seems to be in the minority as S.H.I.E.L.D prepares to unveil new intelligence-gathering technology and advanced weapons systems designed to ferret out terrorists and stop them before they commit their barbarous acts. He sees this new technology, which represents an unprecedented incursion into the privacy of millions of innocent people, as a threat to those ideals he and his Howling Commandos fought to preserve in the Second World War. That throws him into direct conflict with his boss, Col. Nick Fury. The film also asks its viewers to explore the boundaries of loyalty and the strength of friendship. By asking these questions in a movie that features improbable costumed heroes and even more improbable villains, the writers have - in my opinion - elevated 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' beyond the action/adventure genre into something much more profound. If for no other reason than that, I highly recommend it..

For anyone who has been studying conspiracies in the last several decades, this movie pretty much paints a precise picture of EXACTLY what could very well be happening in our current governmental system. A sinister enemy leftover from the Nazi era hiding so perfectly within the very institutions it claims to represent. The Nazi scientists were indeed brought over to America and saved from death or torture in order to share their ahead-of-their-time advancements with the U.S. And from the recruited Nazi's, could it be that they infiltrated to such a degree that a "shadowy government with its own military, its own fundraising mechanism" exists, and will persist as Sen. Dan Inouye once warned, as did Dwight Eisenhower as his final message as President. This movie is brilliant, nobody who is a fan of Captain American and Marvel studios can deny it. But why did this movie hit such a nerve with audiences? Because this is very close to the reality that people are waking up to, slowly but surely, because the wool has been pulled over so many eyes. Subconsciously people know that this is not just made up fiction...deep down they know that truth is often more fascinating than fiction, so where better to draw from than truth to fill the complex plot lines of our beloved movies. I love everything about this film, but its also scary to think of an "evil force" hiding within the government and military that has such power and organization as Hydra is depicted. It even mentions the Hydra new world order, a clear reference to recognized conspiracy theory. So is it a revelation of things to come? We'll see. But wow it seems that major truth is being packaged as entertainment to educate the dumbed-down masses in the way they can warm up to gradually. The Russo brothers amaze me. They make extraordinary films, and as I write this, they have the highest grossing movie ever made (Endgame)....well done, and thank you for making such a brilliant and politically relevant movie. We need a Captain America...heck maybe we already have one, or several of these "white knights" fighting for good. Maybe much of the "fantastic" plot lines, from Cyborgs, to Super Soldiers, to advanced A.I., to Alien empires who have a deep interest and historical connection to Earthlings, all exist... and movies are showing us what our governments already know and have already developed...Yay for Superheroes, because they remind us of our very best qualities!

This is the second movie about Captain America and of all the Marvel moves that have come out in the past ten plus years it is one of their best. I have been a marvel comics fan for many years and honestly didn't read very much about Captain America beyond what he did in the few Avengers comics I picked up, he always felt a bit to boy scout-ish for me. The first movie, the origin movie, was good but felt a bit long and by the time he was getting more interesting he froze. This movie however showed a side to him that was unexpected, how he would react to a change in a lawful system that he is part of and in some ways a founder of and how he would react is doing the good thing even if it wasn't quite part of the established rules. Always a character that was not so much super powered but peak of human athletics didn't shine is comics next to characters like Hulk, Thor and Spiderman. In this movie however he really was showcased in a way that showed him being the Super Soldier that they have always sold him as. Fighting groups of combatants, even high speed chases and the scene with the harrier jet were awesome and seeing it in the theater got some cheers. The nerdy side of me kept thinking that he must be good at geometry as well since the shield always bounces back to him. Though speaking of the shield there were some other really cool things done with that as well. The story was good, bit of a mystery thriller and all the characters involved did a good job of portraying the character from the comics or at least the previous movies we know them from. If you are not a big comic movie fan but you want to see what everyone else is raving about this is a good one to see.