Review - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.
Runtime: 2hr 16mins

Synopsis: Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

**New Rating System**

Having recently rewatched the first Captain America film (I didn't like it the first time), and actually liking it this time around, I was pumped for its sequel and trust me it didn't disappoint. The movie takes place two years after The Avengers movie, and follows our beloved super-soldier Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) living in Washington D.C and working for S.H.I.E.L.D.

The Good? 

The strongest attribute of The Winter Soldier is definitely in its breathtaking action sequences and set-pieces - it is riveting! I'm not a huge fan of 3D but it worked so well, coupled with great camera work, lovely cinematography and delivered quite the experience. Does The Winter Soldier have the best action of all the Marvel Cinematic Universe films? I think so!

The cast is wonderful. I've never read the Captain America comic books so I really didn't know what to expect. Glad to say that I'm very pleased with Chris Evans portrayal as the captain in both films. I never took him seriously as an actor before but his mature, funny when needed, quite the bad-ass portrayal of Steve Rogers pushed him up the ranks even more in this sequel and I'm happy to say he's now my favorite hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury character is always a welcome plus to these movies and Scarlett Johansson graces us with her bad-ass presence. She gets even more screentime and does not disappoint one bit. We are introduced to another key character from the comics - Falcon (played by Anthony Mackie). Falcon turned out to be a better than expected addition to the franchise and those flight sequences involving him was nothing was nothing short of amazing. I look forward to seeing him furthermore in future installments. The movie also features arguably the best villain so far - the winter soldier.

Yes The Winter Soldier does have its fair share of superhero blockbuster cliches but overall it does have the most interesting story so far of the lot -- even a few twists. One thing I like about these Captain America films is the more or so serious tone of it; it doesn't take that "Oh I wanna be hilarious" route but the script still supplies enough humor throughout. I also love how the movie uses its past and present political setting to its advantage, making the story even more interesting. It blends into the 1940s and present day nicely. I must also add that this sequel is a lovely setup for future Marvel films. It leaves you on a high but also gets you pumped up for what it is to unfold.

The Bad? 

There is nothing bad about this sequel. Though the script was solid overall -- I did however find myself a bit confused with the plot midway. Thankfully the movie irons itself out as it went along and delivered a satisfying and a surprise emotional ending. A point of note is that there are a lot of references to the first film (especially in regards to HYDRA) so you definitely have to watch the first movie to follow along smoothly. Otherwise, I thought The Winter Soldier was a well-executed blockbuster and definitely one of the best products of the Marvel universe.

Grade: A