One of those sequels.....read on

Rating: Null/10 (4 April 2014)

Well. Everyone knows that Marvel just keeps getting more+more confident with each outing, growing, as it were, and expecting the audiences to keep up, albeit in a friendly, safe manner. This will make big bucks, and is a worthy addition to the franchise that spawns 'Avengers' as well.
The action sequences are great, and are very engrossing. Almost hypnotically so. It was not the same in the first part. This one has more of an 'Avengers' feel to the action, esp. with all the intensity inherent. Joss Whedon has done something right, by inspiring the rest to follow suit, the way it should be.
They said its mostly actual action and stunt work, with as minimal CGI as possible, and I believe that. That's what augments most of the action sequences and makes them as intense as they are. The Falcon's a welcome addition to the team, and acquits himself well, with Mackie bringing his brand of charm to the role.
This is perhaps the best example of a movie where converted 3D looks absolutely fantastic, and enhances the movie-going experience. I still am a fan of movie being shot in native 3D, but hell, this one comes close.
The Easter eggs were great, though too few and far between. Do stay for the end of both the main credits as well as all credits. The main credit payoff is...interesting.
I do have grouses though, and this is a big, big realm for some major spoilers, so beware: The point of bring a character back from the dead has never seemed this dull. No arc, no twist, and no payoff. The one who does have a major arc is Cap, and everything else seemed shoehorned in around him, not necessarily a bad thing. Hawkeye is majorly conspicuous by his absence. They should have cast a different actor if Renner didn't wanna do it.
I do wonder how this ties in to the TV show that's ongoing. A major character in there, resurrected, is conspicuous by his/her complete absence. Another aspect I wanna call bullshit on.
The bad guys are not evil enough, or menacing enough, and all the talk about 70s crime thriller feel to this is just that, talk. Redford brings his usual gravitas to his role, but he's done far, far better. A lot of the plot that happens in the first hour doesn't stand up to the usual critical autopsy one does after watching something popular, and that's disappointing, because this could've been truly great.
Gonna watch it on IMAX tomorrow, and I'm lookin' fwd to it.