Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo provide their first film for the MCU and begin with a film that’s flooded with suspense, heightened emotional stakes and tonally distant in a way that makes this film shine beyond the standard MCU film. Captain America: The Winter Soldier continues the story of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) as he faces what could be a coup set up to take him and the Avengers down.
The Russo Brothers decide to take on a modern-day Captain America in a political setting which felt refreshing within the spectrum of the MCU. Chris Evans (Captain America/Steve Rogers) continues to descend deeper into the character of Captain America as his performance comes across as completely natural at this point. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely handle the script remarkably well, being able to capture the emotional struggle Captain America as he is trying to find his place in the present-day while also adding complex dynamics between each relationship in the film. These character intricacies all coincide within a plot that consistently builds upon its stakes, paced with momentum and provides underlying messages regarding over-surveillance and freedom.
The film has outstanding pacing with each scene pushing the story along, keeping you engaged while raising the stakes and building upon character. The action sequences are some of the best in the MCU with close-quarter combat through true realism in its fight choreography. The grayscale color palette suits the political climate the film surrounds and adds to the authenticity of the environment being utilised.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is everything a MCU movie should be – a fun, engaging film that has great character moments, emotional stakes and intriguing character dynamics. A serious, and grounded approach to storytelling blended with the conspiracy-espionage thriller aspect makes for a riveting and exciting experience.
7.9/10
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