Chris Evans returns as Marvel’s star-spangled superhero in this impressive sequel.
Picking up after the events of Avengers Assemble, our titular hero is struggling to come to terms with the modern world. Transplanted from the 1940s, he hails from a time when America fought fascism and stood up for what was right. He quickly realises things are now a lot less black and white.
He begins to question the motives of law-enforcement agency S.H.I.E.L.D when he learns of their plans to effectively turn the country he loves into a surveillance state. Disturbed by what he sees as the spread of fear rather than freedom, he refuses to comply with orders and is branded a traitor.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Cap enlists the help of Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and together they unearth an even more insidious threat.
Perhaps Marvel’s most mature film to date, The Winter Soldier aims higher than it probably ever needed to. Rather than being solely reliant on CGI spectacle and explosive set pieces, directors Anthony and Joe Russo effectively invoke 1970s political-conspiracy thrillers and riff on the moral complexities of modern government tactics.
They even signpost their lofty ambitions by getting Robert Redford to play against type as S.H.I.E.L.D suit Alexander Pierce. Impressive stuff.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a Film programme that first aired in 2014 and has been classified a 12 certificate.
