Captain America: The Winter Soldier – PG 13
Running Time – 136 minutes
Directors: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Major Actors: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, Robert Redford
Rating: 10!
Finally the long arduous wait has ended… Captain America: The Winter Soldier has hit local theatres. To start off… Mindblowing! I have never seen a more amazing superhero moving in all of my numerous cinema experiences. Marvel promised a never before seen angle, and it delivered. I doubt that many could or would argue that this movie is among the best in embodying all that we love in superheroes. Not only was my heart pounding and pulse racing with each plot twist; it was yearning and breaking too. This complete all-star cast delivers and soars above their reputation’s precedent.
Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) who is better known as Captain America, is now an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. joining shortly after a certain alien invasion in New York. He is helping to neutralize threats before they’ve even happened. But knowing good ol’ Cap., attacking before any punishment is due doesn’t sit too well with his early 20th Century morals. After a few explosions and some intense injuries, Rogers sets off with a team of the few he can trust; the infamous Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and his new pal, the Falcon (Anthony Mackie). Not only do they face the Winter Soldier but some old demons rise up from Rogers’ past.
I cannot enumerate my amazement from this movie experience. Of course the CGI and effects were phenomenal with flawless synching to sound effects and overall clarity. What I was most impressed with was the storyline. There are so many twists and turns your mind can hardly keep up. It’s not all action, though. Some very deep values are questioned and with a team of such marvelous (pun intended) actors; my heart went from racing to shredding in a moment’s notice. Yet they balanced the action, humor and drama so well that your emotions were not only properly toyed with, but strategically exercised. You are constantly wondering what could happen next; your psyche working to connect all the puzzle pieces by the end. You cry out as Rogers finds out more tragedies from his past and grip you sides with laughter at the Falcon.
It took a whole new twist on Captain America’s influence in the superhero world saying; yes, we need him around, not everything is answered with iron suits and green rage monsters. As always, Rogers’ morals led his actions but his innumerable abilities brought more impressive action scenes rather than simply punching a villain in the face and accurately flinging his iconic shield into people and buildings. It sets up for the Avengers: Age of Ultron film and adds depth to new adversaries in the future, bringing back our age old fears of hidden Hydra operations.
Not only were the acting and effects stupefying, but the depth of cinematography that directors Anthony and Joe Russo went into only adds to the experience. As Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) quotes, “In order to build a better world, sometimes means turning the old one down… And that makes enemies,” insinuates that things cannot be accomplished by the tradition that Captain America holds so dear. In the movie Rogers ends up donning his old uniform, juxtaposing Pierce with a message unspoken yet ringing true into the hearts of the viewers along with many other symbolic scenes and components.
Even though Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and presumed dead Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) did not appear as I had hoped, the movie was brought to fruition without seemingly unnecessary characters as Anthony and Joe Russo may have intended. Also, the Captain’s shield goes from scratched and near colorless to a fresh coat of paint more than halfway through the movie which may have just been overlooked by production. At least Iron Man and the Hulk were mentioned but not seen as with some other cameo characters. Very minor faults that I can easily overlook, but felt had to be said besides just adoring praise!
Stan Lee appeared as always with a very minimal yet hilarious cameo, true to form, erupting cheers and chuckles of approval from his devoted fans (myself included). As I said, perfect in every way this movie is truly a rollercoaster of twists and turns you’d never expect and exceeded my immeasurably high expectations. I cannot wait for more Marvel films come out, the next being Guardians of the Galaxy which looks more like a comedy than action flick.
Spoiler ahead! So, the Winter Soldier is Rogers’ best friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) now a brainwashed assassin. I was freaking out the entire time he was on screen; the fight that Rogers takes to bring his friend back is so heart wrenching that at times I was all teared up. Also, Peggy (Hayley Atwell) has a cameo as a 90 year-old Alzheimer’s patient. Most everyone was pretty much crying in the theater during that scene; adding that depth I mentioned earlier! And finally, Dr. Arnim Zola (Toby Jones) appeared… as a computer. That’s all I’ll say, even though Hydra is hiding beneath S.H.I.E.L.D.
*P.S. The final credit scenes… Worth waiting for!*
