8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the HYDRA agent known as the Winter Soldier.
Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian StanAdventure | 100% |
Action | 99% |
Comic book | 83% |
Sci-Fi | 82% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French Track is also 640 kbps.
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy (as download)
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
If you would have told me at any point in the last five years that two of the best comicbook films of all time, two of Marvel's
finest offerings, two of the highest grossing movies of 2014 and two of the most entertaining and satisfying surprises of the
year would be Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy, I would have either laughed
in your face or dismissed your optimism with a skeptical "we'll see." And yet here we are. Guardians, a hilarious romp
through the weirdest, wildest, most colorful corners of the galaxy, following the... um... weirdest, wildest, most colorful team
of superheroes ever brought to life on the big screen, is a massive success, a fan favorite and a critical darling.
Winter Soldier, a tense, dramatic conspiracy thriller that somehow makes its strangest comicbook elements work
wonders, is a masterfully conceived and executed sequel that takes Captain America -- and, along with Guardians, the
entire Marvel Cinematic Universe -- in a bold, exciting direction. Both are outstanding films. Both boast astonishing confidence,
production design, action and visual effects. Both are terrific fun. Both represent a brave new world for comicbook movies. And
each one for completely different reasons.
Which is Marvel's crowning achievement? How do you even compare the two? Answer: you don't. Other than ranking the films
by personal preference, it's a fool's errand to pit Cap, Black Widow and Falcon against Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and
Groot. You sit back, think to yourself it's good to be a geek, soak it all in, and wait for the inevitable Avengers
crossover. Love 'em both. Watch both of 'em over and over and over again. Enjoy each one on its own terms.
So as much as the conversation of late has been dominated by "which Marvel movie wins?," let's just focus on The Winter
Soldier. More than a gripping comicbook film, it's a gripping film. No small feat considering all the superheroes,
inhuman action, indestructible shields, sentient computers, secret organizations, future tech, flying fortresses and memory-
wiped, cryogenically frozen, cybernetically enhanced assassins. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is, hands down,
one of the year's best blockbusters.
"It's called compartmentalization. Nobody spills the secrets because nobody knows them all."
While the Russos' handheld camerawork and breakneck action doesn't exactly lend itself to a dazzling 3D experience, Disney's 1080p/MVC-encoded 3D presentation has enough pop and punch to make it a technically sound, largely satisfying endeavor. Foreground objects feature notable dimensionality, environments boast welcome (albeit somewhat inconsistent) depth, and weapons, shields, ships, knives, vehicles and other elements break the 2D plane with ease. It isn't a gimmick-laden affair either, instead offering a cinematic 3D image that's far more concerned with creating a convincing world than in employing 3D effects that border on cartoonish and, well, comicbook-y. There also isn't any serious aliasing or ghosting to contend with, although viewers whose displays are prone to crosstalk will notice some slight, thankfully negligible separation in wide shots scattered throughout the final battle sequence. (Particularly when Falcon is dodging fire in the skies.)
Moreover, like its 2D AVC-encoded counterpart, the 3D version of the film boasts striking detail, with crisp, natural edge definition, exceptionally well-resolved fine textures, revealing close-ups and excellent delineation. Colors are terrific too, barring a few nighttime scenes that get a wee bit too dark. Cinematographer Trent Opaloch's palette is muted and sun-bleached by design, sure, but primaries remain strong (in the third act especially), saturation is dialed in carefully and beautifully, skintones are lifelike, and black levels are deep and pleasing. There also isn't any sign of significant macroblocking, banding, ringing, errant noise, bothersome crush or, really, any other distractions. Ultimately, though not as remarkable as its flawless 2D AVC-encoded counterpart, Cap's 3D marks one of the better Marvel Studios post-conversions, standing shoulder to shoulder with The Avengers' 3D BD experience and falling just shy of Guardians of the Galaxy's theatrical 3D (and hopefully Blu-ray 3D).
No one will be left wanting in the wake of The Winter Soldier's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. The film's action is made that much more explosive thanks to tremendous low-end power and LFE channel support. Airships are bolstered by convincing weight and thrust, cybernetic hits resonate, body blows register, gunshots leave their mark, car crashes shake the ground... on and on, each thoom and boom as devastating as the last. Not to be outdone, the rear speakers make their presence known from start to finish. Listening to Captain America's shield bounce around the soundfield is a joy in its own right; realizing just how immersive the film's buildings, streets, bunkers, and Helicarrier interiors and exteriors are is one of many more delights. Ambience is ever-present and always effective. Directionality is accurate and engaging. Pans are perfectly transparent. Dynamics defy expectation. Dialogue doesn't disappoint either, even in the midst of the most chaotic attack or chase. Voices are clear, intelligible and neatly prioritized, without anything that might disrupt the proceedings. Captain America: The Winter Soldier earns top AV marks all around.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier only accelerates Marvel's upward momentum, while somehow promising even better things are to come. As much a wiry, dramatic conspiracy thriller as it is an action-packed comicbook blockbuster, the Cap sequel places Steve Rogers squarely atop the Avengers' roster and delivers one of Marvel Studios' best, not to mention one of the finest comicbook movies of all time. More than that, The Winter Soldier stands as one of 2014's most memorable and satisfying blockbusters, and as a gripping slice of conspiracy-cinema to boot. Disney's Blu-ray is a must-own release too, thanks to a first-class video presentation, a solid 3D experience and an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. It's a bit light on supplemental material (additional content is no doubt being held back for the inevitable Phase Two box set), but the filmmakers' terrific audio commentary more than makes up for it as far as I'm concerned. Be sure to add this one to your collection post-haste.
2014
2014
Falcon Variant
2014
Digital Bonus Content
2014
Winter Soldier Variant
2014
Nick Fury Variant
2014
Black Widow Variant
2014
Captain America Variant
2014
2014
Cinematic Universe Edition
2014
2014
Cinematic Universe Edition
2011
Cinematic Universe Edition
2012
Cinematic Universe Edition
2016
2013
2014
2013
2013
2011
Cinematic Universe Edition
2018
Cinematic Universe Edition
2018
2010
Cinematic Universe Edition
2019
Theatrical & Extended Cut
2016
Cinematic Universe Edition
2017
2018
2015
2014
IMAX
2013
2018
Cinematic Universe Edition
2015