Captain America: The Winter Soldier Movie Review
Harmony Lau, Staff Reporter
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Our favourite star-spangled super soldier graces our screens again in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” for his second solo screen outing, a movie that can be considered his first “real” franchise installment following “The First Avenger” – which was set entirely in the WWII era (save for literally the last few minutes) and can now be considered as nothing more than a film created and carried out for the purpose of having a backstory. A backstory that had the potential to grow into something amazing - which was perfectly executed in “The Avengers” and now in “The Winter Soldier”. In a way, “The First Avenger” could be seen as something to buy time, given the idea that the old-school, wide-eyed, American idealistic ideas of freedom and patriotism don't give itself enough to work with to create an interesting superhero solo series, unlike its fellow Avengers, Iron Man, Thor, or even the Hulk. However, directors Joe and Anthony Russo along with the screenwriters have discovered a way to build upon our idealistic 1940’s (now stuck in the 21st century) protagonist and his story in order to really let it stand on its own in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The directors and screenwriters really scrapped away the idea of the metaphysical (which seems quite absurd considering this is a superhero movie) and stuck with the gritty wretchedness prevalent in human beings to give this movie a much more reality-bound feeling. Unlike “The Avengers”, there is an evil, a sickness within this film, and it’s present not in a supernatural creature, but rather in humanity itself, and the audience, along with Captain America (Chris Evans) learn about the corruption of old-school virtues and values. While deconstructing the old ways, this film introduces another old-school aspect, that of a 1970’s thriller – in which the Captain and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) go about on a routine S.H.I.E.L.D. assigned rescue mission, only to unlock the door to some shady and dangerous business within its own firm.
There is definitely no shortage in supply of action sequences and moments in this film as Cap, Black Widow, and a new comrade, ex-soldier Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) uncover the truths about a dubious new S.H.I.E.L.D. project while masked assassin, the Winter Soldier goes after various targets, amongst them, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Wilson, who is better known to the comic book fans as Falcon, is a good complement to Cap and the Black Widow, and a lot of the scenes in the movie rely heavily on the chemistry between these three leads. The ease with which Mackie integrates his place within the MCU ensemble really shows in the companionable ease in which he and Cap share by the end. Ironically though, the weakest link in this movie would be the turn involving the Winter Soldier (a plot derived directly from the comics and a story that has been overused quite a bit) that just doesn’t quite have the emotional impact that was clearly intended. However, between the great chemistry present in the cast, the brilliantly choreographed and intense battle sequences, the great writing and perfectly timed comedic moments, as well as the plot twists and solid foundation, this film leads itself to an amazing installment within the MCU as it opens up a lot of different and interesting paths that Marvel can now take, as well as an awesome action-thriller that will leave you clinging to the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
There is definitely no shortage in supply of action sequences and moments in this film as Cap, Black Widow, and a new comrade, ex-soldier Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) uncover the truths about a dubious new S.H.I.E.L.D. project while masked assassin, the Winter Soldier goes after various targets, amongst them, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Wilson, who is better known to the comic book fans as Falcon, is a good complement to Cap and the Black Widow, and a lot of the scenes in the movie rely heavily on the chemistry between these three leads. The ease with which Mackie integrates his place within the MCU ensemble really shows in the companionable ease in which he and Cap share by the end. Ironically though, the weakest link in this movie would be the turn involving the Winter Soldier (a plot derived directly from the comics and a story that has been overused quite a bit) that just doesn’t quite have the emotional impact that was clearly intended. However, between the great chemistry present in the cast, the brilliantly choreographed and intense battle sequences, the great writing and perfectly timed comedic moments, as well as the plot twists and solid foundation, this film leads itself to an amazing installment within the MCU as it opens up a lot of different and interesting paths that Marvel can now take, as well as an awesome action-thriller that will leave you clinging to the edge of your seat from beginning to end.