Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Movie Title--  Captain America:  The Winter Soldier

Release Year--  2014

Running Time--  2 Hours and 26 Minutes

Director--  Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

Cast--  Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Cobie Smulders, Robert Redford, Sebastion Stan, Anthony Mackie, Frank Grillo, Maximiliano Hernandez, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Toby Jones

Captain America teams up with Black Widow and Falcon to uncover a conspiracy inside S.H.I.E.L.D. and battle a mysterious foe only known as the Winter Soldier.

Two years after the Battle of New York (The Avengers), Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is now living in Washington D.C. and working for S.H.I.E.L.D. under Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).  Fury sends Rogers and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) on a mission with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s counter-terrorism S.T.R.I.K.E. team to recover some hostages but he soon finds that the real mission was for Romanoff to steal data from the ship's computers.

Rogers then goes to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters to confront Fury and Fury decides to fill Rogers in about Project Insight; three Helicarriers that are linked to a system of spy satellites that are designed to preemptively strike potential threats.  Fury tries to decode the data that was recovered from the ship's computers but finds himself shut out, causing him to become suspicious of S.H.I.E.L.D and asks Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) to get clearance to delay Insight.  

Fury is then on his way to meet with Agent Hill (Cobie Smulders) when he is attacked by a group of assailants led by the mysterious Winter Soldier.  Fury then escapes and Rogers finds Fury in his apartment.  Fury warns that his apartment is bugged and secretly gives Rogers a flash drive.  Without warning shots are fired and Fury is struck down.  He dies in surgery and the next day Rogers is summoned to meet with Pierce.  When Pierce discovers that Rogers is withholding information from him, he brands Rogers as a fugitive.  

Rogers then meets up with Romanoff and together they follow the data on the flash drive to a bunker in New Jersey.  Once they are inside the bunker, they discover a supercomputer that contains Dr. Arnim Zola's (Toby Jones) coconsciousness.  Zola explains that from the moment that S.H.I.E.L.D. was created, Hydra operated within their ranks.  He says that Hydra has been sowing the seeds of chaos so that one day humanity will give up their freedom in exchange for security.  Rogers and Romanoff narrowly escape the destruction of the bunker.

Not sure where else to go, Rogers and Romanoff go see USAF pararescueman Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie).  The three aquire Wilson's "Falcon" wingpack and go to learn more information about the connection between Hydra and the Helicarriers.  The mission is soon clear that the three must work together to shutdown the Helicarriers and expose Hydra, even if it means exposing S.H.I.E.L.D. as well while trying to defend themselves from the Winter Soldier.

I honestly can't tell you if I enjoyed this one or the first one more.  I thought this film was excellent and just as entertaining as the first.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a good origin story but a sequel that can actually hold up to the first is just plain awesome.  That is one thing I can say about the Marvel film series, they do tend to make decent sequels.

One thing that I think is glaringly obvious is the fact that a Black Widow film is coming.  I like Scarlett Johansson but a few times it almost felt like Black Widow was there to hijack Captain America's film, especially in the last half hour; I felt like in that time frame, whenever it showed Black Widow hints are dropped all over the place without actually coming right out and saying it.  It didn't make for any low points though, it is just slightly annoying once you figure out they are setting up for the next character's franchise.

I also feel the need to explain why I did not put the Captain America films back to back.  When it comes to the Marvel film series, there is an order to view them in.  The viewing list goes like this--

Iron Man

Iron Man 2

Captain America: The First Avenger

Thor

The Avengers

Iron Man 3

Thor: The Dark World

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Now, I did do the last few out of order, I have "Thor: The Dark World" lined up for Saturday 10/25 and I had no plans to post "Iron Man 3" since I had not yet reviewed "Iron Man" or "Iron Man 2" on this blog (perhaps a big "Iron Man" triple feature weekend in the future?) but the point I guess I am trying to make is, if you are going to see this film, make sure you see "The Avengers" first, otherwise you might be slightly lost since the events that happened in that film resonate with the characters in this film.  It is also said that you don't have to watch the films that come before "The Avengers" before you see that film but if helps if you have.  Also, make sure you stay seated through the credits (during all the films), the film doesn't end just because they credits are rolling.

I say this is an excellent follow-up to the first film and if you are a fan of the Marvel Universe, you are going to want to see this one.  Let your inner superhero out and Don't Forget the Popcorn!