Captain Obvious Reviews: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

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Characters like Captain America get alot of unnecessary flak for being too perfect and having too much of a strong sense of what is right that makes him uncool. To which I always reply, "What's so uncool about doing the right thing?" What I like about his character is that he knows the difference between right and wrong and isn't afraid to stand up for his beliefs. The conflict of his character is how much is values come at an impasse with the values of the modern world. That is only a part of what makes this film such a winner. It's so honest to the spirit of Captain America's character. Along with hard-hitting action sequences, fantastic performances from the entire cast, a terrific score, and the right balance between comedy and drama, Cap's second solo adventure ranks among Spider-Man 2 and The Dark Knight as a superhero sequel that is better than the original.
 
Set two years after the events of The Avengers, Steve Rogers continues to work for S.H.I.E.L.D while still adapting to the modern world. He quickly becomes distrustful of S.H.I.E.L.D when he finds out they have been dealing in espionage. When dark forces from Steve's past reemerge and attack S.H.I.E.L.D, he must go on the run alongside fellow Avenger Natasha Romanoff a.k.a Black Widow and veteran Sam Wilson to solve a conspiracy that threatens to tear the world they know down. To make matters worse, Steve must also face off against his deadliest and most brutal enemy yet- The Winter Soldier.
 
The Winter Soldier seems to be the first film in Marvel's Phase 2 that not only serves as a satisfying standalone flick, but as an expansion of the MCU. It's surprising to see Marvel craft a story shakes the very foundation of which it was built on.  There are alot of twists and turns in this film, especially for those familiar with the comics. If there is one thing that is clear after the movie ends, it's that the MCU will never be the same again.
 
Just about all comic book movies today like to pick the hero's inner workings apart to see what makes them tick. That is why it is so refreshing to see a superhero like Captain America. He's a character who is very clear about his own identity and isn't manipulated or forced to compromise by oppressive forces. Some will say that hinders Cap's growth as a character. But the point of Captain America isn't for him to grow. It's for America to grow to match him. Chris Evans is perfectly able to give us a man who is so sure of himself and his values. His performance is so commanding, you would have no trouble following this man through hell and back.
 
Among the villains in this film (some more subtle like drone strikes and data mining), the Winter Soldier is the standout amongst them. Marvel has received alot of criticism for their lack of interesting and memorable villains, and the Winter Soldier thankfully bucks that trend. He's cold, ruthless, brutal, scary, and an unstoppable force. Whenever he is knocked down, he gets up like nothing happened and dispatches his enemies with ease. He is the Terminator of comic book movies. The only downside is that he's not in the movie enough. He also provides a couple of the film's more emotional moments. It was so rewarding to hear the many gasps of audience members when his true identity was revealed.
 
I will admit, I was skeptical of the directors Joe and Anthony Russo taking the helm because of their lack of experience in action films. And the fact that they wrote and directed You, Me, and Dupree. But after seeing this film, it's like they're experienced action directors finally taking a crack at the superhero genre. All the action scenes, especially the ones with hand-to-hand combat, are well-choreographed and keep packing punch after punch. You feel every crack, hit, and kick. While it may get to intense at points for younger audience members, general moviegoers and action junkies will have alot to love.
 
The film does have one big downside to it. As the mystery begins to unravel, the narrative becomes very convoluted clunky. A couple times, it became difficult to follow what was going on. Even when all the pieces come together, the villains' overall plan doesn't make alot of sense. But that is a discussion for another time. The film is so energetic and engaging, it's easy to look over most of its flaws. It also helps that the comedy and drama are perfectly balanced here. Unlike previous Phase 2 entry, Thor: The Dark World, the humor doesn't undercut the film's dramatic scenes. Which is a sigh of relief since there are a few big ones and they all hit the right chord.
 
The bottom line is Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a worthy sequel and addition to the MCU. After Iron Man and Thor both underwhelmed last year, it's nice to know the Star-Spangled Man is able to hit it out of the park. This raises the bar for all future Marvel sequels and all other comic book movies coming out this summer. 2014 looks to be a good year for superheroes and it's so rewarding to start with this one. Take a bow, everyone. You just made the definitive Captain America movie.
 
 
Final rating: 9 out of 10.