Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Though I may not be very familiar with the comics from which they are based, I have, for the most part, enjoyed the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. From “The Avengers,” to the more recent “Iron Man 3″ and “Thor 2,” the films are consistently fun, and rarely a dull experience. And somehow, Marvel has outdone itself once more with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” creating possibly their most thrilling film to date, with the possible exception of “The Avengers.” It is the start of what should be a promising summer for movies. “The Winter Soldier” takes place approximately 2 years after the events of “The Avengers.” Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is still adjusting to life in the modern world, after being frozen in ice for 70 years after what happened to him in “Captain America: The First Avenger.” He now works for S.H.I.E.L.D., headed by Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson). But, things are starting to shake up, as an attack is soon made on S.H.I.E.L.D’s own members. It is up to Cap to save the day, along with Natasha Ramanoff aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and newly found friend Sam Wilson aka Falcon (Anthony Mackie). What makes “The Winter Soldier” so engaging is not only its intense action sequences, but also its refreshingly original story. Think of an espionage thriller similar to “The Bourne Identity,” in which an evil organization is running beneath a seemingly good one, and is also secretly led by high-level officials, including one named Alexander Pierce (shrewdly played by Robert Redford). The ultimate plan of this evil organization may be one that has been overdone, but the journey to get there is full of twists and turns, even relating back to Captain America’s own past in several ways. It makes what would have been a typical action film into something deeper, where the quiet moments are just as enjoyable as the loud ones. That being said, this action superhero film is also everything you hoped it would be. Captain America, who seems from the outset to be Marvel’s most “boring” superhero, is here a joy to watch. He tumbles around with his powerful star-spangled shield, blocking off bullets while simultaneously slamming bad guys left and right; he sprints across the screen at super speeds, never appearing to tire or slow down; and he kicks and punches with karate and jiu-jitsu moves, with no one standing much of a chance against him. But, it also appears that Captain America might have met his match, as he soon confronts a powerful soldier with the same abilities as himself, known as the Winter Soldier. The intense battles between the two bring us even to the point where we worry if Cap is going to make it (although planned sequels might already answer that question). Moments like this help to humanize the character, as we realize that, behind the colorful suit, this is also a human being, even if a super-charged one. Chris Evans, who plays Captain America, brings heart and soul to the role. Completing the trio of superheroes is Black Widow, who was before seen in “Iron Man 2″ and also “The Avengers,” and a new character named Falcon who, equipped with a winged flight suit, literally flies across the screen, as his name suggests. The scenes between the three characters are among the most entertaining in the Marvel series, especially in the climactic final battle. And keep an eye out for Nick Fury, who has a much larger role in this film than he has in the past. “The Winter Soldier” may be a darker entry in the Marvel series, yet it is still ripe with that light-hearted humor so typical to them, which comes at the most precise moments. It is easy to tell that Anthony and Joe Russo, who direct the film, have a background in comedy, as their timing is always just right. For humor, thrills, action, and even some unexpected emotion, “The Winter Soldier” is hard to beat. And be sure to stick around for a scene after the credits, which shows a scene that is a tie-in to what is sure to be another enjoyable entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

As a fan of the Marvel comics, Marvel Studio's Cinematic Universe and film in general, I was looking forward to Steve Roger's next adventure unfold on film following Chris Evan's great performances as Captain America in 'Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger' and 'Marvel's The Avengers'. To say that 'Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier' met my expectations is an understatement. This film is GREAT for fans of comic books, comic book movies, action adventure films, suspense thrillers and fantasy films with a sense of humor. The strength of Marvel Studios is that each film features a very unique character in a very specific genre who happen to inhabit a very distinctive universe and they've managed to pull off a magnificent sense of cohesion without tripping over their own cape. The film, handled very confidently by the Russo Brothers, is a love letter to the labyrinthine political thrillers of the 1970's while still managing to be a thoroughly modern big budget superhero blockbuster that in many ways surpasses the previous films in this series, including 'Marvel's The Avengers'. Robert Redford, star of 1976's 'All The President's Men', even pops up to lend credibility to the tone and genre this film is paying homage to. Two years have passed since Steve Rogers was thawed out from 70 years of ice and assembled the Avengers on Park Ave and 42nd Steet to successfully defend New York from an alien invasion. The Avengers have gone their separate ways and Steve Rogers, now working for S.H.I.E.L.D., struggles to figure out what to do with himself and where he fits in. Times have changed and is Steve Roger's moral compass, his values and ideals, as outdated as he feels at times in this new world? The film, for all the insanely orchestrated set pieces and explosions, still takes the time to explore the daily life of a thoughtful man strong enough to have saved the world in WW2 and still humble enough to not want a shred of recognition without throwing a wrench in the pacing. Steve tries his best to move forward in life but stills finds himself thinking back to what he lost and left behind in the 1940's. Visits to Smithsonian exhibits about his legendary battles against Hydra, the Nazi rogue science division, in WW2, are his chance to reminisce about old friends, brothers in arms and a first love, in one of several callbacks to 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' that fans of that film will find fun and heartbreaking in equal measures. The repercussions of the earth-shattering events of 'Marvel's The Avengers' are truly felt in this film and the global sense of paranoia and constant fear of attack is felt as the World Security Council debates the benefits of having the ability to take out threats before they happen. Loyal a (super) soldier as ever, Captain Steve Rogers has no issue taking orders from his superior officer Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), but has the wits, confidence in his beliefs and trust in his intuition to speak up when something doesn't feel right, reminding Fury that in the 1940's, punishment came AFTER the crime, a sly commentary in the real world's current War on Terror and the use of drones to execute targets remotely. Rogers senses that something is amiss and to reveal any more would be a disservice to the tightly paced, intricately woven script (written by Christopher Marcus and Stephen McFeely) that brings Captain America out of WW2 and firmly into the present in a film that feels more of Marvel's take on 'The Bourne Supremacy' than Marvel's take on 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. If you haven't seen any previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films, you won't be lost, but it GREATLY dimishes the impact of certain events in a film that is sure to DRASTICALLY affect the plot of Marvel films to follow. If you're a fan of superhero films or summer blockbusters, you'll love the explosive action, thrilling hand to hand combat, exciting supporting cast (including fellow Avengers) and if you're NOT a fan of these types of films, you'll love the fantastic acting, truly surprising plot twists, subtle social and political commentary and the attention given to Steve Rogers, the man and not Captain America, the superhero. Marvel Studios knocked this one out of the park, and Chris Evans carries the film as effortlessly as Steve Rogers carries his trusty shield. The acting is solid, the action is gritty and rough, and the plot rewards multiple viewings. Not just a solid action film, but a genuinely great film overall, I can go on and on about 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' so I'll stop and wrap things up by reminding you to, as always with Marvel Studios, STAY AFTER THE CREDITS ;)

