“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” hit theaters on April 4 and has been dominating the box office since. The ninth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe catches up with Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, and Natasha Romanoff, aka the Black Widow, four years after the events of “The Avengers.” “The Winter Soldier” follows Steve and Natasha as they’re faced with the newest threat against the world.
The movie takes place in D.C. and brings in a more political theme. S.H.I.E.L.D. has become compromised and America’s security is at risk by the hands of an assassin known as The Winter Soldier. Aligned with Soviet Russia, they have spent the past 50 years killing multiple political figures to help shape wars and chaos in the world.
Gearing up for next year’s premiere of “The Avengers: Age of Ultron,” which features a more ominous tone than the first, “The Winter Soldier” has the same darker theme “Iron Man 3” and “Thor: The Dark World” displayed. We’re introduced to a new version of Steve. He’s had time to settle into how the world has changed, but watching the new development has made him slightly bitter and even a little untrusting. This persona of Steve is an interesting change that shapes how he deals with the current threat against America. In fact, many of the characters we are familiar with are being seen in a different light, but the most startling, and rather unneeded, change is to Natasha. She plays a bigger part in this film than she did in “The Avengers,” but after seeing her updated, sexier personality it would’ve been better if she stayed in the background.
The whole character of Natasha is drowned out by her flirtatious attitude. Compared to the image she had in “The Avengers,” where she was more than a pretty face who could fight, she seems rather two-dimensional here. Unfortunately, Hollywood works under the presumption that a movie isn’t a movie unless there is sexual tension between the lead male and female character. Although it is funny to watch Steve deal with this, the idea that a lead female character won’t sell if she isn’t sexy doesn’t suit Natasha’s character at all. Hopefully she will get a rewrite for “The Avengers 2.”
Besides some uncomfortable character development, this is truly a great film. The Captain America series is easily the best of the individual character films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even though it’s a superhero film, this series has always managed to feel as if the threat is possible in reality. Could this actually happen? The film easily engages the audience by making them feel actual fear then Captain America comes to save the day. It’s reminiscent of the Captain America propaganda sold during World War II, the time during which the comics were first published. Falling into the plot is amazingly easily. Each suspenseful moment gets the adrenaline pumping and is all-around a good time.
All in all, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is funny, action-packed and there are enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. This film easily outshines its sibling movies, “Iron Man 3” and “Thor: The Dark World.” It’s completely a must see and might even be on the same level as “The Avengers.”
