Suvudu Universe

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo from a script by writing partners Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, Captain America: The Winter Soldier comes to theater screens this weekend.

The film focuses on the characters of Captain America Steve Rogers and Black Widow Natasha Romanoff. The relationship between Cap and Natasha forms the emotional core of a film that takes the Marvel Cinematic Universe in bold new directions. This film is exceptionally well done and touches on important themes of freedom versus security, privacy versus government surveillance, and military preemption.

This is a different film than The Avengers, the Steve Rogers that we meet here is one pushed to his moral limits feeling trapped in what he views as a moral grey area and questioning his place in S.H.I.E.L.D.. There is less of the big humor and swashbuckling fun that Whedon delivered in The Avengers. What we get instead is a perfectly paced not stop spy thriller set in the grand Marvel Cinematic Universe setting.

Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson deliver their best performances to date in their roles. The teamwork and banter between the two characters is very enjoyable to watch and there is a clear arc to their relationship in the films that makes sense and opens up some thrilling new possibilities for the characters especially Black Widow in her own film.

Fans will love Anthony Mackie who gives a great performance as Sam Wilson (The Falcon) joining forces with the heroes of the film. Wilson gives the audience that aspirational every man who is trying to keep up with these larger than life heroes.

We also see a ton of few familiar faces and new additions to S.H.I.E.L.D. that make for some interesting connections with the earlier films, the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the future Marvel films.

There is so much to say about this film but without spoiling too much there are two big takeaways from the movie.

1) Captain America is the Shinning City on a Hill:

Evans performance the wholesome and authentic Steve Rogers serves as a beacon of light in the film. Simply being who he is and doing what he does Captain America pulls people out of the darkness and towards the light. Without Evans performance this could come off as over the top, but it is pitch perfect and the most endearing quality of the character.

2) The Winter Soldier is a game changer:

Whatever you thought you knew about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, get ready to be surprised. Things are about to get crazy.

I can’t suggest highly enough seeking this film, it may be a bit dark for some of the younger kids, but for fans of the universe that Marvel is creating on-screen this is just a perfect movie.