Credible Credits
Year: 2014
Director: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, and Robert Redford
Tagline: In Heroes We Trust
Synopsis: While still trying to adjust to his new life in modern times, Captain America is thrust into a new adventure where nothing and no one is quite as they seem.
Synopsis: While still trying to adjust to his new life in modern times, Captain America is thrust into a new adventure where nothing and no one is quite as they seem.
Review
Ah, Marvel. You've done it again. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a terrific movie. It has loads of action, terrific characters, fair doses of both heart and humor, and an intriguing plot. And it has good old Captain America.
I love Tony Stark / Iron Man. He's brilliant and clever. Plus everything that comes out of his mouth is snarky and quotable. Thor has an epic grandeur about him. He's literally otherworldly and brings a pseudo-Shakespearean gravitas wherever he and his mighty hammer go. Hulk smashes. And then there's Captain America, aka Steve Rogers. He's a decent, average guy who just so happens to end up superhuman. He's the most down to earth and relatable of the Avengers. Which is part of what makes him the most heroic. Saving the world isn't his hobby. It's the right thing to do. And Steve Rogers does what's right, no matter what.
That what I love about Captain America. He is genuinely good. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. You trust your friends and stick by them until the end of the line. There's something very refreshing about that, especially as distrust, dishonesty, cynicism, betrayal, and hidden agendas swirl around the Captain. And in true heroic fashion, rather than letting the world bring him down to its level, Captain America rallies those around him to rise to his level.
Captain America is surrounded by a great bunch in this film. He and Black Widow make an odd duo. He's an idealist. She's a realist. He has a high moral code. She does what needs to be done. He's all about trust and truth. She ... well, isn't. Seriously, she's been in three movies now and I'm not sure we really know anything about her. Nick Fury is also quite the foil for Captain America, and the story plays off those differences well. And then there's Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon. He's a newcomer. And a welcome one at that. While Sam is a slightly jaded veteran, he has not become cynical. It's apparent from the start that he admires Captain America and is ready to follow his lead. He has quite a lot to do in terms of the action and plot, but what struck me is that he is proof that Captain America's "old-fashioned values" are alive and well and applicable today.
Two other characters I was quite excited to see the return of were Peggy Carter and Maria Hill.
Agent Peggy Carter is, of course, the love interest of Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger. And she was one of my favorite parts of that movie. She also stars in the Marvel One Shot: "Agent Carter." By the time of The Winter Soldier she's in her mid-nineties. I don't remember that her one scene does much to forward the actual plot. But it is a wonderful, much-needed quiet moment that shows just who Steve is as he goes to visit her in the hospital.
As I was thinking about it, Maria Hill is sort of the modern version of Peggy Carter. In their own times they are both high ranking women. They are both very intelligent, skilled, and perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. But neither is as rough, tough, or flashy as say Black Widow. Maria Hill doesn't have a whole lot to do in The Winter Soldier, and yet what she does is essential to furthering the plot and aiding Captain America and the others.
There's also the Winter Soldier himself. But I can't say much about him without spoiling things. Suffice it to say he is an intriguing antagonist and it is fascinating to watch him fight toe to toe with Captain America. He also has a fitting post-credits scene.
As I said above, the movie has a well-done plot. It really is as much an espionage thriller as it is a superhero movie. While it isn't as witty as other movies in the Marvel universe, it has its humorous moments. And it's just satisfying to cheer for Captain America.
I do have one nit-pick about the movie. It is a fairly standard Hollywood trope that bad guys with guns can't hit the broad side of a barn let alone the hero. Still, the movie is full of highly trained soldiers, many of whom have all sorts of automatic weapons. They seem generally intelligent. And yet not one single bad guy can figure out that shooting at Captain America's vibranium shield simply doesn't work. Not at all people. And the shield is only so big. But do any of the baddies think to shoot at the Captain's unprotected lower legs? Nope. Futilely shooting the shield over and over and over again is so much cooler.
Aside from that minor gripe, I have nothing but praise for Captain America: The Winter Soldier. If you enjoy Marvel movies, you'll have a great time. If you don't, give it a try. You might like this one.
*** Spoiler Section ***
I hope we get to see more of the Winter Soldier in Captain America 3. I look forward to seeing how Bucky comes back from years of brainwashing. I'm glad they didn't do too much with that in this film, it would have felt rushed and thus less meaningful.
