Tuesday 8 April 2014

Film Review: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014).




“… I think it's time to tell the truth. S.H.I.E.L.D. is not what we thought it was. It's been taken over by HYDRA… They almost have what they want. Absolute control… HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way. Unless we stop them. I know I'm asking a lot. But the price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not.” This is the essence of what is going down in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Captain America, is produced by Marvel Studios. It is the sequel to 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger and the ninth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. In the film, Captain America struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, but he and the Black Widow join forces to battle stop a a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier. A covert enemy that is hiding in Washington, D.C.

Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who wrote Captain America: The First Avenger, stated before that film's release that they were working on a sequel, and in June 2012, Anthony and Joe Russo entered negotiations to direct. The following month, casting of the supporting roles began with the additions of Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan and Robert Redford. Principal photography commenced in April 2013 in Los Angeles, California before moving to Washington, D.C. and Cleveland, Ohio.

The film stars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson. The film contained brilliant performances, which added to the hard-driving old-school action, surprising character development and intriguing suspense in which the film intended to convey. Evans gave another brilliant performance as America's first avenger in which the soldier has to go through a darker and more personal battle just as Batman went through in The Dark Knight (2008). Johansson also gave another brilliant performance as the elusive and kick-ass agent. Stan gave such an intense performance as the film's main antagonist, without the aid of so much dialogue. Mackie gave a great performance as the first avenger's friend and sidekick. Finally, Redford gave a brilliant performance as the senior leader of S. H. I. E. L. D.

Dark, complex and unforgettable, Captain America: The Winter Soldier succeeds not just as an entertaining superhero film, but as a richly thrilling cinematic saga of its own. This political thriller captures the paranoid tenor of our time, thanks to the Russo's superb direction and excellent performances from Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Robert Redford. Like what The Dark Knight did, it redefines the possibilities for the superhero genre.The film goes much deeper than its predecessor, with a deft script that refuses to scrutinize its hero with popular psychology, instead pulling the viewer in with an examination of Steve Rodgers' psyche, as well as its political infused backdrop. The Russos have delivered the most accomplished, mature and the most technically impressive work , not only to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but to their career as well.

Simon says Captain America: The Winter Soldier receives:




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