CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014) – My rating: 8/10

Maybe it’s me but I didn’t like the second version of Captain America as much as the original.  It started out okay but turned into a plot I’ve seen and heard much too much.  I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t get too in depth.  There’s lots of action and special effects however, I didn’t feel the excitement and mystery as I did in the first Captain America.  There was a good twist but still, it wasn’t strong enough to make me say wow!!  One of the problems with today’s movies and TV/Cable series, is they wait too long to release a new sequel or start the next iteration of the series.   Many times, people forget some significant pieces of the original story.  Sometimes the producers are banking on our memories to get a point across.  A couple of folks told me that they were confused about Captain America’s age.

In the first Captain America, Steve Rogers played by Chris Evans, is a native New Yorker who at the age of 20 something, weighing around 90 lbs and only 5 feet tall with asthma tried to enlist in the United States Army.  The year was 1942.  After the Army doctor perused Steve’s medical file, which read like that of a 90 year old man, he rejected him.  Along comes Dr. Abraham Erskine, played by Stanley Tucci  who discovers Steve and recruits him for a top secret project called Rebirth.  Steve undergoes a transformation that turns him into Captain America.  Of course, he had to have the ambition and character to pull this off.

In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Steve is still trying to adjust to his new environment and modern times.  He is well accepted as Captain America and has proven himself as a leader in combat.  The story focuses on The Winder Soldier who has a metal arm and strength that matches Captain America.  Many stars helped to make this production as good as it was: Samuel L. Jackson (who had a bigger role as Nick Fury, manager of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Scarlett Johansson renewed her role as Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow,  Anthony Mackie played as the forever loyal Sam Wilson aka Falcon,  Robert Redford played a villain (Alexander Pierce) and Sebastian Stan renewed his role as Chris’ best friend Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier.  I’m not saying that this was not a good movie nor am I saying not to go see it, I’m just saying it wasn’t as different or conceptually new as I had hoped.    I’ve also been watching Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on TV and got use to a smaller and personable S.H.I.E.L.D.  organization.  Hollywood’s  version of S.H.I.E.L.D. was a bit detached.  Most will disagree with my critique of Captain America and to those I say sorry, but I call it like I see it.  I still think it’s worth seeing on the big screen and  I did rate it 8 out of 10.  So, check it out and enjoy!

[CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER is nominated for Visual Effects]