MCU Filmathon: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

The Ninth Installment to Marvel's Cinematic Universe, Captain America: The Winter Soldier probably has the largest effect that resonates into all corners of this World up to this point. The premise is pretty straight forward, S.H.I.E.L.D comes under attack by an unknown attacker, Captain America and Black Widow are enlisted to uncover the threat and stop it. This is a great follow up to Captain America's first film which was a little lacklustre, but his sequel has more to offer and a great adversary for Cap to deal with. Coming in the form of his best friend Bucky who he believed died in the events of Hydra many years ago!

The film is definitely one of the best solo movies that the Marvel series has to offer. It is in my top
five list of MCU movies and trounces Captain America's first outing three years prior to this. It doesn't just continue Steve's story but offers some insight into how Bucky became The Winter Soldier and how Steve comes to the realisation that his long lost friend is still alive and doesn't remember him. It also adds just the right amount of thriller to make it serious and enjoyable. Being different from most other Marvel movies to this point which seem to dampen down on some serious elements and centre the films towards younger audiences. I don't get that vibe with this movie as it goes into detail about darker stuff and offers the right amount of comedy for all to enjoy. Not only this but the action sequences are heart pounding and exhilarating with car chases, combat scenes, gun fights and even aerial dogfights which are all carefully woven into the 136 minutes. Not a single minute was wasted in this film with each one being just as important as the next!

Steve Rogers somehow becomes one of the most relatable Marvel heroes in the MCU as his character definitely develops much further. Chris Evans who is notorious for playing comic book characters
definitely is better when he's holding the shield as he makes the development of the character possible and visible throughout the film. In the end he is left with no choice but to face his best friend in one of the most tense and some would say emotional fight scene with Bucky. In which the shield is used so dynamically and in an earlier one when the two confront in the street, I think Anthony and Joe Russo deserve a lot of credit for the carefully choreographed fight scenes in this movie. Not only Steve but the other characters are given their fair share of screen time as well and no one is really wasted, with the exception of a few. You could say that Anthony Mackie as Falcon isn't given as much time as we wanted as he is just Cap's sidekick but his presence isn't sacrificed for the purpose of the plot. But the real partner to Steve is Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow.

In what probably is one of the most interesting characters built up from Marvel's The Avengers, Black
Widow who is now one of the best characters in the MCU and has good chemistry with Steve in this film. People watching this film for the first time would have said that Widow's and Roger's relationship is the start of something big between the two, but we all know that won't happen any time soon now. The two though have a great friendship and it's shown well throughout the film, making scenes with the two in more enjoyable and easy to watch.


The presence of Nick Fury in the other films hasn't really meant a lot, but in this film you could say
he is worth more than he ever has been. With the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D he is put in a strange position and scenes with him in produce fear as he himself is put at jeopardy.






The Winter Soldier himself, Sebastian Stan, is up there with Tom Hiddleston's Loki in being one of
the most interesting, terrifying and successful Marvel villains so far. That cold look he gives to Steve as he faces off against him is quite haunting to behold. Not only this but as the body of Steve's best friend you can't help but feel a little heartbroken as everything between Steve and Bucky is forgotten because of the brainwash given to Bucky in preparation of becoming The Soldier he is. His relentless actions are what also make him so chilling and his presence on screen is always known. Unlike Loki he isn't witty or sneaky about his work, he follows orders and gets the job done, making him quite a scary character. I certainly wouldn't want to come across him in a brawl!

In what is one of the strongest Marvel films to date, The Winter Soldier is thrilling, exhilarating, action packed and full of effective character moments. There is no doubt that this is the best sequel for the solo Marvel movies yet and is a good example to how future sequels should be done. I thoroughly enjoy this movie and is one that I consider watching when I want to watch a superhero movie!

I salute you for reading! :)

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