Captain America: The Winter Soldier picks up roughly where Iron Man 3 left off in terms of time passing in the Marvel Universe. Steve Rogers appears to be at something of a loose end, tormenting Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as he runs laps around the Washington Monument. Then he gets called to action by S.H.I.E.L.D and everything kicks into high gear with a raid on a S.H.I.E.L.D. research vessel that is being held hostage.
One of the great things about this movie is that it takes the viewer through some unexpected twists and turns, while maintaining the human appeal of Rogers as a man out of time. Without spoiling anything for you, there are some truly heartbreaking moments as the Cap continues to come to terms with the fact that the life he once had is irrevocably gone. There are some adorable scenes between the Captain and Black Widow where she tries to encourage him to move on from his beloved Peggy (with typical Black Widow sass) and it’s a little heartbreaking to watch him resist.
The titular antagonist is everything you could expect and more from a mysterious bad guy. A combination of fantastic effects, ridiculously daring stunts, and the actor’s looming, silent presence makes the Winter Soldier a worthy adversary for Rogers. Other notable villains include Toby Jones as the deliciously creepy Arnim Zola, the ever-sinister S.H.I.E.L.D. Board of Directors, and Garry Shandling reprising his role as sleazy Senator Stern.
On the side of good, Mackie does a wonderful job of portraying Sam “Falcon” Wilson as the savvy and dedicated new hero for the Marvel Universe, and a fitting successor to Bucky as Cap’s best friend and sidekick. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of Sam’s backstory, which managed to avoid slowing the pace of the film while still giving plenty of information to those of us who have not read the comics. Cobie Smulders is criminally underused as Maria Hill, although her presence carries a perfect combination of calm and toughness when she does appear.
When it comes to action, you will not be disappointed. The Russo brothers maintain a nice balance between information flowing and things exploding. Particular highlights include a literally explosive car chase (featuring a car even the most paranoid driver would feel safe in) and the climactic battle between Cap and the Soldier. In the course of the movie’s runtime most of Washington seems to be destroyed, but at least it looks good.
In terms of plot, it’s difficult to discuss too much without filling this review with spoilers. Suffice to say, there is a great deal of interest set up for the next Marvel release and a tremendous amount to be discussed on message boards. Conspiracies abound, and the relevance of Steve’s past to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s present becomes more and more apparent as the movie goes on. Old friends turn out to be enemies, betrayal is everywhere, and Machiavellian manoeuvring on the part of S.H.I.E.L.D. and just about everyone else is the order of the day.
Geeks will also love the little touches and shoutouts dotted so elegantly throughout the film. Look out for nerd royalty in the form of Community’s Danny Pudi in one scene, and keep your eyes peeled for Mystery Team star DC Pierson in another. And, of course, watch out for Stan Lee.
If you are looking for a blockbuster with heart and a plot, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the film to see. Even if you are a DC lover at heart, this movie is not to be missed.
