In the age of superhero sagas, it is hard not to think of all the other Marvel films that have come before The Winter Soldier, as they are all interconnected. This makes this star-spangled spectacle hard to judge as a solo act, not only because it’s a sequel but because it’s a piece of a huge puzzle that fits into the epic story arc that is the Marvel Universe.
The second one-man appearance by Captain America successfully topped his first. While the first film was a great introductory piece to the backstory and transformation of Steve Rogers into Captain America, The Winter Soldier brought a new depth to the character. Chris Evans returns to this role, and while his portrayal is convincing, I personally would have liked to see him struggle a little more in his adjustment to 21st century life. I suppose the struggle is more subtle and internal, which makes him more real, but seeing a few more technological blunders would have been nice.
Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow as Scarlett Johansson—oh wait, maybe it’s the other way around. She pulls it off so well it’s difficult to separate the actress from the character. She displays her badass-ery in full force, which I love her for. Newcomer Anthony Mackie (Real Steel) brought a fresh face to the Marvel Universe with his performance as Sam Wilson aka Falcon. Adorable, entertaining and awesomely cool, he is a treat to see on screen. I look forward to seeing him in future films. Robert Redford also adds to the new faces with his appearance as Alexander Pierce. Other familiar faces pop up throughout the film, such as the indomitable Samuel L. Jackson as Director Nick Fury (we get to know the director of S.H.I.E.L.D in this film), Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) as Agent Maria Hill and Stan Lee in his staple cameo appearance, bringing this film together.
I found it interesting that The Winter Soldier felt more like an ensemble piece rather than a solo film. However, I would have liked a bit more of the Winter Soldier himself. He appeared on screen as more of a minor character than he should have been, considering his name is in the title.
Unfortunately, as far as plot goes, there is little to reveal that wouldn’t be a spoiler for viewers. However, if you are a fan of Marvel and in particular, The Avengers, I think this will suffice as a bridge to the next Avengers film.
Additionally, as a fan of the ABC show Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,I was particularly happy to watch this film, as the events of The Winter Soldier directly affects the course of the series.
Here’s a word of advice: stay until the very end of the credits because there are two after scenes.
In the end, the entertainment provided to the audience made this movie worth seeing (also, if you’re a follower/fan of the Avengers saga, it is a must see). A little more humor would have been appreciated, but what was there was great. Also, more mystery rather than ambiguity would have added just that little push to make it all the more compelling to viewers. Having said that, the film was full of mind blowing special effects and stylized fight scenes. Although such antics are typical of a superhero movies and to be expected, they are nonetheless satisfying and create a visual dazzler that keeps the audience’s eyes glued to the screen from start to end.
Critic’s Rating 4 out of 5 Stars
Claire Farrow can be reached at claire.farrow@spartans.ut.edu