The Cap is back, making his presence known in the long-anticipated sequel that hit theaters last week.
Captain America: Winter Soldier is a superhero film from Marvel Studios and is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. The film is the sequel to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger and serves as the ninth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and features Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan in the lead roles. Samuel L. Jackson and Anthony Mackie also join the cast as Captain America and Black Widow attempt to thwart a plot to turn the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D. against the world.
The film quickly introduces us two years after The Avengers film as Steve Rogers, aka Captain America (Evans), trying to adapt to modern life. After befriending former Pararescue veteran Sam Wilson (Mackie) by chance, Rogers, while on an apparent hostage situation on a S.H.E.L.D. vessel, discovers that Black Widow (Johansson) has been assigned a secret mission to secure classified information from the ship’s computers by Nick Fury (Jackson). After a confrontation with Fury on just who to trust, Rogers is introduced to Project Insight, a program where three specially designed Helicarriers are linked to satellites to preemptively eliminate threats.
One of the most notable, recurring themes seen throughout Winter Soldier is the constant reference to modern preemptive strikes in dealing with potential threats and whether or not we are justified in sacrificing others to potentially save millions. The film plays devil’s advocate for both sides in who we can trust if we can’t control them, but asks the question who is in the right and which side ultimately has enough courage to not act in suspecting our own people.
Another intriguing aspect of the film is that like most other recent Marvel films the main characters, in this case Captain America, comes to ask himself who he is and what wants to continue to be. Evans excels in his role here as the audience feels his uncertainty of being solider misplaced outside of time.
From this, the film’s primary strength is that is that is has surprisingly well-paced character development logically following the events of First Avenger and Avengers after Rogers continues to be not alarmed by S.H.I.E.L.D.’s actions for the supposed greater good. Samuel L. Jackson performance also provides insight into his character as we see even Fury begin to question his paranoia and actions as of late.
Furthermore, there is also a particular scene that stands out when we see Rogers goes to see his own exhibit at the Smithsonian. This scene not only neatly summarizes the main plot points of the original film, but also allows him to think of his actions leading up to this point and what he lost, but also foreshadows the return of his lost ally turned villain, later on.
As with other Marvel works, there are also key comedic moments throughout several of the action scenes that give the audience a break from what would otherwise be five long minutes of mindless action scenes.
Like all superhero movies, the film does suffer from several minor flaws, however. Despite its want to develop the characters more, the film seems to drag painfully at times.
Despite this, Winter Soldier lives up to its predecessor’s namesake and is highly recommended for both fan and casual viewer alike. The film succeeds in keeping the audience constantly engaged through its well-timed humor and character development and serves a successful analog to the questions we face today.