I really enjoyed this movie. Sequels are really hard to do because of the expectations from the first movie. But this movie delivers. Great plot that flows nicely. Great fight scenes. Chris and Scarlett have great chemistry. You really felt in what Steve was fighting for. Steve is a moral man that does not take sides because he shares gender, race, country, religion, or political parties. A very rare quality in people. I see that side of me in him. I don't care if your my family or friend, if your right your right. If your wrong, as a real friend I will tell you that your wrong. Too many people don't care if their family, friend, or politician is wrong, they will defend them no matter what. We have seen that with the liberals and Biden. Easily the worst president in history. Yet they lie and twist everything no matter what he does. There is a difference between supporting a friend or family member when they are wrong. But supporting does not mean defending them. Too many people get that mixed up. But Steve is always aiming to do the right thing. And in this movie, he knows that his friend Bucky is still in there at the end and is willing to do what he has to do to help him. I would have liked to see more Nick Fury in action rather then being the politician of the group. Falcon is a nice supporting character who loves his country and loves his fellow soldiers. The three make a great team.

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Captain America: The Winter Soldier is excellent film-making, not excellent superhero genre film-making. It is essentially a spy thriller with superheroes thrown in. Whether you are a long time Marvel stalwart or simply a fan of great movies, this one swings for the fences and attains home run status. Really "WS" has everything; intrigue, formidable action, solid acting, an epic, resonant plotline and the demonstration by Marvel that they see the big picture down the line, heading into Phase III. This is easily the best Marvel film in years and is the best film I have seen in quite some time. There is just...do....damn...much going on...yet all is evenly managed with nothing jangling and tripping over itself. I am still processing everything that happened in WS. Long and short, Cap is now in modern time as a full S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and wondering about his place in our world. He carries out shadow op missions for Nick Fury, yet does not connect with anyone in the "modern world" including his co-worker, Black Widow (Scarlett Johanssen). The only venture he makes to connecting with the present is with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) a fellow soldier and veteran. There is an instant bond between them because of their war time experience and the two translate very well on film as Cap and the eventual "Falcon", Cap's long time partner/friend from comics lore. Mackie has been giving strong performances for years and it is good to see him in a successful mega franchise where his talent can be noticed on a much greater scale. From the gentle mockery while Cap runs laps around him at the beginning to the Sam (Mackie's) extolling the virtues of Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man" as a template for making sense of the world around you, the two characters fates will unquestionably become linked and shine on screen. With Widow and Cap, there is a borderline friendship as he does not truly trust her and she, a staunch S.H.I.E.L.D. supporter and spy with an extremely checkered past, does not make it easy for him to afford her the little trust he does have. Trust is a huge plot device in this film. With the recent Wikileaks phenomenon and massive releases of covert information streaming forth continually of late, on a world scale there is a creeping paranoia that even the most hardened non-conspiracy minded cannot ignore. The core matter of the film powerfully examines this concept asking if anyone is truly trustworthy and if we ever truly know anyone. This being said, the scale of the film is massive. The fights are beautifully choreographed and realistic, particularly as regards the Winter Solider (Sebastian Stan) and Cap/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). Their battles are evenly matched, intensely physical and top tier cinematically. Noteworthy of mention is Georges St. Pierre's cinematic foray as "Batroc" a very old Cap enemy torn from the pages of golden age Cap books. St. Pierre is not an actor, but his physical prowess is unquestionable. As a former UFC champion; his physicality is fluid, natural and brings the fight scenes with Evans to a new level. He will not win an Oscar for his performance, but he assuredly has a future in action films or at the very least action film choreography. The film is beautifully linked with its predecessor, "First Avenger". Toby Jones's return as Arnim Zola is a masterstroke for any long time Captain America fan. It is brilliantly done as are the flashback scenes with Cap