Movie Review: Captain America: Winter Soldier
First “Noah” now “Captain America”, two early summer blockbusters that share the theme of what it feels like to be the last man standing with morals. I’m cool with it though, because the stories in these two movies are completely different. One is a bible tale about a man and a boat, the other, old school American propaganda masquerading as a superhero.
You have to love characters like Captain America and Superman, two heroes worlds apart in regard to their abilities but manage to somehow both share an unmatched love for the good old “Red, White & Blue” but I digress….
2011’s “Captain America: The First Avenger” did good to make a period piece during WW2, as it definitely helped solidify the kind of “good ole boy” Mr. Steve Rogers was in the 1940s and still very much is.
Flash-forward to Joss Whedon’s 2012 block destroyer “The Avengers”, Captain America isn’t really allowed to shine much since he is sharing screen time with more larger than life heroes like Iron Man and Hulk, he has his moments, but mostly he is kind of stiff when it’s time for his dialogue.
Now set in the present, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” does really well in addressing the lack of character development that was missing from Whedon’s movie.
Steve Rogers, at the age of 95, is a “man out of time”. Worst yet, he’s from an era in American history where the ideal of “Peace, Freedom and the American Way” was the credo to swear by. Jumping two years since the “Battle for New York” from “The Avengers” (2012) The Cap’n is starting to see how perverse the beliefs he literally died for have become.
It’s interesting that Marvel decided to give this Captain America follow up a little “Tom Clancy” edge. Captain America screens like a spy film as much as it does a superhero blockbuster, and our protagonist being the old school optimist that he is, sees no choice but to become the moral center that will ultimately decide the fate of the planet…. Just like “Noah”…Only this time instead of biblical apocalypse we get juicy conspiracy, shootouts, car chases and more.
This Captain America sequel scores high in the marvel universe canon for many reasons. Reason number 1 is that the film’s directors (The Russo Bros.) have humanized its avenger in the vein of a blue-collar hero who, despite being bestowed with superhuman abilities, is still vulnerable, very much mortal and a genuine fish out of water navigating the 21st century. Iron Man 3 tried this with Tony Stark’s supposed bout with PTSD after “Avengers” but couldn’t seem to shy away from a comedic approach. “CAWS” has it’s fair share of humor as well, especially with Cap’s attempts to catch up with all the history he missed, but the Russo Brothers ultimately did a better job of compartmentalizing and capturing the angst the Captain should feel knowing that his entire life has literally passed him by. The scene with Rogers and old (literally old) flame Peggy reunited for one last time was a fine moment that explored the idea.
Samuel L Jackson and Scarlett Johansson return in their roles as Nick Fury and Black Widow respectively. In terms of new blood we are given the wickedly talented Robert Redford as Alexander Pearce, a political big wig with a hidden agenda, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson aka “The Falcon” and of course the films title villain, Sebastian Stan returning, this time, as the mysterious Winter Soldier.
Jackson and Johansson are finally given the focus their iconic characters deserve and the film is better for it, true this is Captain America’s stage but in staying true to the comics Rogers is the hero that works most closely with SHEILD and by extension has the most personal relationship with the two characters. Robert Redford was also a delight to watch since he isn’t known for playing the villain often, his amoral approach when it comes to his evil deeds reminded me of Kevin Spacy’s “Frank Underwood”. Anthony Mackie delivers well on his performance as a fellow war vet like Rogers and eventual replacement BFF for Bucky Barnes. Between the dialogue and style of close ups shots when filming Rogers and his sidekicks a more human connection is definitely accomplished as oppose to the more cookie cutter team ups, it also helps that for a substantial amount of the film Captain America is in civilian clothes sans the mask.
Despite the reach for depth and human connection this is still a Marvel movie and a Marvel movie wouldn’t be one without a ton of explosions, hand-to-hand combat and the continual defiance of every law in the physics book. Choreography in this film is very sleek and a step up from “The First Avenger”, every set piece that requires Captain America get physical is a work of art. As a human beyond peak physical condition Captain America can do a lot the average man can’t and the film’s creators have a lot of fun with that. Captain America breaks through walls, does acrobatic flips and jumps from planes sans a parachute and what makes it fun to watch is that every stunt the Cap does to avoid death is not always executed properly and these are the moments that we are reminded that despite the super soldier serum, Rogers is no stranger to pain. The few slugs he chest traps definitely reinforce that point.
In conclusion is “Captain America: Winter Soldier” the best Marvel Movie since “The Avengers”? I am almost tempted to say yes but won’t since I only viewed “CAWS” once. I can say this though: “CAWS” is the first film in the Marvel Universe since Iron Man back in 2005 to truly make an attempt to flesh out the man behind the mask. Heroes like Spider-man, Captain America, Iron Man and Batman will always be more dynamic heroes than say a Thor or Superman for the simple reason that the former group is still essentially quite human. Physical harm and emotional angst are very real problems for some of these heroes and when these characters are brought to life by the likes of Nolan, Raimi and Favreau more layers tend to be added to the principal characters.
Captain America: Winter Soldier chooses to focus on the theme of transparency and trust in a broken system, that system being democracy, and how it affects a man who has molded his life on these once highly valued virtues. Go see Captain America in all his glory in IMAX 3D it’s definitely worth the coin and the film is not nearly as cheesy as some may suspect it to be.
Extras:
without given them away, there are a lot of Easter eggs scattered throughout the film which plays with Cap’s race to catch up with all the missed decades of popular culture and even some unrelated movie references that lend to the reminder that you are watching a superhero film masquerading as a spy thriller. Think “War Games” or “Three Days of the Condor” (another Redford classic about political conspiracy).
Lastly, cudos on the new uniform for Cap, wasn’t the greatest fan of his “Avengers” get up as it looked less realistic than the invading aliens.
P.S
Don’t forget: It’s a Marvel movie so don’t forget to stay until all the credits are done. That’s more for my fanboys out there but hey, if you want a precursor to the next set of films, stay planted in your seats.
RATING: Definitely one for the Theaters
