Every once in a while, you need to watch something blow up.
It’s a fact. The people at Marvel know this, and through their vast array of characters, have created an exciting and fresh universe that has captured the imagination of fans across the globe. Needless to say they are the finest purveyor of many well-crafted explosions.
Their newest outing, Captain America: The Winter Solider throws one of their biggest heroes into one of the best works to come out of the superhero genre, putting a giant stamp on the Phase 2 theme of loss and deception.
The movie wastes no time establishing the 70s style thriller motif in a brisk, choreographed rescue mission. Cap (Chris Evans) proves to be the spryest AARP member around as he flips, kicks, punches and throws his shield around like it’s a light but deadly sack of potatoes.
Sacrificing big set pieces for intimate close combat fight scenes, Winter Soldier feels more like a Bond movie than similar movies like Iron Man and Thor, but still exists in the superhero realm.
After a thrilling intro, Winter Solider gets into the meat and potatoes of the movie, which is its intimate story. Cap soon realizes the modern world isn’t as modern as it likes to think, being exposed to the seedy world of government actions spearheaded by Security Council’s Alexander Pierce (played with devious nuance by Robert Redford).
Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely take the current political landscape and translate it to Cap’s grounded world, resulting in a story about the spread of fear to harbor obedience and trust within ranks.
Filled with traitors and dealing with a collapsing infrastructure, S.H.I.E.L.D. turns the hero into a fugitive as he races to find the truth behind the true villain; them, or the masked mercenary known as the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). It’s all very espionage-thriller, but with lots of CGI and explosions.
Much like The Dark Knight’s Joker or Spider-Man 2’s Doc Ock, this movie is a rarity that uses its baddies to convey not just the threat, but the ideas that threat represents.
In this case, it’s that no matter who you think you know, you can’t trust anyone. It’s less about a big chest and menacing voice and more about the true meaning of fear.
Contrary to the fact this is the most substantial of the Marvel movies thus far, there is still plenty for casual movie goers and bug-eyed children to enjoy.
Despite editing issues in the bigger sequences, close combat fighting styles and expensive aerial battles blend seamlessly to form standalone set pieces that rival The Avengers in scope.
Scarlett Johansson and Evans have a hilarious rapport as Black Widow spends her time trying to get Cap some lady action and beating chauvinistic men to a pulp. You go girl.
Rounding out the main cast are Anthony Mackie as Falcon and Sam Jackson as the cycloptic Nick Fury, who both kick a serious amount of ass here is the coolest of ways.
Everyone has a place here and no character feels underutilized. When all is said and done, the events that transpire between them shake the foundation of the Marvel universe.
Directing team Joe and Anthony Russo did exactly what needed be done for a character like this: they saw him as the realistic hero he is and formulated an entirely unique tone and style to play around with. The result is a thrilling, funny and surprisingly poignant story movie that could actually benefit intellectually from multiple viewings. Oh yeah and a lot goes bang, bang.
