Best of 2014: #3 Captain America The Winter Soldier

I talk about Captain America: The Winter Soldier and why it's number 3 on my top 5 movies of 2014 list.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Title: The Winter Soldier

Series: Captain America

Directors: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, and Scarlett Johansson

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2014

Personal Rating: 5/6

Oscars: N/A

Plot: Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.
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The Winter Soldier
Everyone probably knows who the Winter Soldier is so this really isn't a spoiler. Well...it was supposed to be but now it isn't so it's in the grey area of Spoilerville. What I find really heartbreaking about Bucky (aka the Winter Soldier) is that he is fighting for a side just because he's brainwashed. I really hope that Steve is able to help him soon after the end of this movie so that Bucky doesn't need to take the journey to his memory alone. I know that in the comics, at least I've heard, that Bucky takes over as Captain America for a little bit. So I know that Bucky will fight for the right side in the end. To say that I adore all the cute headcanons that people make up about Steve and Bucky is an understatement.

Black Widow
It was great seeing Black Widow (aka Natasha) kicking ass again. Besides her kicking ass, her character was developed even further. She was calm when Steve was highly nervous about being on the run. It was Black Widow who had to make the call between keeping her secrets safe and striking against Hydra. And she made the right call. She was a strong character in this movie and I can't wait to see more of her.

Hydra
Just...wow. Not to spoil what happens, but Hydra is sneaky as Hell. It's a beautiful and scary thing to behold. One of the big info dumps happens when Steve and Natasha uncover a character who we thought was dead. That whole scene is creepy as Hell as you find out exactly what Hydra has been up to since the first Captain America movie. Those who watch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will already know how far Hydra has gone, but this scene still serves as filling in a few gaps.

Final Thoughts
This was an awesome movie. There are mid and post credit scenes. So remember to stay until the very end. The ending of this film really makes me wonder in what direction the MCU will now go. I know they'll do what they intend to do well, but I don't know what exactly will happen. And before I go: On your left!

Sayings Sundays (April 27, 2014)

Captain America (aka Steve Rogers) is a good character which makes it easy for people to misread him. People think that he's weak and/or that there is not much to him. Even a slight glance at the character shows that he can make jokes and that he's anything but weak.

Steve just makes calls that others can't or won't and so is sometimes at odds at what you, the audience, are used to seeing in a character.

In the first Captain America movie Steve starts out as a normal person. He's a guy that wants to do good even though he's physically weak. Before he is given the serum to be turned into Captain America he is told the above quote.

In Captain America: The Winter Soldier I think this quote is important to remember since Steve is trying to adapt to his new life.

I was listening to some random songs when I came across one by Lindsey Stirling with vocals by Lzzy Hale called Shatter Me. This song has a very catchy beat to it and Lzzy Hale does an awesome job with the vocals. Lindsey Stirling has done some other great work before and I suggest you look her up.

I chose a picture of Derek Reese from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles to go along with these lyrics. Derek is a tortured soul who is trying to find purpose in a life that now includes no Kyle Reese and him having to live in a different time.

Derek's new life also includes the sub-plot where his girlfriend time travels and he has to deal with working alongside a Terminator (aka Cameron).

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Title: Captain America: The First Avenger

Series: Captain America

Director: Joe Johnston

Starring: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, and Samuel L. Jackson

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2011

Rating: 4/5

Oscars: None

Basic Plot: Steve Rogers is chosen to become a super soldier.

Steve Rogers' Transformation
The transformation of Steve Rogers is very good. How they make him skinny (using some CG) and then all muscular is superb. That's only one of the transformations. Another is the character and how others react around him. His angelic side isn't changed but how he reacts to people is amusing at times. This is because he's been skinny and beat up all his life that he steps into a whole new world in the course of this movie.

Red Skull
The make up for this character was AWESOME! Through the majority of the film you don't seem him referred to as Red Skull or the makeup. But when it's revealed it is lovely to behold! I've seen previous pictures of Red Skull from previous movies and they just can't compete to this movie's version.

Bucky's Death
I don't believe this character is dead. When Steve/Captain America rescues Bucky from capture, Bucky looks like he had been experimented on. Reading on imDB it seems I am correct since, in the comics, Bucky becomes Winter Soldier. Oh, and I am not sorry about "forgetting" to warn you about this spoiler.

Final Thoughts
I am not a Captain America fan and nor do I read a lot of the comics. So my review is biased because of those facts. However, this is a very well made movie. Even if you don't find it deep, it will be entertaining (as this kind of movie should be). At the end of the movie it gets you all ready for The Avengers movie.