‘Captain America: Winter Soldier’ is another addition to the mighty Marvel universe and it is the most mature and sophisticated one to date. I say that cautiously as superheroes bring out the kid in all of us, but this addition reminds one more of a political thriller than a flat out super hero extravaganza. A sequel to the original movie ‘Captain America’, this one is superior to an already excellent film and one doesn't often say that about sequels. Lots of action that is only augmented by a film that nourishes political intrigue and conspiracies over gratuitous special effects.
Even in the most capable hands, Captain America was always a difficult hero to portray. On the surface he would seem a one dimensional character. Basically, a boy scout who goes around spouting patriotic idealism. While the audiences ate that up in the 1940’s when he was created as WWII propaganda, the current, more cynical audiences like their heroes a bit more complex and grittier. The trick is how does one maintain the integrity of who Captain America is while at the same time creating an engaging story that doesn’t seem passé and hokey? Well, ‘Captain America: Winter Soldier’ is able to accomplish that, The world is dark and sinister, yet Captain America maintains who he is and the audience roots for his strength of character while he struggles to deal with the world around him.
The movie can be considered a sequel to both the original ‘Captain America’ and the mega successful, ‘Avengers’. It continues the story line that is ultimately leading to ‘Avengers 2’. Marvel is very impressive at making these sequels as part of a broader narrative, yet able to stand completely on their own. The movie opens with Captain America (perfectly cast Chris Evans) adapting to his new life in the present day only a few years after being unthawed. For an idealistic man from the 1940’s, Steve Rogers has a hard time understanding how complex the lines have become between the good guys and the bad guys. Being a soldier, he does the only thing he knows how to do and that is be a soldier for S.H.I.E.L.D. (America’s covert spy agency). He is confused by what used to seem so noble and patriotic has become so nebulous and suspect.
Nick Fury (the always cool Samuel L Jackson) returns as the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. We know he is on the side of the angels, but it always seems that what he is saying is probably not the whole truth or even the truth at all. As Tony Stark described him in ‘The Avengers’; “Even his secrets have secrets”. We see a more human side of Nick Fury, especially in his interplay with his friend and mentor, Alexander Pierce (a coup in casting; Robert Redford). Redford puts in a more than token performance (in fact respectable) in a film genre whose script 10 years ago would never have crossed his agent’s desk. He oozes evil as the high powered government bureaucrat. As Nick Fury begins to realize that his sacred S.H.I.E.L.D has been infiltrated by the neo-super-Nazi organization Hydra, his whole world is turned upside down as he begins to realize that there is no one he can trust.
Scarlett Johansen returns as the seductive Black Widow. Less of a superhero in this film and more of a covert spy, she is the only one that Cap can trust, yet even that bond is strained. Their interplay is some of the best in the film and it raises the hope that she will get her own film someday. She is much more complex as, depending on the situation, she is either the good guy or the villain. I was initially against Scarlett Johansen for this role, but she has made it her own.
And of course, there is the titular character; The Winter Soldier. Any self respecting comic book geek knows the full story behind him, so I won’t go into any detail here out of respect for the uninitiated. I will say the reveal of his identity was anti-climatic (partly because we were expecting it), but also that his appearance was so different that most people don’t recognize him. For a character who is in the title role, he didn’t have a large or even necessary part. By the end of the film we realize he was introduced in order to set up the third film. It was still fun to see him come to life from the pages of the comic book (from arguably the best Captain America story arc ever told). He is Caps equal in every way.
Marvel does a great job at detail (which comic book geeks obsess over). There were plenty of ‘Easter egg’ gifts to the fans that the common movie goer wouldn’t catch (so subtle that the laymen don’t feel slighted). The one that has most of geekdom buzzing was the name dropping of Stephen Strange. Long rumored to be getting a movie of his own, this leads one to believe that it is in the works given that this is the first time his name is acknowledged in the Marvel cinema universe. The introduction of Agent 13 is another one that most realize won’t be the last we see of her. I also admire how they make villains that were ‘cheezy’ on the comics page into more realistic threats, such as the French mercenary, Batroc the Leaper in the beginning of the film.
The most welcome addition was Anthony Mackie as The Falcon. In the Marvel universe, Captain America and the Falcon are as legendary a team up as Batman and Robin. Once again, Marvel takes what could have been a disastrous interpretation of a winged flying man and made us totally suspend disbelief in the context. It even made him more badass to boot. Mackie strikes the perfect balance between being the faithful sidekick, yet still being his own man. I hope he gets larger parts in future sequels and expansions.
Even though ‘Captain America: Winter Soldier’ would stand on its’ own as a political conspiracy film, it is ultimately a superhero film with all the necessary fight scenes and explosions expected. What I love about the Marvel films is that they do not rest solely on special effects, In fact, the character driven aspect of these films improve with every outing and we become more and more invested. ‘Captain America:Winter Soldier’ is by far the most mature Marvel film to date. It’s an interesting dissection of the political time we live regarding NSA surveillance, drones, patriotism, and the confusion of what is right and what is wrong as seen through the eyes of a man who came from a time when they saw it much clearer. I give this film high, high marks:
I rate this film **** stars
