It was three long years ago, back in the summer of 2011, when Captain America: The First Avenger hit theatres worldwide. As the first MCU to be set in a different time frame - during World War II, no less - it introduced us to one Steve Rogers, a good-hearted but ultimately wimpy young man who finds himself injected with "super soldier serum" in a controversial experiment, thus transforming him into the likes of Captain America, the po-faced, self-righteous crusader of all that is patriotic. Reviews for the film were mostly positive; it grossed an admirable $370 million. Last week, then, the long-awaited sequel - Captain America: The Winter Soldier - hit UK shores to mostly positive reviews, citing the movie's relentless pacing, grounded performances, dark tone, and its intentions as a sort of '70s political thriller as some of the highlights. Going by box office status alone, it's also looking as if The Winter Soldier could end up being one of the highest-grossing movies in the MCU canon - during opening weekend, it grossed double that of its predecessor. But does it have what it takes to rival the gross of Iron Man 3 or The Avengers? Whereas critical reviews have remained mostly positive, however, audience - and die-hard fan - opinions must be taken into consideration also. So what did you make of The Winter Soldier? Did you enjoy its positioning as a paranoid '70s chase movie, like Day of the Condor, or did you find the tonal shift too jarring for a superhero flick? Did you relish the explosive set-pieces, or do you wish Marvel would have taken more risks with the narrative? Did the movie live up to your expectations, or did it just feel like another bland installment straight from the factory? Let us know how you felt about Captain America: The Winter Soldier in the comments section.