Lastly, did anyone really think they'd actually kill Nick Fury? They couldn't even bring themselves to really kill off Agent Coulson.
I love Tony Stark / Iron Man. He's brilliant and clever. Plus everything that comes out of his mouth is snarky and quotable. Thor has an epic grandeur about him. He's literally otherworldly and brings a pseudo-Shakespearean gravitas wherever he and his mighty hammer go. Hulk smashes. And then there's Captain America, aka Steve Rogers. He's a decent, average guy who just so happens to end up superhuman. He's the most down to earth and relatable of the Avengers. Which is part of what makes him the most heroic. Saving the world isn't his hobby. It's the right thing to do. And Steve Rogers does what's right, no matter what.
That what I love about Captain America. He is genuinely good. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. You trust your friends and stick by them until the end of the line. There's something very refreshing about that, especially as distrust, dishonesty, cynicism, betrayal, and hidden agendas swirl around the Captain. And in true heroic fashion, rather than letting the world bring him down to its level, Captain America rallies those around him to rise to his level.
Captain America is surrounded by a great bunch in this film. He and Black Widow make an odd duo. He's an idealist. She's a realist. He has a high moral code. She does what needs to be done. He's all about trust and truth. She ... well, isn't. Seriously, she's been in three movies now and I'm not sure we really know anything about her. Nick Fury is also quite the foil for Captain America, and the story plays off those differences well. And then there's Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon. He's a newcomer. And a welcome one at that. While Sam is a slightly jaded veteran, he has not become cynical. It's apparent from the start that he admires Captain America and is ready to follow his lead. He has quite a lot to do in terms of the action and plot, but what struck me is that he is proof that Captain America's "old-fashioned values" are alive and well and applicable today.
Two other characters I was quite excited to see the return of were Peggy Carter and Maria Hill.
Agent Peggy Carter is, of course, the love interest of Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger. And she was one of my favorite parts of that movie. She also stars in the Marvel One Shot: "Agent Carter." By the time of The Winter Soldier she's in her mid-nineties. I don't remember that her one scene does much to forward the actual plot. But it is a wonderful, much-needed quiet moment that shows just who Steve is as he goes to visit her in the hospital.
As I was thinking about it, Maria Hill is sort of the modern version of Peggy Carter. In their own times they are both high ranking women. They are both very intelligent, skilled, and perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. But neither is as rough, tough, or flashy as say Black Widow. Maria Hill doesn't have a whole lot to do in The Winter Soldier, and yet what she does is essential to furthering the plot and aiding Captain America and the others.
There's also the Winter Soldier himself. But I can't say much about him without spoiling things. Suffice it to say he is an intriguing antagonist and it is fascinating to watch him fight toe to toe with Captain America. He also has a fitting post-credits scene.
As I said above, the movie has a well-done plot. It really is as much an espionage thriller as it is a superhero movie. While it isn't as witty as other movies in the Marvel universe, it has its humorous moments. And it's just satisfying to cheer for Captain America.
I do have one nit-pick about the movie. It is a fairly standard Hollywood trope that bad guys with guns can't hit the broad side of a barn let alone the hero. Still, the movie is full of highly trained soldiers, many of whom have all sorts of automatic weapons. They seem generally intelligent. And yet not one single bad guy can figure out that shooting at Captain America's vibranium shield simply doesn't work. Not at all people. And the shield is only so big. But do any of the baddies think to shoot at the Captain's unprotected lower legs? Nope. Futilely shooting the shield over and over and over again is so much cooler.
Aside from that minor gripe, I have nothing but praise for Captain America: The Winter Soldier. If you enjoy Marvel movies, you'll have a great time. If you don't, give it a try. You might like this one.
*** Spoiler Section ***
I hope we get to see more of the Winter Soldier in Captain America 3. I look forward to seeing how Bucky comes back from years of brainwashing. I'm glad they didn't do too much with that in this film, it would have felt rushed and thus less meaningful.
Lastly, did anyone really think they'd actually kill Nick Fury? They couldn't even bring themselves to really kill off Agent Coulson.
Quotable Quotes
- "Secure the engine room, then get me a date." "I'm multi-tasking." -- Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff
- "Then what's not broken?!" "Air conditioning is fully operational." -- Nick Fury and his car
- "On your left." -- Steve Rogers
- "I do what he does -- just slower." -- Sam Wilson
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