Romanoff and Cap are confronted by the Winter Soldier in a dark battle where we see Romanoff seemingly scared. Something we have not seen until this movie. It is clear she fears the Hydra assassin having had a previous run in with him. It is here that we learn the Winter Soldier is in fact Steve's life long friend Bucky Barnes. Barnes featured in the first movie and was rescued by Rogers when they were experimenting on him (see Captain America: The First Avenger review). We discover in this movie that Hydra's experimentation on Bucky allowed him to escape death but was ultimately captured by Hyrda and brainwashed to carry out their bidding. This was a big reveal and anyone not knowing the source material would not have seen this coming. There was a scene in the first movie where Bucky holds Cap's shield and in this movie it happens again as The Winter Soldier. I believe this is not simply an easter egg and that when Chris Evans retires his shield as Captain America Bucky Barnes will pick it up and will take over the role. The same has happened in the comics and there is a reason actor Sebastian Stan is signed for a nine picture deal.

In the scenes leading to the final act we find that Fury is very much alive and plans to put a stop to project insight. Along with the help of Cap, Romanoff, Falcon and Agent Maria Hill Fury puts his plan to remove the helicarriers and Alexander Pierce from the equation into action. This leads us to an epic battle where all three helicarriers need to be reprogrammed to save 20 million people. While trying to disable the final helicarrier Rogers is faced with his friend Bucky and must fight him in order to save innocent lives. Cap takes a beating and for the first time you really feel that he could lose his life at the hands of his friend. Cap ultimately completes his mission and surrenders himself to the mercy of Bucky. Barnes seems to remember something and in th end saves Rogers from meeting his demise.

What makes this movie work so well aside from the directing and story is the fact that there is not really a villain in this movie. The Winter Soldier is a friend of Rogers and Pierce is fighting for what he believes to be the best course of action, no matter how derranged his idea it is. Not to mention the fact that Pierce is not in the movie much. Even with a small amount of screen time however actor Robert Redford brings sufficient charisma to the role for us to buy into his ideas, not agree with them but understand where he is coming from. The true villain in the movie is the idea of project insight, it's repercussions and of course Hydra.

Cap two plays like an espionage thriller and is unlike anything we have seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far. The acion is gritty and the movie is dark in tone. The characters are grounded in reality and you really feel that anyone could die in this movie. Chris Evans does his best work yet here and Romanoff feels more human than ever before, kudos to Scarlett Johansson and the rest of the cast. It is interesting to speculate on the fate of Frank Grillo's character Brock Rumlow. In the comics he is better known as Crossbones so watch this space for Captain America: Civil War news.   

Where Avengers Assemble was a great movie filled with spectacle, much of that movies success rides off the back of a number of movies leading up to it and the novalty of seeing all our heroes on the screen together. Joss Whedon did a fantastic jobe but The Winter Soldier has the edge and is a better movie....just.... and that is saying something. Do yourself a favour and buy this movie, it just gets better with repeated viewing. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo have done a mind boggingly great job with the sequel and knowing that they have signed on to bring us not just Captain America: Civil War but also Avengers Infinity Wars parts one and two. I for one cannot wait to see what else they can bring to the table.

MMM score off the chats 10.0