and Bucky (Stan). Everything is linked and Marvel demonstrates supremacy once more in seeing things so far down the line, including a few name dropping references to Phase III, 2015-2016. Marvel/Disney just gets it. Theirs is a path of brand saturation, and with three more Marvel based films coming out this year alone, they are assuring their legacy. Steve Rogers/Captain America is coaxed by Widow/Natasha to ask women on dates and live a little, at least attempt to embrace the modern time he is now a part of. He gently deflects her attempts and when not on missions, visits his first love, Peggy Carter, now in her 90s and fairly ill. Hailey Atwell reprises her role and the moments between the two former lovers, now forever separated by age are poignant and powerfully acted. WS however is not a romance and as such the tale must move past this aspect. Intrigue begins and mounts with Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson) being questioned by Cap as to whether or not their cause is just. Nick discovers that his agency may be compromised and attempts to investigate. The next 1.5 hours are a manic, circuitous ride as Fury is taken out of the game and Alex Pearce (Robert Redford), a former superior of Nick's, is brought in to investigate the goings on and determine if indeed S.H.I.E.L.D. has been sabotaged. When Cap learns via Widow of the Winter Soldier's involvement in the recent acts of terrorism, he begins a pursuit which takes him back to the 40s, learning that nothing is as it seems and that the past does not stay dead. Sebastian Stan deserves a nod as well for his performance as a severely damaged/manipulated man pulled into a life of violence and slaughter. His scenes with Evans are fantastic as he really doesn't get to say a lot, but conveys disruption, sorrow and well, the state of being completely lost with a mostly physical performance. Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff gets an expanded role in this film. Her performance is easily among her best. I have not been a huge fan of her casting as this long time cold war established fan favorite, but she is very capably making the role her own. She plays a very hardened character, having seen and done too much since a very young age. She opens up a bit in this film, showing a variety of vulnerability, humor and plain straightforward kick-assery. She proves herself invaluable to Cap/Steve, helping him understand covert can be overt and that becoming part of modern times does not come at the expense of one's character. There could very easily be a Black Widow film in the aftermath of this film, should the powers that be will it as her arc is fairly open at the film's end. There is so much I could say about this movie, but so much of it would spoil a journey so very much worth taking. Simply put, Captain America: Winter Soldier is simply outstanding and well worth your time....just see it already!

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De 3d Bluray zat in de verpakking in plaats van de 4K

Dopo un primo episodio in cui viene riproposta - come si conviene - la genesi del l'eroe, nel secondo il nostro Capitano viene spietatamente quanto inevitabilmente, catapultato nei problemi del nostro presente: ma il passato è veramente passato? Il futuro è quello per cui aveva combattuto? Nick Fury, capo indiscusso di SHIELD, affronta la sua stessa creatura, in un film che riproduce la trama di una bellissima graphic novel a lui dedicata, pubblicata circa 20 anni fa'. La Vedova Nera, a sua volta, è portata a domandarsi per cosa sia giusto fare la spia. Nello sfondo una serie di trame complottistiche molto in voga nella società odierna, per cui il detto "le apparenze ingannano" pare fare da padrone. In tutto questo bailamme - in cui evidentissimi sono i richiami alle spy stories anni 70 - emerge, ancora, la purezza de Capitano, non solo assurto a mero stereotipo patriottista, ma anche unico appiglio che ha lo spettatore alla residua nobiltà del genere umano ed alla vita reale e quotidiana, ambedue fortemente messe in dubbio in ogni suo aspetto. L'amicizia poi, quale valore fondamentale, invero trionfa sulle mistificazioni elaborate dal sistema, sulle macchinazioni altrui. Un gran bel film che - come del resto gli altri film dedicati al capitano - tende a suscitare qualche riflessione profonda nello spettatore, non solo azione (peraltro fantastica) e non solo effetti speciali (superlativi). Comparto tecnico di questo blu ray di eccellente fattura. La traccia ING è da spavento costringendovi ad abbassare il volume standard del vostro impianto HT con cui fruite di solito la visione degli altri bluray. Purtroppo come al solito non altrettanto può dirsi della traccia audio ITA resa in DD 5.1. Il video è splendido essendo ovviamente girato con le più recenti e migliori strumentazioni digitali. Lo steelbook è estremamente elegante e raffinato. Vi è anche un secondo disco (in formato dvd) di contenuti speciali. Da avere per i collezionisti assolutamente !