“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” a new star in Marvel Universe

Captain+America%3A+The+Winter+Soldier+a+new+star+in+Marvel+Universe

Marvel Studios has done it again, stitching together another seamless sequel to their ongoing Avengers franchise.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” while unable to pass as a standalone movie, is a long-awaited addition to the ever-expanding universe so many fans have grown to love. Jam-packed with thrilling car chases, daring shootouts, and more references than previously recorded in comic book movie history, this film is a must see for all die-hard Marvel fans.

The movie begins with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) working as a part of S.H.I.E.L.D., somewhat frustrated at how things are conducted in a top-secret government facility. Yes, there are secrets in this undercover agency. No, you should not be worried about them, at least up until the point when S.H.I.E.L.D. has been corrupted and the entire company starts a manhunt for the Star-Spangled Man.

Steve and Natasha are forced on the run, protecting a secret flash drive — because what’s an action movie without a secret flash drive — with a mysterious assassin named The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) in hot pursuit. He’s deadly, he’s ruthless, and he’s not really as big a character as the title claims. 

The Winter Soldier is deadly and ruthless, and he’s not really as big a character as the title claims.

Sure, the Winter Soldier is an important plot point, but the character himself is more a metaphor for all the emotional angst and confusion Steve suffers from being frozen for 70 years and most of his friends dying from old age. Despite the bluntness of that statement, Steve’s switch from the ‘40s to present day is something this movie did with an elegance and understanding of its character. The repercussions of Steve’s time in the ice isn’t really talked about in “The Avengers,” and viewers really see the toll that being suddenly thrust into the information age has taken on Steve.

There are more secrets but less trust and the realization that the balance between freedom and safety is just that — a balance.

Natasha’s character is also done with a magnificence that made me want to weep tears of feminist joy. Fans get a deeper look at a character previously only seen as a cool, undercover master assassin, and while that is certainly nothing to complain about, it was good to see the only girl on the team get a bit of character development as well.

They team up with Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), or Falcon, for those who’ve been doing their homework, to take down the uglier side of S.H.I.E.L.D, bringing back villains from “Captain America: The First Avenger,” as well as a few new faces.

This film really digs into the sides of the government we pretend not to know are there, making a clear point that just because secrets can keep us safe, does not mean we always want them to.

This movie is PG-13 for a reason, and there is a fair amount of violence, so bringing a toddler would not be a particularly advisable scenario. This is for 13 and up. Sorry, kids.

I would also strongly advise only seeing this movie if you’ve also seen the previous “Captain America,” as the storyline heavily intertwines with previous plot points.

Even still, this film is a fantastic and well-executed addition to the always-growing Marvel Universe.

–April 4, 2014–