Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - SPOILER FREE Movie Review

After the rather mediocre Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel Studios brings us the latest instalment of their cinematic Universe in the form of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Put simply, The Winter Soldier is a definite improvement over its predecessor, although it relies heavily on its audience’s knowledge of The First Avenger for the plot to make sense. Even so, the plot is incredibly difficult to follow as it is incredibly complex and slight convoluted.

Ultimately the film is a political thriller in the Marvel Universe which makes it unique to its predecessors, and this is an element that makes the film work, despite its complex plot.

Chris Evans is fantastic as a changed Steve Rogers post-Avengers Assemble and this film shows his adjustment to the modern world that sadly wasn’t included previously (although the mini Sherlock reference is slightly strange). Scarlett Johansson is great as Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow and I’m glad she has remained the same interesting and compelling character that she was in Avengers Assemble. The rest of the cast are brilliant too, with Samuel L Jackson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Emily VanCamp and Robert Redford making memorable performances and there are some great mini cameos that I won’t say for spoiler’s sake. The great cast have great characters as well, although Alexander Pierce is one of the weakest. While he has great dialogue and is played superbly by Robert Redford, he ultimately is a rather clichéd character with a dull arc that has been done many a time before. However, the acting and writing puts him above this status (something that sadly Star Trek Into Darkness didn’t do). The comedy works well and isn’t too much against the action and thriller elements.

The writing is generally great, but the film is perhaps edited slightly too much. An extra fifteen minutes wouldn’t do too much harm here, but what is here is great. The film does take quite a long time to get started though, and the ending seemed to be edited too much for my liking.

My one nit-pick with the writing is its reliance on The First Avenger and the lack of the Winter Soldier himself, despite being the titular character. He also doesn’t do anything memorable and is simply another enemy soldier for the Captain to fight, which is very disappointing considering his true identity. The film is filled with twists and turns that leaves you on the edge of your seat and will change your view of SHIELD and the events of The First Avenger completely.

The cinematography is spectacular, although the over-reliance on shaky-cam can prove distracting in a 3D or IMAX screening and the 3D is rather ‘meh’ to say the least. It just comes across as nothing special compared to the likes of Gravity, The Hobbit and Tintin. However, the film can definitely be appreciated on a bigger screen with its scope and long shots.

The score from Henry Jackman may not be the most memorable thing in the world but its works despite this and fits in at all the right points. There is a common theme, but it sounds like build-up to an awesome chorus that never happens most of the time.

Overall, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a big step-up from The First Avenger and I look forward to the Russo brothers’ next Captain America instalment, especially after the ending to this film.

A mini review of my thoughts on the film.