By Staff Writer: Rachel Cichon
On April 4, Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier, the long-awaited sequel to the first Captain America film and ninth Marvel movie based on their popular comic books, blasted into theaters and captured audiences worldwide with its powerful story, stunning action sequences, unexpected plot twists and gorgeous lead actor, Chris Evans.
The original Captain America film, The First Avenger, was released in 2011, so fans have had three years to raise expectations and speculate on the sequel. The entire theater was full when I went to see it on the day following its release, and I don’t think a single person was disappointed with the movie.
The film follows the life of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), otherwise known as Captain America, as he adjusts to the fast and brazen lifestyle of the 21st century. Since Rogers holds traditional values of honesty and teamwork, he is disillusioned with his new work as an agent of the law-enforcement agency S.H.I.E.L.D., where executive director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) trusts no one and keeps secrets from Rogers.
Aided by Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson) and a new superhero called the Falcon (Anthony Mackie) Rogers learns that his primary enemy from World War II, an organization called HYDRA, is still operating and is planning to force American citizens into submitting to a world where there is no freedom, only security through the help of a mysterious villain, the Winter Soldier. Together the heroes, attacked by both S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA, fight for America’s liberty and struggle to find someone they can trust, resulting in laughs, tears, and some hardcore explosions.
Although I loved the 1940’s setting and WWII-based storyline of the first Captain America, I’ve heard many say they liked the sequel better and I have to agree that the story was much more action-packed and exciting – fitting, since the original took place in a simpler, slower time and the sequel occurs in the fast-paced present. The most appealing thing about the action sequences was that they did not feel tedious or cheesy, and I did not feel like I had watched the same clip a dozen times with different actors. Instead, the action felt more creative and the battles seemed to be born of original ideas.
Captain America 2 was, however, not just a film about action and fight sequences, although there was an abundance of those. It also featured the usual light humor of Marvel films, particularly in the witty banters between Steve and Black Widow, whose main mission in the movie is not to save the world, but rather to find Steve a girlfriend. It also spent just the right amount of time reminiscing on the events of the first film and Roger’s lost love, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), that it was bittersweet without being an overall weepy film (although admittedly I did cry within the first half hour).
I would love to complain that Black Widow’s character was unnecessary in the film, mostly out of spite for the fact that she gets a kissing scene with the Captain himself, but directors Anthony and Joe Russo did a great job making her character more than an annoying, scantily clad token girl. Not only did the film provide some background on her elusive character and even gave a subtle nod to her romantic interest from the Avengers, Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) in the form of an arrow-shaped necklace, but it included her in all the action and made her important to the plot. To give her extra points, her jokes and banters with Captain America were actually amusing and relevant.
One of my favorite things about the film was the lack of romantic interest. Rogers does politely invite a woman for coffee and the film seemed to be setting up for a romantic relationship in future installments, but I appreciated that the movie didn’t feel the need to put a romantic subplot where one wasn’t necessary or appropriate, considering the gentlemanly Rogers is still recovering from the trauma of missing out on the lives of Peggy and all his past friends.
The movie was so utterly flawless that the only complaint I could make is that the title is somewhat misleading. The plot is centered primarily on the resurfacing HYDRA organization, not the Winter Soldier, who despite being an important and unexpected character, only seemed to have a few scenes. The end of the film clearly sets itself up for a third movie (confirmed to premiere in 2016) that appears will have more to do with the Winter Soldier and his shocking identity.
Overall, Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier offers something for everyone and is a great choice for someone seeking a complex but light-hearted film of excellent quality. This newest Marvel installment is certainly one the franchise can be proud of.
“It was spectacular,” says junior Sydney Kutt.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLWsK1ZFunA]
