The Age of Marvel - Captain America: The Winter Soldier Movie Review

This weekend's biggest movie is Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Tons of large scale marketing along with the success of 2012's The Avengers guarantees that theaters will be packed this opening weekend.
In the 50's we had the Golden Age of Hollywood, with classic film stars taking over the world. I think when we look back at today we will remember it as the Age of the Superhumans. All the biggest blockbusters that have enchanted our world today deal with extraordinary humans facing large scale destruction. Maybe globalization has made us realize how small the world is and how fragile the balance is?

Anyways, getting back to Captain America - this movie does not disappoint! The Winter Soldier amps up the action, the stakes and the story. Superhero fare has never been better. Here's a sequel that doesn't suck and gives it's audience and fanbase a meaty story with great characters and themes. Big blockbusters with superheroes are no longer shoddily written Hollywood films, here there is depth, decent acting and a plot that will surprise you!

The Winter Soldier opens with a charming scene where we are reintroduced to Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and newcomer, veteran Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie).

The Captain is struggling with his role in the modern world and his role as a protector. Natasha Romanov (played by a scene-stealing Scarlett Johansson) quickly impedes on his self-reflection with a covert SHIELD operation that acts as the first toppling domino.

Following this first action filled scene we are brought to SHIELD headquarters where things are not as they seem. Who can you trust? Who is entitled to protect or spy on us? Is a big theme throughout this movie, which resounds with the audience in our day of social media transparency and the recent uncovering of the NSA.

Director Nick Fury is at the middle of this chaotic conspiracy. He has a much larger and meatier role in this film that really fulfills Samuel L. Jackson's screen presence. After a very impressive action scene involving Nick Fury and The Winter Soldier, we are taken on a mission with The Captain and Black Widow.

I don't want to spoil the rest of the movie for anyone but Marvel Studios has really outdone themselves. There is such a great balance of stunning action scenes paired with well written dialogue that does not exposition or monologue itself to death. I was definitely not expecting to enjoy it this much. Don't expect Marvel superhero films to die out anytime soon.

The Winter Soldier is not just a great sequel, it is a great bridge movie for the rest of the Marvel movies. They've opened up a can of worms for the Marvel Universe, make sure you stay around after the credits for one hell of a stinger.  It will make you wet your pants with excitement for The Avengers: Age of Ultron.