CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

In an attempt to refrain from using used-up words such as suspense, espionage, conspiracy and thriller; let me instead label Captain America: The Winter Soldier as simply ‘kick-ass to the max!’ If The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) and Bad Boys II (2003) had a baby, this movie would be that offshoot. The story begins a couple of years after the events in The Avengers (2012). Captain America a.k.a. Steve Rogers is gradually getting accustomed to his new life, his new job and his new timeline. But the tranquility is short lived as sinister forces begin to rise to the surface. The story is the perfect mix of complexity and simplicity. Rogers is forced to accept the harsh reality of the present where the good guys occasionally have to do bad things. The fight for freedom now involves fear mongering and violating privacy. This film truly shines a light on what a top-notch job Chris Evans’ has done with his character. Captain America’s honor-bound nobility comes off genuinely and not in a cheesy manner. Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow is extremely likable in this outing. Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury gets extended screen-time instead of the usual cameos. Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier is probably the coolest looking Marvel villain since Deacon Frost in Blade (1998) and Anthony Mackie is flawlessly cast as Sam Wilson/ Falcon. From his hand-to-hand combat techniques, his adrenalin junkie free-falls and his mad skills with the shield; this film proves that Captain America is a bona fide bad-ass. The shots, the action and the special effects are all grounded in reality which is why they feel more thrilling when compared to other Marvel Studios movies from the recent past. Who would have thought the directing duo who gave us comedies like Welcome to Collinwood (2002) and You, Me and Dupree (2006), could have made such a newfangled comic-book movie. Anthony and Joe Russo along with the screenwriters have paced the drama and action swimmingly. They’ve concentrated on character development and brought much needed realism to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Compared to the Iron Man and Thor sequels, this sequel is in a class of its own and undoubtedly one of the best comic-book movies ever made.

Rating: 9/10

S. V. Fernando