Captain America: The Winter Soldier

JPV852 6/23/2021 3:58:39PM 8.4

Third time seeing this and still a fantastic all-around film, not just a comic book movie either. Briskly paced and a great complex story, this is a Marvel movie that felt complete from beginning to end, and actually advanced the universe so well. Chris Evans continues to embody the role and nice to see Scarlett Johansson given more to do (up to the point of this film's release) than in Iron Man 2 or The Avengers. **4.75/5** I probably rate this right alongside The Dark Knight amongst comic book movies and, saying this as a DC fan, perhaps edges out TDK (though could easily seeing roles reversed once I re-watch that one).

Manuel São Bento 11/6/2025 8:01:29PM 8.4

Rewatched for the Once Upon a Franchise podcast. Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2U8PmRfabNl0CsCnhEToHj?si=340e373fa1574879 "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is deservedly one of the most beloved and well-regarded movies in the MCU, a film I also count among the franchise's very finest. It distinguishes itself by successfully operating as a 70s-style paranoid political thriller, which is a mature, intelligent, and unexpected tonal shift that helps it avoid the standard superhero formula. The movie is riveting, captivating, and seamlessly structured, packed with compelling twists and shocking reveals. It uses this grounded backdrop to explore complex, real-world themes such as freedom vs. security, identity and authority, and the devastating cost of legacy and trauma. This thematic depth is matched by the visual style: the action is predominantly ground-level and visceral, featuring complex choreography and dangerous stunts, while saving the explosive CGI for only the necessary destruction. The tense score and sharp cinematography enhance the high stakes of a story that genuinely changes the landscape of the entire saga. The film's greatness is anchored by its exceptional cast and character development. Chris Evans is excellent, but the supporting players are equally fantastic, giving us the long-awaited development for Natasha Romanoff and Nick Fury. We're also introduced to Sam Wilson, who becomes Cap's new right-hand man. The central arcs are profound: Steve learns to prioritize his own conscience over institutional authority, a journey cemented when he chooses not to fight the brainwashed Bucky in the climax. Natasha moves toward transparency by leaking all classified S.H.I.E.L.D. data, and Fury fakes his death to operate outside the corrupt system, forced to confront the failure of his own philosophy. This commitment to character arcs and permanent high stakes is what makes this installment not just a great superhero movie, but a truly great film, period. Ultimately, it's a timeless testament to the idea that freedom is always worth the price of the fight, no matter the cost or the betrayal. Rating: A+

Per Gunnar Jonsson 5/16/2024 3:21:14PM 8.4

This is indeed a great piece of superhero entertainment. If superheroes and action, plenty of action, is within your sphere of interest then this movie truly delivers. There is even a story to support the stunts and special effects fireworks that is not too shabby. As a matter of fact, for being a Marvel-based movie, the story is more than acceptable. As the blurb states, our hero is meeting a few adaptation issues after having been awaken into the modern world. Luckily the movie do not fall into the trap of making some silly comedy out of it but keeps these parts at a reasonable level where it stays funny without ruining the movie or disrupting the pace of the real story. The story? Simple and not very original with the usual slew of traitors strewn about, you cannot trust anyone, our hero becomes a fugitive etc etc bla bla bla. It is however a pretty straightforward one which works quite well and is not getting bogged down in silly emotions and general idiotic behavior by our hero like for instance several instalments of Spider Man have done. Actually this is one thing that I really like with this movie. The hero is a true hero from start to finish without any of that modern Hollywood crap where the hero must be tarnished in one way or another to satisfy the directors and producers. As I wrote above if you like superhero action movies then there is little not to like with this one. Acceptable story, plenty of action, good special effects, a cool chick (hey I am but an ordinary male, I like female actors in tight costumes) and a clear hero. None of the actors are really doing a bad job of it and in general the acting is as good as one can expect when portraying characters that, after all, are be totally ludicrous in real life. Its 8 out of 10 rating at IMDb (at the time of writing this) is well deserved. I am astonished that some people seem to have voted it down with a one star rating. It is a Marvel-based movie. You might feel it is more or less good but the style of the movie should not really be a major surprise to anyone and there is no way in hell that it deserves a one star rating unless someone really watched the wrong movie by accident.