Thank you Marvel. Thank you.

The notion that this movie belongs in the same breath as “The Dark Knight” and “The Avengers” is a true achievement in filmmaking. The arguments will rage on as to which movie is better, as it should, but for now, all we should do as the comic-book faithful and ordinary moviegoer alike is appreciate what was put before us and marvel at the pure awesomeness of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”.

The third movie in Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” brings us Cap’s first solo adventure in the modern world. He is tasked with uncovering what S.H.I.E.L.D, the strategic military branch that oversees the Avengers, is truly up to. In the meantime, the title antagonist The Winter Soldier is trying to stop Captain America in his heroic quest.

Much in the same way that “The Dark Knight” played out for more like a crime thriller than a superhero movie, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” felt much like a classic espionage tale, at least for the first two thirds of the movie. The action is still very much there, and boy is it hella-entertaining. The chorography is top-notch and the action sequences play out beautifully, paced well and never dull. The special effects are good, helping the movie never feel overly fake or unbelievable. There is true suspense, and while the final action scene falls a bit on it’s face at the very end, the whole movie is a true spectacle.

The writing is fairly good, for the most part. Perhaps I’m being nit-picky, but the writing is rocky at best, but these moments are few and far between and they never take the audience out of the movie. Overall, however, the writing serves the larger plot well and provides for some funny moments as well.

Returning as The First Avenger, Chris Evans reprises his role as Captain America. Now his third time donning the stars and stripes, Evans is really fitting into the role and his acting is only getting better. The supporting cast is great, as Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson reprise their roles as Black Widow and Nick Fury respectively. The biggest splashes, however, were made by newcomers Anthony Mackie and Hollywood legend, Robert Redford. Mackie plays Cap’s new sidekick, The Falcon, and Redford plays a S.H.I.E.L.D executive named Alexander Pierce. Both performances, especially that of Redford, are stellar and really add to the already amazing cast.

In the end, the most credit must go to the directors, Joe and Anthony Russo. The directing duo doesn’t have much success on their resume, as they have mostly done T.V. shows and only a couple of mildly successful movies. Here, the directing is nothing but great. The pacing, the development of the story and of the characters is all done masterfully. Nearly every moment carries weight, and every character has their individual moment to shine, yet they also come together to form an entertaining ensemble. With the critical and box office success the movie has enjoyed, it’s clear to see why these guys are set to return for the third installment of the Captain America franchise in 2016.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is a true marvel of a movie. It’s a film that satisfies the comic book faithful and those who simply enjoy a good action flick. The action, the characters, the pure joy felt in the experience makes this movie a must watch. As viewers, we move forward in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, perhaps more excited than ever after what was just put before us. Thank you Marvel. Thank you. 

Our Score: 8/10