Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo
Casts: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Robert Redford, Samuel L. Jackson
Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Release Date: 27 March 2014
Steve Rogers continues to assist S.H.I.E.L.D. in their espionage missions as Captain America while searching for a sense of belonging in this modern world. When a S.H.I.E.L.D. vessel was hijacked by pirates, Rogers and his fellow Avenger Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow are sent on a hostage-rescue mission - only to uncover a hidden agenda behind it. Things further complicate when Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. becomes the target for assassination by a secret Soviet agent called The Winter Soldier. Captain America soon finds himself in the midst of a malevolent scheme with very few left to trust.
Praises: Superhero films under Marvel have always been a fun ride - from the fantasy realm of Asgard to Iron Man's state-of-the-art home in Malibu. When Captain America: The First Avenger hits the big screen in 2011, it begs to differ in terms of tone and locale. Riding on nostalgia and set in WWII Germany, the film shows promise of darker, edgier and grimmer themes - the same themes fully explored this time around in Captain America - The Winter Soldier.
To quote Tony Stark, "Things have changed since New York." We no longer see Steve Rogers as a young man eager to step up to the bullies (Nazis). We now see a man, thawed from years of slumber in ice, thrown into a modern world he does not recognise and yet managed to save it from an invading god and his army of space aliens. We see a soldier haunted by regret, trying to piece together a life he had missed living and in constant doubt over the integrity of the agency he is serving now. When asked what makes him happy, his answer is "I don't know." Sad, isn't it?
When I think about it, it is Steve Rogers' humility and selflessness that makes the character so dear to me. He wants neither glory nor fame. He is earnest in protecting the country he loves and no tragedy that befalls him can ever shaken his resolve. He has no qualms in throwing his life away to save the innocent and this in turn makes him very vulnerable.
This second instalment puts the Captain on his toughest emotional journey yet and that is what connects the character to the audience. I really feel for the man, the hardships he had to go through to hold upright his beliefs. Connectivity is something the other Marvel films lack, making this one a class of its own. The last time I was able to feel such a connection was with Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker/Spider-man in Spider-Man 2 (and that was one of the greatest superhero films of all time).
Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (who previously worked on The First Avenger) has come together to craft a brilliant and sharper script for this sequel, knitting together the events that will culminate in Age of Ultron. The narrative is full of twists and suspense while wittingly delivers the message on the peril of political-illness. The film could almost be considered satirical; from the governmental misuse of state surveillance and personal data down to the notion that in the chaotic world we are living in, the willingness to trade freedom for security is ever-present.
Coming from directing television comedy background, I'm astonished by the swift ability of directors Anthony and Joe Russo in handling a large-scale motion picture such as this. The crisp dialogues are expected but the cinematography amazed me most. It is top-notch, particularly on the action scenes. Trading heavy special effects for more gritty, raw and realistic approach is a bold move Marvel has taken. In fact, it defies the stereotypical bubble that encases the genre yet the result is nothing short of superb. The fight choreographies are the best I have seen amongst Marvel films, bringing a sense of homage to the 70's and 80's action flicks. The set pieces used are extensive and massive, comparable to those in The Avengers.
There is no shortage of strong female characters (by strong I don't just mean physically tough), starting with the multi-facet spy Black Widow. First introduced in Iron Man 2, her character quickly grows into one of the most complex in the franchise; her true emotions and feelings forever difficult to discern. It is nice to see her role being more crucial and better-established here than any of her previous appearances, with nearly as many screen-time as Captain America. S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) returns, albeit for a more minor yet significant role. Her ability to call the orders in the absence of Nick Fury has shed some new light onto the character. Last but not least, newcomer Kate/Agent 13 also proves to be the better agent than most of her male counterparts. Plus, those who adore Peggy Carter would be thrilled to know she is back and still alive (this is about as much as I will say).
Let's not forget the man who successfully unite a band of radically different superheroes to form the Avengers. Nick Fury's role expands beyond that of leading the pack behind the screen - we finally get to see with both our eyes that he is a soldier first, commander second. Fans dying to see Samuel L. Jackson getting down and dirty ala Pup Fiction style won't be disappointed. I am delighted also with some new insights into the past of the one-eye patron, revealing more about the man that kick-start the party in Iron Man.
After the horrible excuse of The Mandarin and the mildly interesting but unimpressive Dark Elves, I'm pleased with the outcome of The Winter Soldier. The costume and grungy make-up illustrates the menace of the assassin for most part but its his void of empathy towards anyone - be it adversaries or bystanders is what gets me tingling. I love the fact that he is able to hold his ground against any foes and his fight sequences with Captain America are the best in hero vs. villain Marvel has yet to offer.
The inclusion of Alexander Pierce, a high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. officer cum secondary villain is well-pieced. The character guides audiences to darker secrets of the agency not known previously and is neatly linked to foes of Captain America thought to be long gone. The Winter Soldier is great but like his namesake, he is only a soldier set to kill. Pierce is the necessary devil pulling the strings from the shadows, setting up the stage for the film's epic climax. He is answerable to every betrayal in the story (and trust me, there's A LOT) and his often misleading actions are responsible for most of the surprise elements on-screen. Drafted with central importance to the plot, he completes the circle in making the film truly stand out.
Of course, none of the above would be possible without the balanced and talented casts. Their performances are ingenious in both leading and supporting roles. Chris Evans is astute as the hero out of his time and his on-screen chemistry with Scarlett Johansson gelled smoothly (as they are the closest to a couple you get this time). Newcomer to the universe Anthony Mackie is fun to watch on screen and I wouldn't mind seeing him return in future instalments as the Captain's new-found sidekick Falcon. By the way, Stan Lee has his best cameo-scene to date.
To wrap up the good parts, there are TWO credit scenes - one during the middle, which is probably the best Marvel has churn out as of now (and it's directed by Joss Whedon himself!) and one after. So be sure not to look stupid and walked out immediately when the credits rolled.
Complains: I am not saying this film is free from hiccups. For instance, why couldn't Captain America call on his fellow Avengers for help? In fact, the same applies to any of them when troubles came pouring. I know the Avengers-canon films are meant as solo outings but Marvel needs to cook up a logical reason explaining the absence of the other superheroes, particularly in a shared universe. Which brings up the question: where is Hawkeye anyway? The modern-day Legolas is one of Nick Fury's best agents and when S.H.I.E.L.D. gets compromised, he wasn't even mentioned? C'mon!
As with what happens to films that contain such a large pool of characters, there are bound to be those left underplayed. Steve Rogers finally found a friend capable of understanding the pain in his soul that is wearing him off in Sam Wilson but the poor guy lacks the proper development he deserves. There are just so many potentials with the former paratrooper-turned-superhero and hopefully he gets looked-into extensively in future.
Furthermore, I'm pretty upset with Maria Hill's screen-time being reduced to what little is left. She moves and threads the narrative together but instead I see Brock Rumlow (Frank Grillo), who serves no purpose other than being S.H.I.E.L.D.'s muscleman popping onto screen more than she did.
Rating: 9.3/10
Hit or Miss: To sum it up, Marvel has upped their game big time with Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The actions, dramas and suspense are over the top but even above that, it has got a heart. Hit.
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