It’s incredible to believe that the Marvel Cinematic Universe launched six years ago with Iron Man and that they are now on their ninth entry, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Aside from Harry Potter at Warner Bros. (eight films; $7.72 billion worldwide box office) and James Bond (25 films; $6.15 billion worldwide box office), no other franchise can even amount to the success of the MCU ($5.66 worldwide box office); it could take the throne this year. What Marvel Entertainment has done will go down in history as the most ambitious Hollywood gamble of all time. The hot streak continues for Marvel Studios as Captain America: The Winter Soldier proves to be the best movie of the series to date. Read the full, spoiler-free review after the jump.

As the third, individual hero sequel after The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier takes place in the hustle and bustle of Washington D.C., where Steve Rogers aka Captain America (Chris Evans) continues to try and find his place in the modern world as the man out of time without his BFFL James “Bucky” Barnes. Rogers maintains his ranks among S.H.I.E.L.D., taking on missions with Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johnasson) under the watchful eye of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).

Despite following orders like the good boy scout he is, Rogers can’t help but take into question the integrity of S.H.I.E.L.D. after one particular mission, which takes form as an impressive opening action sequence. This isn’t the first time our heroes have challenged Fury’s intentions, and as Captain America begins to pull back the curtain, he begins to unlock clues that will require him to carefully examine his friends’ loyalty. Pursuing the truth, Rogers discovers this web of secrets spreads further than he could have possibly imagined.

History always has a way of catching up to Marvel characters, and the story of Captain America would not be complete without The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), a mysterious villain with a metal arm who is tasked to end our heroes. For those who may be unfamiliar with the comics and like to remain spoiler free, I will not disclose who exactly The Winter Soldier is or his relationship to Steve Rogers, but I will tell you he comes into play as a formidable foe that will change S.H.I.E.L.D. and Captain America forever.

With Rogers, Fury, and Romanoff previously established, directors Joe and Anthony Russo do a magnificent job at expanding these characters – along with some secondary characters we’ve seen before – providing more depth to understanding their actions and how they will affect future stories. Sam Jackson has a stronger presence this time around, validating Nick Fury as a main staple in the MCU among the big boys. Captain America is stronger, faster, and a more refined soldier, equipped with better fighting skills and understanding of current technology. Evans plays the earnestness of Captain America’s black and white morality with convincing finesse in an age of grey that he has yet to find a comfortable middle. And Johansson progresses the allure of the cunning and multifaceted Black Widow, while bringing a splendid and lively balance to Rogers’ straight and narrow.

Amidst such a tight and clever script, The Winter Soldier introduces a band of new characters, all of whom play a significant role, creating a more layered and conceivably real MCU. Frank Grillo brings the swolling mass of muscle known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Brock Rumlow to life. Emily VanCamp surprises with her portrayal of Agent 13, whom I wish had more screen time with Cap than just two quick scenes. Robert Redford plays Alexander Pierce, a superior ranking Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., friend to Nick Fury, and representative of the World Security Council. Pierce is a wonderful look into the higher ranks at S.H.I.E.L.D., contributing new insights as to how the organization is run outside of Fury, Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), and Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders). Anthony Mackie is Sam Wilson aka The Falcon, an ex-military special-ops paratrooper and a welcomed addition recruited by Rogers to help fight the good fight. Mackie fits comfortably among the cast of veteran actors and should play nicely with the other Avengers.

Enhanced for combat and strength, The Winter Soldier’s presence is terrifying when it comes to any action scene. Sebastian Stan does an amazing job holding his own against his targets and those who get in his way of his missions. My only gripe is that it is not explained how he obtains the immense power and skills he beholds. The connection between Rogers and The Winter Soldier is dealt with true care and excels the story of Captain America from the first film brilliantly. (Be sure to stay after the credits for a nice button leading into Captain America 3.)

The Winter Soldier is not just a fantastic sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers, it should also be recognized as one of the best sequels ever made. In fact, writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the duo behind Thor: The Dark World, the Narnia Trilogy, and The First Avenger, have done such a great job shaping Captain America’s story that this movie could almost stand on its own. There are many exciting twists and turns in this well-constructed, political action-thriller, but nothing comes as more of a shock than how important the story is at defining the direction of the MCU. What takes place in The Winter Soldier, along with an awesome mid-credits sequence tie-in, will inherently influence Avengers: Age of Ultron as well as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – which should make the TV series a lot more interesting and reward fans who have stuck by its side.

Tonally, The Winter Soldier is the darkest story we’ve come to encounter, raising many deep-seated questions about government and soldiers of war while also taking Rogers on an emotional journey. It also has the best action choreography among all of the MCU movies thus far. Whedon’s NYC battle in The Avengers is beautifully shot and written, but cannot compare to the hard-hitting set pieces found in The Winter Soldier, each building up to the bigger whole. The Russo brothers come from a background of directing television comedies such as Arrested Development and Community, and it’s extraordinary how well they handle a big budget action blockbuster from cinematography to pacing. They do infuse their own style of comedy with fun references and a cameo other than Stan Lee, functioning properly within the confines of the tone and story. Henry Jackman (Captain Phillips; Wreck-It Ralph; X-Men: First Class) also composes an adrenaline pumping score that sets the right mood every time.

The biggest fault found in The Winter Soldier is that it does not address the whereabouts of other heroes or where we are in terms of the time line of the other movies. Why can’t Captain America call on Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) to help him out or even Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) who is a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. himself. This is a recurring problem we have seen throughout Phase 2 of the MCU in Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World. Marvel Studios needs to acknowledge this hiccup if they want us to continue to believe all of these characters live in the same universe together. You cannot exclude these characters once you have opened Pandora’s Box.

Marvel Studios has hit this one out of the ball park with yet another gripping adaptation for fans to enjoy for years to come. By and large, Captain America: The Winter Soldier succeeds on all fronts. It is the perfect set up for future films and at the same time it increases the value of its predecessors. There is little to argue against its merits and should be regarded as one of the greatest superhero movies of all time.

Grade: A

Tell us what you thought about Captain America: The Winter Soldier in the comment section below.

Captain America: The Winter Solider releases everywhere Friday, April 4, 2014. It was directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, with a run time of 136 minutes. This film has been rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, gunplay and action throughout.
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