The build up was high... The momentum was excellent... And now that the film has finally come out in international territories (which includes here in the Philippines), what may very well be the finest Marvel Cinematic Universe film since 2012's The Avengers is upon us... And it actually could top that superhero blockbuster film in terms of content altogether!
Following a dash to theaters and watching one of the first screenings debuting worldwide before the US, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a fine example of what a damn fine superhero film sequel should be. I'd be mighty tempted to call this Marvel Studios version of "The Dark Knight", but that's just one of the MANY descriptions I have no doubts this movie will fall under. It's THAT GOOD, and a testament to action and espionage movies in general that keeps the blood flowing with the stakes so high and only one super soldier and his handful of allies to save the day.
Now the film hasn't come out in the US as of this post, and will still be out by April 4 next week. So in the spirit of keeping surprises and SPOILERS away, I will give a generalized opinion of the movie, and will NOT discuss the ending, fallout, or what happens in the two extra sequences that come during and after the credits roll.
So without further ado, here is the "Non-Spoiler Edition" review of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier", distributed by Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Studios!
Movie: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Release Date: March 26, 2014 (Philippines/ International), April 4, 2014 (US)
Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson
Directed By: Anthony and Joe Russo
Largely taking place two years after the events of "Marvel's The Avengers", Captain America: The Winter Soldier sees us following Steve Rogers/ Cap (Chris Evans) as he continues to adapt to life in the modern age. Joining S.H.I.E.L.D., he works together with fellow agents and his ally Natasha Romanoff/ The Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson) in covert operations to continue to protect and serve his fellowman. However his adjustment period comes in disarray, as one of his allies is attacked by a mysterious assailant known only as The Winter Soldier. Thrown into a conspiracy that runs deep within the organization, Cap must team up with Widow and new ally The Falcon in uncovering the mystery behind the threat... As well as facing a ghost that's literally from the past.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, The Winter Soldier is by far another perfect example of how a sequel can top off its predecessor and sometimes related movies that came before it. While not exactly boasting the kind of ensemble and all-star cast The Avengers had, two members from that very team reunite and assemble together in this sequel in Cap and Black Widow, and Chris Evans never fails to impress with his charismatic yet old-ways approach good soldier routine as Cap. Black Widow remains as sexy and dangerous as ever thanks to the acting of the beautiful Scarlet Johansson, and all this is tempered with the return of Samuel L. Jackson in his secretive yet pivotal role as Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Of course, other familiar faces pop up like Cobie Smulders reprising her role as Maria Hill, but majority of them I shouldn't divulge further because they're easter eggs that give credence to the plot and surprises that throwback to past films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of course, if you're eyeing for a Stan Lee cameo it's obviously there... But I won't tell you how "The Man" appears... Just watch out for it.
Of course adding up to the cast are new faces, such as Anthony Mackie playing Sam Wilson, better known as Cap's new ally The Falcon. Those who've read the original Cap books and even contemporary ones will know how close these two heroes are, and the modern interpretation of Sam is pretty decent and cool for a sidekick role. Much like how Clint Barton/ Hawkeye was reimagined for the MCU, Falcon has some nice tech-gear to explain his abilities, but delivers that same kind of friendship and assistance that proves invaluable to Cap. Fans of the books will also be delighted to see Agent 13 come to life as played by Emily VanCamp, but these are just introductions to new players in Cap movie lore. That goes without saying for legendary Hollywood actor Robert Redford, who plays S.H.I.E.L.D. head secretary and lead figure Alexander Pierce. His role is just as prominent as Fury's, and as a friend of the "one-eyed" director, he's got his own agendas to pursue. Oh, and watch for UFC Fighter Georges St-Pierre's role as Cap villain "Batroc The Leaper", who gets a modern interpretation as well as Frank Grillo playing Brock Grumlow, aka the real identity of a future Cap villain many know well.
Finally, we come to the titular villain himsef... The Winter Soldier. If you haven't read Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting's seminal "Captain America" comic book run that inspired the events of the film, it's worth noting that the storyline played a major part in bringing the character and this beloved chapter in Marvel history to life in the MCU, and it's been done beautifully well. And of course if you didn't know who he is by now, the Winter Soldier IS a brainwashed Bucky Barnes, once again played by Sebastian Stan who becomes a much more hostile and deadly force than the friend Cap thought dead and lost during the days of World War II. That revelation in itself is not a SPOILER, but the process of how it happened is, so that won't be revealed anytime soon. All I can say is that Bucky kicks MAJOR ASS now, and is the very wild card Cap has to deal with in order to stop the evil machinations threatening freedom and humankind.
Going over all the elements, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the kind of superhero film we need AND the one we deserve for the summer blockbuster season. It blends the right mix of action sequences and espionage material, and the beautiful material pulled from several classic Cap and S.H.I..E.L.D. stories that's just waiting to be unraveled and unleashed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I dared to call this "The Dark Knight" of the MCU as well, and it's no exaggeration given the crisp smooth flow of the film and the ironic appearance of a star of the 2008 DC Entertainment film that changed the way we saw superhero films as a genre.
Overall, you MUST watch this film. I said it was THE Trump Card and Game Changer of the MCU, and I stand by it. Don't forget to leave theaters AFTER the credits wrap up. This has set a new precedent that won't be surpassed anytime soon, and you wouldn't want to miss the juicy extras now leading up to future Marvel films.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is now showing in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D in the Philippines and other international territories as of March 26. It opens in the US on April 4!
Rating - 5/5
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