Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Hello superhero movie fans! It's time for my review on Captain America 2. I will just start off by saying that there is good reason why this movie is breaking box office records across the world. This movie is epic. Let's find out why.

This is a much darker movie for the Cap.

First off this movie is much darker than the previous one which was set in World War 2, while this one is set in our modern day era. As a side, can I just say that it's sad that modern means darker? Anyways, Steve Rogers/Captain America is getting acclimated to 2014 with all of the technological upgrades and the "advancement of society", but unfortunately more and more he's finding out that he may not quite fit in. As he has run operations with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. he realizes that nowadays transparency and freedom have given way to security. In order to maintain that security, things have to be done more discreetly. Unfortunately, Steve learns early on in the movie that there are many layers to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s clandestine operations, even deeper than he's allowed to know about and as soon as he starts digging becomes implicated in a spider web of lies and deceit that do not make one feel secure. Throw the mysterious Winter Soldier in the mix and you have a great spy movie. This story is awesomely woven with conspiracy and subterfuge and why not? They have awesome source material from Ed Brubaker's comics.

Chris Evans once again does a splendid job as Steve Rogers/Captain America showing Steve's struggle and confusion in the modern era as well as executing Captain America's confidence and poise in action. Joining Steve on his spy adventure once again are Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanov/Black Widow), Sam Jackson (Nick Fury), and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill. Newcomer to the franchise is Senior S.H.I.E.L.D. officer Alexander Pierce played by Robert Redford, who brings just the right amount of gravitas to the movie to make the tone that much more serious. Anthony Mackie does an awesome job as Sam Wilson/Falcon, the out of action pararescueman (and Steve's only "normal" soldier friend) specially trained by the military to use a prototype wing pack. Then there's Sebastian Stan who plays the mysterious Winter Soldier. For spoilers sake I won't say much but he's also brilliant.

Awesome cast including easter egg castings like Sharon Carter/Agent 13 and GSP!

What comic book movie would be complete without the action? The action in this movie is tip top. The makers of the film really develop Cap's use of of his famous shield as well as really developing his fighting style by incorporating military CQC (close quarters combat) as well as incorporating parkour into his movements. The Winter Soldier also has some awesome action screen time mixing it up in a knife fight with the Cap around the middle of the movie. Even George Rush St. Pierre makes an appearance as the movie set up villain. Guess retirement from the UFC doesn't mean the end for good ol' GSP.

This movie has it all: great action, great casting, great spy story. I didn't even think Marvel could pull off a spy movie but they do it masterfully. And at the end is the moral of our modern era placed on the backdrop of an untainted hero from eras past: What is the cost of our comfort and "security"? Have we as American's become so attached to our sense of peace that we're willing to turn a blind eye our exploiting of others so we can maintain what we have? That's why I love the Cap, he reminds us of a more innocent time.

Catch Captain America: Winter Soldier in theaters now!

Blessings~!