Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
 Captain America:  The Winter Soldier
Released 4/4/14

Marvel Studios releases have become spectacles of late, especially since the release of the Avengers in 2012.  This week's release of the Captain America sequel is no exception.  Marvel has set the bar fairly high in recent years.  Speculation is that The Winter Soldier is arguably the studio's best release ever.  What?  Better than the Avengers?  Could it really be that epic for the picky comic connoisseur like myself?

Well, I don't know if I would call it Marvel's best release yet, but, it's pretty epic in its own right, easily in the team photo as one of the best movies of its genre.  It's a perfect mix of action, comedy and political intrigue.  And, it has the feel of a game changer in the Marvel movie narrative (and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on the television side for that matter).

We find Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) still a stranger in a strange land since he was unthawed from his decades long sleep a couple of years ago.  Aside from the occasional clashes with international peacekeeping force, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), regarding trust, he's still fighting the good fight on Fury's behalf performing highly important and classified missions for him.  At least, that's what he thinks until Fury let's him in on something he finds highly disturbing. 

S.H.I.E.L.D. has adopted the philosophy of neutralizing threats from the vast stores of data they have on just about every living man, woman, and child on the planet before they become uncontrollable.  To do this, three experimental and heavily armed Helicarriers connected by satellite link have been designed to take out anyone who fits this profile, by the thousands, if necessary.  As Fury states, "S.H.I.E.L.D. views the world as it is and not how they would like it to be."  It's a philosophy the good Captain has a big issue with.  But, with Fury's friend and senior S.H.I.E.L.D. director, Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford), in lockstep with him regarding "Project Insight", Rogers is outvoted.  And, that's when everything in The Winter Soldier hits the fan in a big way.  Fury becomes compromised (or does he?) and events are manipulated to make Captain America an enemy of the state.  And, who is this mysterious super terrorist codenamed The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) making The Captain's life difficult?  Who is he and who does he work for?  Rogers is sure not to like either answer.

What I like most about what Marvel is doing here is the way they are interconnecting their stories in the "Phase 2" stage of their films.  And, they're often very subtle interconnections.  In The Winter Soldier alone, we're reintroduced to Loki's spear from The Avengers (albeit during the end credits), Iron Man's repulsor lifts on a very large scale through the Helicarriers, and a serum developed by Bruce Banner that slows the heart rate to almost nothing. 

As with most movies of this genre, the action and death-defying stunts are amped up to amazing levels.  But, this one is done in a more organic way if that makes any sense.  It's not like Thor, Spider-Man, or Iron Man where you expect fights and adrenaline-rushing sequences to be on a grand superhuman scale.  Directors, Anthony and Joe Russo, have taken care to scale back the CGI on this one.  While Captain America does most things that most humans couldn't do, what he's doing still feels decidedly human and anchored somewhat to the real world which fits the character exactly. It's different, but just as exciting to see on-screen.

There are some familiar and new faces in The Winter Soldier.  Scarlett Johansson and Cobie Smulders return as The Black Widow and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill, respectively.  Two characters are introduced who are very important to the Captain America mythos.  Anthony Mackie is brought into the fold as Cap ally, Sam Wilson (The Falcon), an ex-paratrooper highly trained in aerial combat using a specialized flight pack with wings.  Emily Van Camp is introduced as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, Sharon Carter, a woman who becomes very important in Cap's life in the comic.  We'll see if the powers that be follow suit with that in the film adaptations. 

Another thing that sets The Winter Soldier apart from many super hero movies is the direction of the storyline itself.  It's as much a political thriller as it is a super hero movie with deceptions and intrigue galore.  I said earlier that this movie will have far-reaching repercussions within the Marvel movie universe.  Seeds from this movie have even been planted in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television series.  There's something very rotten happening in this group.  I won't give much more away, but, a certain counter organization is rearing its ugly little head (or should I say heads) again in the 21st century that's bad news for everyone. 

I also don't know why I feel the need to say this, but, I will say it again anyway.  Unless it's of absolutely no interest to you, you do not get up and leave the theater from any Marvel movie whether it's from Marvel Studios, Sony, or Fox before the last end credit has rolled.  Two segments are provided here during the end credits.  The lesser one (in my opinion) is at the very end of the credits that likely has more to do with the next Captain America movie than it does with the Marvel Universe as a whole (depending on where they take the story) involving a character on the verge of remembering some important things.  The first post credit scene happens about mid-way through that will have ramifications for next year's Avengers:  Age of Ultron movie.  You've been told.  Leave the theater at your own risk. 

Captain America:  The Winter Soldier is well worth the wait and hype.  It's an excellent piece of movie making by all parties involved and keeps the bar raised high for the genre.  This is the golden age for the comic book geek.  I've heard some say super hero movies are ruining Hollywood.  All in the eye of the beholder I guess.  If you have no interest in this type of spectacle, it's not going to be your cup of tea.  For someone like me who grew up on comic books, it's Candyland and Disney World rolled into one.

Oh, and P.S.  Marvel.  Nice touch that Cap has crossed Star Wars off his "To Do" list!

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***** stars (been a couple years since I've given this one)

Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.