Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

IMDb

Title: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Distributor: Marvel Studios
Director: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Writer(s): Christopher Markus (Screenplay), Stephen McFeely (Screenplay), and Ed Brubaker (Concept and Story) 
Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, and Cobie Smulders
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, gunplay and action throughout
Running Time: 136 min
Synopsis: Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

What Others Are Saying?

Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 88% "Fresh", Top Critics:79% "Fresh", Audience: 94% "Like It"
Metacritic: Critics: 69 out of 100, Users: 8.9 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 73 out of 100

My Review

Source Material: Based on comic book characters from Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. 

Entertaining Value:

• Action Elements: While I would say this film is "action packed" It also dose a good job blending in other elements.    

• Comedy Elements: There were a good amount of quick one liners, most of which revolving the idea, "this joke is for the fans."       

• Dramatic Elements: This film may not pull on your heart strings, but personally I think the film portrays good inter turmoil from a couple different characters.         

• Sci-Fi / Fantasy Elements: This film is chalk full of "comic book fantasy" elements.       

Cinematic Value:

• Acting and Dialogue: 8: Let us break it down. Chris Evans, who I personally call the bro of Hollywood, because for a while he played nothing but that type of character. I believe Chris Evans has stepped up his game. I'm not saying he game an Oscar worthy performance here, but he did deliver. Let's just say Chris Evans wasn't my first choice to play Captain America, but he has grown on me. What can I say that hasn't already been said about Samuel L. Jackson. He gives another good performance. I think we get a even better understanding of Nick Fury, while at the same time being  completely clueless. Scarlett Johansson brings her charm to Black Widow again. This list goes on, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, and Cobie Smulders. One last note I hope Marvel uses Sebastian Stan a lot more.    

• Art Direction: 7: This film takes place in Washington D.C. Which is interesting since a large chunk of this film is dealing with national security. I liked the SHIELD suit of Captain America.  

• Cinematography: 8: This film surprised me a little bit on the cinematography. Normally in a high action flick, like this one, the camera is all "shaky" to simulate the feeling of actually being there. This film utilized wider shots and allowing the action sequence to unfold without feeling exhausted afterwards.          

• Direction: 7: The Russo's are primarily known for producing and directing television shows, most notability Community. Making the jump to the sliver-screen with a big blockbuster like Captain America, made me a little nerves. They did a good job. 

• Editing: 8: I really like the film didn't draw things out. I felt the pacing of the film was good. Also making good editing decision pertaining to the action sequence made me less exhausted and more engaged.

• Screenplay: 7: Good story in an action film who would have thought. The story was good not great meaning there was more than just action and explosions. Like I said before we got a deeper look at our principal characters (Captain America, Nick Fury, Black Widow) With Captain America we see him battle with how we should treat national security (1940's vs today) We get the cunning Nick Fury verse the warrior bad-ass Nick Fury we got before. Black Widow is still dealing with her past and all her decisions leading up to now. Since they did spend a good amount of time on the already established charterers, the new characters didn't really have a good backstory. What I'm getting at is Falcon's backstory is kind of weak in this film. I think the Winter Soldier backstory was also on the weak side but I think Marvel has big plans for Bucky Barnes hence the second post credit Easter egg. I also like that this film has a deep emergence into the already well established Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first post credit Easter egg not only hints at Avengers 2 but it connects this film with The Avengers.             

• Sound and Music: 7: The music was fitting

• VFX: 8: It was very well done, especially the "high tech" of SHIELD    

Overall: 8: I really enjoyed this film over all. It has really good action, emergence into Marvel Cinematic Universe, and decent story. What more do you ask for in a comic book movie. I recommended it.