Why is the movie so awesome? Let me tell you why.
1. Cap Makes the Shared Continuity his Bitch.
I don't think Marvel Studios have ever made a bad movie. But, they haven't all been fantastic.
Because Fox still has the movie rights! Ba-bump-bump!
Much of the trouble that came with the phase one films can be attributed to the struggle of building up to The Avengers. Thankfully, that movie turned out awesome, but I can't help but feel that some of those previous movies would have been better without pausing to advertise that big movie in which all of the characters would get together.
But, as Avengers taught us, having these heroes exist in the same universe can be a pretty cool thing. Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. are present in the movie for the sake of this film's story, not just to advertise another movie. The very structure of S.H.I.E.L.D. is at the center of the film's narrative, a high-octane spy thriller, with Cap as the super-spy. And, while the film does plant the seeds for the next Avengers, it is very much Cap's movie. Hell, the end of the movie feels more like a lead-in to the recently-announced Captain America 3 than it feels like a lead-in to Age of Ultron.
2. A Strong, Consistent Tone
Most of the Marvel Studios productions have had a fairly light-hearted tone. Yes, danger happens, but at the end of the day, things usually turn out pretty happy. There are plenty of jokes, and the action is colorful and triumphant. I don't mind more light-hearted superhero films; frankly, I prefer them to this:
Never forgive. Never forget. Fuck you, Pa Kent.
But sometimes, I feel that the movies get a bit too light-hearted and jokey, to the point where the lighter tone hinders the films' attempts to build genuine tension. I thought Iron Man 3 was a fine film, but the light and dark tones didn't always mesh well together.
The Winter Soldier is probably the darkest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It definitely has a sense of humor, but like Batman Begins, the jokes never mess up the seriousness of the plot. This is a tense, exciting film, with some genuine heartache that we don't see in a lot of summer blockbusters. I was more emotionally invested in this film than I was in any other Marvel movie.
3. The Action is Phenomenal.
An action movie with a story is always something to get excited about. We're so conditioned to seeing dumb, mindless action films that when one has a strong plot and characters, those are the things we focus on. We forget how important action is to an action movie.
The Winter Soldier has a great story, but the directors also didn't forget to throw in some brilliant action scenes. Cap's battles with the Winter Soldier and other adversaries are thrilling, but the supporting characters also get some great moments. After spending most of his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, standing around and issuing commands, Nick Fury gets a brilliant car chase. Supporting players Black Widow and The Falcon also get time to shine in their own action sequences. It all starts with a thrilling cruiser infiltration that reminded me just a tiny bit of the Tanker chapter in Metal Gear Solid 2.
I'd also love to talk about this game's influence on Catching Fire.
4. A Solid Supporting Cast.
One of the greatest strengths of the original Captain America film was Cap's supporting characters. The Winter Soldier continues this tradition. Instead of relying on one hero to carry the film, the movie gives us some wonderful supporting heroes. Nick Fury gets the most character development he has ever received since he was introduced into the Cinematic Universe. The film also builds upon the character of Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. The Black Widow, whose relationship with Rogers is a refreshing break from the generic Hollywood romance; the film has no problem with making these characters "just friends." It's also startling to see how Johansson's character has evolved from one-note side character to fully-realized individual since she was introduced in Iron Man 2 four years ago.
A strong addition to the cast is Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson, whose high-flying action scenes are a worthy part of the film's spectacle. I also really enjoyed that character's bond with fellow soldier, Steve Rogers. Robert Redford gives a wonderful performance as Alexander Pierce, a character whom I can't really talk about without letting a few spoilers slip out in the next sentence. And, last but not least...
5. This Fucking Guy...
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always struggled to produce compelling super villains. The Iron Man movies did okay with their bad guys, but we never quite got an antagonist with charisma to match Tony Stark. Obviously, everybody loves Loki, but the second Thor movie had to follow him up with Malekith, a villain whose most notable characteristic was how unbelievably bland he was.
He was unforgettably forgettable. How the hell do I explain that one?
The Winter Soldier is a man of few words. Seriously, I had a feeling this guy was mute for most of the movie. But, his physical presence proves to be much more effective than a million of your standard villain monologues. Every minute he's on screen, you're prepared for shit to go down. He is the most ruthless character we've seen yet in a Marvel Studios movie, a person of mass destruction, whose physicality and raw strength test Steve Rogers to the limit. The filmmakers decided to take a page from Loki's book and actually give the Winter Soldier a meaningful connection to our hero. The result is a character who can give us both the chills and the feels in a single moment.
I could go on for another five pages about what a boss this character is, but how about you go to see the movie for yourself, instead? I guarantee you'll find the most excitement there has been in a superhero movie since The Avengers.
