Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Captain America–The Winter Soldier’ Delivers The Goods

Some would argue that CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER doesn’t stack up to Marvel Studio’s original 2011 movie…

Then again everyone has an opinion.

For my money it comes mighty close and plays well beyond its fanboy base.

Make no mistake, the storyline here is a bit complex and sometimes hard to follow as Chris Evans‘ Steve Rogers/Captain America is now living quietly in Washington D.C. trying to adjust to the modern world.

But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Rogers becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk.

Captain America joins forces with The Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) as they struggle to expose an ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off assassins sent to silence the shielded one at every turn. But will there (ever) be REAL sparks flying between these two?

(That would be quite a feat for Steve Rogers after having been in frozen limbo for decades)

And what of Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury? Has he gone rogue? Say it isn’t so.

Whatever…..

Still seeing our hero now outfitted in both World War II and present day garb certainly adds to his persona—not to mention some audience-pleasing culture shocks.

Oh, and let’s not overlook suave but tricky World Security Council boss Alexander Pierce who’s got more up his starched sleeves than meets the eye. He’s brought to the Marvel screen by Robert Redford—and no doubt is making his grand kids proud.

Then there’s the new villain, The Winter Soldier played by Sebastian Stan.

Keep your eyes on him as he’s got quite the rap sheet and most likely an intriguing future in coming editions of the franchise.

All of which is delivered in non-stop, hard-driving PG-13 action.

(“PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and gun play and action throughout.”)

The film’s end credits are long but you’ll be rewarded with not one but two FINAL scenes.

The first comes about half way into the end crawl of credits. The second at the very end.

A bridge to the next AVENGERS possibly? I’m not saying.

So go, enjoy and let CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER’s hard pounding action mixed with a good sprinkling of light-hearted humor and wisecracks sweep you into 136 minutes of Marvel make-believe.

I’m grading it a B+

(Reviewed at AMC 30, Olathe)

Catch Kansas City’s weekend movie magazine JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on NewsRadio KMBZ FM & AM.