Captain America: The Winter Soldier

**A long format review from 2014** Misleadingly, the titular Winter Soldier is essentially a minor subplot in what is more of an espionage-technoir-thriller meets spectacle-epic than your typical super hero film. The real meat of the movie, thankfully, has some more substance behind it. Though it wouldn't surprise me if we learn later that Sebastian Stan's villain was forced to take a back seat via last minute script changes à la Hawkeye in _The Avengers_. These things are of course a matter of opinion, and I'd like to watch _Winter Soldier_ at least once more (particularly in 2D... God do I ever hate 3D) before committing to any particular ranking. But even without that, I feel confident in saying it's the best MCU Phase 2 film to date. We must await _Guardians of The Galaxy_ and _Age of Ultron_ before cementing that little award, but I'd say that it stands at the very least above _Iron Man 3_ and _The Dark World_. I always try to keep my reviews spoiler free, but being that in most parts of the world it isn't out yet, I'll be extra careful to do so with this one. This makes talking about _Winter Soldier_ on its own merits difficult, but there are certainly a few things that can be said. Chris Evans (Cap'), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) and to a slightly lesser extent. Anthonie Mackie (Falcon) rule the film, and do so without any shortcomings. That's not to say that they couldn't physically have done any better, but their roles were all seamless as far as my blurred vision could tell, which is not an accolade I'd often give. Where _The Dark World_ was simply a holding pattern for Thor with some very pretty pictures, _Iron Man 3_ and _The Winter Soldier_ went out and took some actual risks in their stories. But unlike _Iron Man 3's_, Winter Soldier's risks have (to its eternal credit) been universally well received. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo also managed to cameo a couple of Community alumni, which will never be a bad thing in my eyes, even if they're just one-off, throwaway jokes. As I said, I really feel I need to give _The Winter Soldier_ at the very least one more screening before I feel totally confident in my thoughts about it. But the fact that I'm really fucking excited for that second viewing speaks in its favour if nothing else does. 86% _-Gimly_

This is indeed a great piece of superhero entertainment. If superheroes and action, plenty of action, is within your sphere of interest then this movie truly delivers. There is even a story to support the stunts and special effects fireworks that is not too shabby. As a matter of fact, for being a Marvel-based movie, the story is more than acceptable. As the blurb states, our hero is meeting a few adaptation issues after having been awaken into the modern world. Luckily the movie do not fall into the trap of making some silly comedy out of it but keeps these parts at a reasonable level where it stays funny without ruining the movie or disrupting the pace of the real story. The story? Simple and not very original with the usual slew of traitors strewn about, you cannot trust anyone, our hero becomes a fugitive etc etc bla bla bla. It is however a pretty straightforward one which works quite well and is not getting bogged down in silly emotions and general idiotic behavior by our hero like for instance several instalments of Spider Man have done. Actually this is one thing that I really like with this movie. The hero is a true hero from start to finish without any of that modern Hollywood crap where the hero must be tarnished in one way or another to satisfy the directors and producers. As I wrote above if you like superhero action movies then there is little not to like with this one. Acceptable story, plenty of action, good special effects, a cool chick (hey I am but an ordinary male, I like female actors in tight costumes) and a clear hero. None of the actors are really doing a bad job of it and in general the acting is as good as one can expect when portraying characters that, after all, are be totally ludicrous in real life. Its 8 out of 10 rating at IMDb (at the time of writing this) is well deserved. I am astonished that some people seem to have voted it down with a one star rating. It is a Marvel-based movie. You might feel it is more or less good but the style of the movie should not really be a major surprise to anyone and there is no way in hell that it deserves a one star rating unless someone really watched the wrong movie by accident.

Rewatched for the Once Upon a Franchise podcast. Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2U8PmRfabNl0CsCnhEToHj?si=340e373fa1574879 "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is deservedly one of the most beloved and well-regarded movies in the MCU, a film I also count among the franchise's very finest. It distinguishes itself by successfully operating as a 70s-style paranoid political thriller, which is a mature, intelligent, and unexpected tonal shift that helps it avoid the standard superhero formula. The movie is riveting, captivating, and seamlessly structured, packed with compelling twists and shocking reveals. It uses this grounded backdrop to explore complex, real-world themes such as freedom vs. security, identity and authority, and the devastating cost of legacy and trauma. This thematic depth is matched by the visual style: the action is predominantly ground-level and visceral, featuring complex choreography and dangerous stunts, while saving the explosive CGI for only the necessary destruction. The tense score and sharp cinematography enhance the high stakes of a story that genuinely changes the landscape of the entire saga. The film's greatness is anchored by its exceptional cast and character development. Chris Evans is excellent, but the supporting players are equally fantastic, giving us the long-awaited development for Natasha Romanoff and Nick Fury. We're also introduced to Sam Wilson, who becomes Cap's new right-hand man. The central arcs are profound: Steve learns to prioritize his own conscience over institutional authority, a journey cemented when he chooses not to fight the brainwashed Bucky in the climax. Natasha moves toward transparency by leaking all classified S.H.I.E.L.D. data, and Fury fakes his death to operate outside the corrupt system, forced to confront the failure of his own philosophy. This commitment to character arcs and permanent high stakes is what makes this installment not just a great superhero movie, but a truly great film, period. Ultimately, it's a timeless testament to the idea that freedom is always worth the price of the fight, no matter the cost or the betrayal. Rating: A+