Sep 21, 2014 11:30 AM
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Captain America is not most obvious hero to root for – He’s not cool. He can’t fly or do cool stuff and he behaves like a boy scout. On top of that he is blatantly pro America. His red-white-and blue suit and shield doing him no favours. After all, no one likes the uptight guy.
The first Captain America movie did nothing to improve his street cred. Yes, the movie was ok, but Cap came across as rather bland and one-dimensional for the most part, much like the actual movie.
Not so the sequel. Traditionally, sequels have been much better movies than the orginal(ok, except Iron Man 2). The Winter Solider continues in this tradition by being an awesome and exciting summer blockbuster. And that’s not because it is a superhero movie and showcases awesome fights and deadly villains, though there is a lot of that
No, it is an amazing movie because it would work well even without the superhero element. It is a spy-espionage-action thriller first along the lines of the Matt Damon starring Bourne Series. Difference is, here you have Cap, Shield and all that comes with it.
The basic premise is this. Captain America is now a member of the SHIELD and trying to make the world a better place. But he learns, SHIELD is not what it seems on the surface. It has been infiltrated by an earlier evil and now he finds himself on the run. He does not know whom to trust or where to go. When on the run, he crosses paths with the Winter Soldier, a deadly assassin with a shared past.
*Why the movie rocks
The Plot*
The plot in Captain America: The Winter Soldier unravels itself beautifully. It is not like the recent disappointments like Thor or Iron Man 3 which brought convoluted plots and silly humour. No, cap is much more serious. The movie plays out with parts of drama and intrigue interspersed with action at just the right moments to make sure you never get bored. Just when you think you know what is happening, a new twist gets thrown in, and it is only after 3/4ths of the movie do things become clear as to whom the real villains are, and what their plan is. This makes it very compelling and hooks the viewers’ attention.
Of course, the action sequences are particularly cool as always and done well. The finale with the fights against the helicarriers are a particular standout and rivals the Avengers final fight in New York in terms of the wow factor.
Captain America is cool again
The second best part of Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the fact that it has made Cap a cool superhero again. In the first movie, everything from his uniform to his dialogue was boring. He was just an enhanced human with a fancy shield. In this, he get to show off his awesome powers to a much larger extent. He can take jumps from the 20th floor of a building and land on his shield, unscathed. He is shown to be able to dodge gunfire and use his shield as a weapon to take down jets. Best of all is the fight sequence in the elevator which plays out like a ballet performance. Graceful yet deadly.
Winter Solider is a great antagonist
Why is Cap only the second best thing about the movie? Because the Winter Solider is the best thing about it. I will not spoil the review by revealing his identity, but he exudes a silent menace and is one of the best antagonists to feature in a Marvel feature film. He is easily a match for Cap, a fact shown when he easily catches the shield Cap throws at him. The best part is, he is not overdone in the movie. He is not your typical mad villain with clever schemes. No, he is deadly and does the job his masters tell him to do, which is to kill. He exudes menace and you cannot help but feel scared yet mesmerised upon seeing him. The twist in the middle also leaves you surprised and introduces a whole new element to his character which will be an important part of the sequel.
Answers why Avengers do not help him out
One big irritation I had with Thor 2 or Iron Man 3 was why SHIELD or none of the other Avengers were helping them out. Plot wise, it made no sense. But in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, I can fully understand why they do not help him. Firstly, he does not know whom to trust. The enemy is unclear. Secondly, he is on the run and cannot call for help. This movie creates the circumstances such that Cap has to solve all the problems. Yet it makes perfect sense why he is the only one who can do so.
Verdict
Captain America the Winter Soldier is one of the best sequels in recent memory and perhaps one of the best Marvel movies of all time. It works because it is primarily a spy thriller first and a superhero movie second. Definitely worth watching.
