Ok, so the movie has been out for a month, and the site was down and I was lazy. So I’m gonna make this short and sweet. I saw both movies back to back at the premiere night. The first Captain America was my favorite of Marvel’s phase one movies, owing in equal measure to two things. First it’s decision to be set entirely during World War 2, keeping it feeling like a pulpy old school adventure story while still being decidedly comic bookish. Secondly was how much I was surprised by Chris Evans, usually known for playing wiseguys, and his ability to portray Steve Rogers as a kind and earnest young man. He looks at the world at war around him, wishing he could help do what’s right, and when he’s given the power to stand up and make a change, he rises to the challenge and never loses his sense of right. Evans nailed the character perfectly. My only real issue with the first movie is that I wish it had a longer middle section, showing off Cap and his Howling Commandos taking the fight across Europe against Hydra, as apposed to just giving us a brief, although awesome, montage.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier exceeds in every area that the first movie was already good at. Captain Rogers is now working for S.H.I.E.L.D, and becoming more and more disenfranchised by the politics of this new America and the covert missions he’s increasingly being asked to do in the name of the modern world’s idea of freedom through surveillance. In the wake of the most Tom Clancy-esque story Marvel has ever filmed, Evans, on his third go as Captain America, is the best he’s ever been. He’s confident, honest, straightforward, and completely in command. He still manages to keep a certain level of innocence to his performance, when he’s not kicking absurd amounts of ass, he seems like the friendliest kind of guy you’d totally want to get a beer with. The returning S.H.I.E.L.D characters are at the top of their game, and the new comers are welcome additions to Captain America’s world.
The title character of the Winter Soldier doesn’t disappoint either. He’s fierce, fast, deadly, and strikes like a ghost from the darkness. He can easily go toe to toe with the good Captain, and their fights are some of the best action if not THE best action Marvel has put on film. My only real detraction to the character is that in this film he’s little more than a Darth Maul. A badass looking weapon in the hands of the real enemy, given little in the way of character development. Granted, his past and identity are touched on and they start to build on him, but clearly they’re setting him up for real development is the third film in the franchise.
All in all I call this the best of all the Marvel stand alone movies. Cap is finally the leader, and shows why he’s one of the biggest heroes in the Marvel universe. When you watch this movie, you don’t want to just watch Captain America battle Hydra, you want to follow him into the fight, roaring out a battle cry for freedom.
Until next time friends, Stars and Stripes forever.
-General Dopeness