"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" Movie Review

The Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise has been rapidly growing throughout the past couple of years. More and more people have been watching the movies and falling in love with the superheroes that make up the series. The second-to-newest installment, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” certainly lives up to the fandom’s high expectations. Although it's been available on DVD since September, I feel like it still deserves plenty of hype, given that the events that occur are sure to have some part to play in the upcoming "Avengers:  Age of Ultron."

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“The Winter Soldier,” sequel to the first film starring everyone’s favorite star-spangled man, “Captain America:  The First Avenger,” is filled with action and excitement centering around a twisting plot line that will keep audiences on the edges of their seats. It takes place after the Avengers split up in “The Avengers,” leaving Captain America, played by Chris Evans, serving under the intelligence organization S.H.I.E.L.D. There he carries out missions against terrorism and other threats with the help of fellow Avengers member Black Widow, played by Scarlet Johansson. Captain America is still having trouble adjusting to the modern world, and what little stability he finds is turned upside down when director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, is killed by an assassin known only as the Winter Soldier. More confused than ever about who he can trust, Captain America decides to hunt down the Winter Soldier and take his revenge. Matters take a turn for the worse when he is accused of withholding information about Fury’s death and is hunted by S.H.I.E.L.D. He teams up with Black Widow, and together they set out to discover who Fury’s murderer really is.

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While “The Winter Soldier” certainly has an exhilarating plot line, it is really the characters that make the film. Captain America, Black Widow, and Nick Fury are already fan favorites in the Marvel Universe, and the actors are all amazing at bringing a new level of depth to these well-loved characters. The film also introduces a few new superheroes, such as Sam Wilson/Falcon, played by Anthony Mackie. Fans who have read the comics were excited to learn of Falcon’s involvement, and they are not disappointed. Mackie is everything that they were hoping for. Falcon is strong and courageous, reflecting all of Captain America’s positives and making a good partner in heroics for the star. The person that steals the spotlight though is Sebastian Stan returning from “The First Avenger” as Captain America’s best friend, Bucky Barnes and also the Winter Soldier. Stan is perfect in the role, able to act as the murderous weapon of HYDRA while showing the vulnerable side of the man from Captain America’s past.

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“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” is an essential piece to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is electrifying and remarkable, containing plot twists that will be crucial to future Marvel movies and character development that expands upon the characters that fans everywhere already hold dear to their hearts. “The Winter Soldier” is definitely as astounding, if not more, than the box office record-breaker “The Avengers.” Anyone who loved “The Avengers” and is hyped to see the second Avengers movie, “Age of Ultron” releasing May 1, needs to see “The Winter Soldier” first.