Does Captain America: The Winter Soldier hold up?

Let’s find out:

So we start off by reuniting with Steve Rogers/Captain America (still a perfectly-cast Chris Evans). We meet Sam Wilson (a charismatic Anthony Mackie), and…

Evans and Wilson have chemistry.

Anyway, Steve and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (still a great Scarlett Johansson) go on a rescue SHIELD thing from pirates mission. We find out from Agent Brock Rumlow (Frank Grillo) that Batroc (Georges St Pierre) is in charge of the pirates and we get a Steve vs. Batroc battle. We find out that Natasha was on a different mission from Nick Fury (still an awesome Samuel L Jackson) and Nick is all “Uh, Steve, babe? Natasha is a little less moral than you are.” Nick shows Steve some deadly helicarriers.

Steve then goes to visit the now-elderly Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and we find out that Peggy has Alzheimer’s.

We then reunite with Fury, who is having trouble retrieving his data. We then meet Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) and Fury asks Pierce to put a two-hour delay on the deadly helicarrier thing and Pierce agrees. However, some fake cops and an unidentified figure try to kill Fury; so, he crashes at Steve’s. We then meet Sharon (Emily VanCamp), and…

Guys, what is with the Steve-Sharon hate? I know that we love Peggy; but, VanCamp and Evans do have chemistry and they’re both written fine; so, I don’t really understand the backlash.

Anyway, Fury manages to tell Steve about SHIELD; however, who shot Nick Fury? We find out that Sharon is working for SHIELD and Steve (unsuccessfully) goes after Fury’s shooter.

Fury dies and Steve stashes some data in a hospital vending machine. Pierce tries to find out what Fury’s last words were; but, Steve is uncooperative; so, a bunch of SHIELD agents go after him.

Steve discovers that Natasha has his data and Natasha tells Steve about the Winter Soldier. Steve and Natasha then discover a bunker and we find out from Arnim Zola (Toby Jones) that Nazis/HYDRA infiltrated SHIELD. HYDRA makes an attempt on Steve and Natasha’s lives; however, Steve and Natasha wind up crashing at Sam’s place and Sam offers his assistance.

We find out from Jasper Sitwell (Maximiliano Hernández) who HYDRA is targeting; however, the Winter Soldier offs Sitwell. The Winter Soldier and Steve fight, we find out that the Winter Soldier is James “Bucky” Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and that Bucky does not have a clue who he is. Rumlow and company try to off Steve, Natasha and Sam; but, Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) saves them and, to the surprise of no one, Fury is alive.

Steve wants to bring SHIELD down. He makes an announcement at SHIELD, there is a fight between HYDRA and non-HYDRA agents and Rumlow is determined to get the helicarriers into the air.

Pierce tries to convince the World Security Council to go ahead with the helicarrier plan; but, the council is not in the murdering mood. We find out that Natasha was disguised as a member of the council. Hill and Sam bring down two of the helicarriers and Steve brings down one of them. Fury offs Pierce so that Natasha can live.

In a beautiful scene, Steve convinces Bucky of his identity and Bucky saves him (the music during this scene is so, so great). Natasha tells off senators and Steve and Sam work on Operation Bucky.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a great movie in the vein of political thrillers.

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