In the wake of the events that unfolded in The Avengers Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) struggles to find his place in this modern, twisted world. However, as he settles in with those closest to him a new threat emerges, the Winter Soldier, and the world that he has begun to fall in love with threatens to crumble. With S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and new allies, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Kate (Emily VanCamp), in the mix, Steve’s journey will become far more complicated than he could have ever imagined. Captain America: The Winter Soldier finds Steve Rogers in the fight of his life, as someone close by isn’t all that they seem to be.
From visionary directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, Captain America: The Winter Soldier takes a massive leap toward the continued practice of team-up films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This became something that viewers quickly jumped on board with and began to expect from Marvel and each of its constituents.
There seems to be an unwritten rule within the MCU where each installment of the massive franchise must outdo the last in terms of the action sequences. With Captain America: The Winter Soldier following the likes of The Avengers and Thor: The Dark World, new to the Marvel table Anthony and Joe Russo had a lot on their plate and incredibly high expectations to deal with. For those who have followed the MCU and are familiar with the most recent Avengers installments, you know that the Russo brothers do not shy away from going big. In addition to that there seems to be no amount of intimidation present within the siblings as they face even the toughest tests that Kevin Feige and the Marvel fans have to offer. While Captain America: The Winter Soldier is considered a solo film, primarily focused on the titular Captain America, the inclusion of other characters, whose importance in the MCU hasn’t truly been discovered at this point, allows the film to develop into something bigger than any of the other solo films that came before it. Viewers see Rogers, Romanoff, Wilson, Fury, and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) team up in an attempt to guard the world from destruction. As the team slowly grows throughout the course of Captain America: The Winter Soldier the action becomes bigger, better, and more engrossing than ever before. The Russo Brothers effectively found a way to make one of the most successful film franchises in history even better.
While the action sequences are well choreographed, wonderfully executed, and everything that viewers could have hoped for, there is another aspect of Captain America: The Winter Soldier that shines brighter than the rest. Films present in the MCU typically do a wonderful job of presenting viewers with well-developed dialogue, something that often helps to drive these films forward and allow the content of said films to resonate with audiences. Films like Iron Man, The Avengers, and Captain America: The First Avenger are wonderful examples of the top-notch writing that takes place within the confines of the Marvel family as not a moment passes in any of those films that cause viewers to question the validity of what is being said. There is something about Captain America: The Winter Soldier that feels different than its predecessors, however. The dialogue appears to take a huge leap forward and, in many ways, becomes the primary reason viewers are able to relate to the characters on screen and the film as a whole. I’m a huge proponent of each and every word in a novel or film having a bearing on what takes place throughout the rest of the story, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier seems to be the perfect example of making every word count. Each word draws on viewers’ emotions and pulls them further into the story of the first Avenger and the difficulties he faces while dealing with the world’s newest threat, the Winter Soldier.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier has some stiff competition, but I believe it’s fair to say that, in comparison to the films released prior to this installation of the MCU, it’s the best. The action, dialogue, and acting throughout the film envelop viewers and drive this masterpiece of a film forward. The Russo Brothers, most recently known for their massive success with Avengers: Endgame first get their toes wet with Captain America’s second solo film, and they take that particular franchise to new heights. It’s fair to say that much of what takes place throughout Captain America: The Winter Soldier paved the way for the rest of the MCU. Not a moment goes by that viewers don’t feel fully intrigued by the story or the characters involved, and nearly every second of the film feels like it’s driving toward something bigger.
Directed by Anthony Russo & Joe Russo.
Written by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, etc.
Starring Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Mcimiliano Hernández, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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