Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Movie Review

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This one changes everything.

With The Winter Soldier, Marvel Studios is smack in the middle of “Phase II”–and continues to gain momentum. This new Captain America adventure is a conspiracy/action/thriller while remaining a superhero movie and it excels on all counts as it rockets through to the end. Every time you think you know what’s happening, another twist sneaks up on you so fast that you’ll develop whiplash.

There are broad sweeping themes here about the role of government in our lives–what is freedom and what is simply fear? At the same time, Steve Rogers (Captain America), now fully integrated as a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative, continues his character arc from The Avengers, no longer blindly willing to take orders, striving to do what’s right. He’s tired of deception and lies, of being kept in the dark for his own good.

The clock is ticking as S.H.I.E.L.D. is trying to get Project Insight up and running, a modern-day version of the Strategic Defense Initiative (aka Star Wars). A mysterious assassin is drifting in and out of events, known only as the Winter Soldier, creating havoc at the worst possible times. Through it all, there is mystery and confusion. The movie is structured like an onion: as one layer is peeled, the next question comes to light. Captain America moves through the movie like a tall, athletic Hercule Poirot, putting together bits of the clues and conducting interrogations. Until, finally, the answer is revealed.

There are innovative fight scenes–Chris Evan’s Captain America is a full-speed one man army, plowing down the enemy with both grace and power, while Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow uses a bewildering combination of gymnastics, fast strikes, a garrote, and marksmanship to wipe out her opponents. None of the choreography is boring or repetitious. There are chase scenes, and lots of explosions, without the wholesale destruction of life and property that cheapened Man of Steel. The pacing is tight.

The film uses the historic/nostalgic value of the Smithsonian exhibit on Captain America–anyone that important would be well documented, right? He’s also moved on to using his shield with far more versatility, and it’s far easier to carry. The evolution is organic and works really well.

Characterwise, there’s more of favorites like Black Widow, Nick Fury, and Maria Hill (not nearly enough Maria Hill!). Plus the introduction of veteran Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), World Security Council member Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford), and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Brock Rumlow (Frank Grillo).

The more you know about the Marvel comic book universe, the more you’ll enjoy it. There are hints, name drops, and ground work for future movies. And a couple of nods to Joe Carnahan’s highly underrated The A-Team for good measure.

This one is not to be missed. Well over two hours that just fly by, not a minute wasted. I’m starting to think that Marvel can do no wrong. Next up is science fiction and superheroes: Guardians of the Galaxy.

Reviewed by Elektra Hammond