Winter Soldier is the Best You'll See All Summer

Rating: 9/10 (6 April 2014)

Wow. The ninth installment from the Marvel universe is upon us, and although the timing for such an ambitious vehicle is odd, after viewing it, it is most welcome, and if every Marvel movie got this kind of treatment, the world would be a better place.
The film takes place in the present day and is chronologically set after "The Avengers", and "Thor: The Dark World". The movie starts off with Captain (Steve Rogers) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansen) on a SHIELD mission for Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and it is high on action, wit, banter, and set up for the rest of the movie. After the mission, there is a possible threat introduced and the idea of freedom put into question. Fury is then involved in a quite intense action sequence that was probably longer and definitely more intense to his character than any movie in the past has offered, which is when we first get our glimpse of the Winter Soldier. Trust and deception are now a part of the game. Who can be trusted? How is this related to Cap? How is the Winter Soldier involved? The film is part spy thriller, superhero movie, gritty action movie, and part character drama. And all of it for the most part works.
The film is a superb follow-up to "Captain America: The First Avenger" and although not necessary to enjoy it, viewers of such will be rewarded with a decent amount of content directly related to events and characters from the first film. Considering the first film to place in the 40′s, it's pretty amazing how this film actively bridges to the previous film with characters, plot, and history. The movie also has the strongest links to the Marvel world and will have a huge impact on the Marvel Movie universe in its entirety. The effects of events in this film will continue to have an impact on future Marvel superhero movies for the foreseeable future.