Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Another fun summer action movie from the Marvel Comics franchise, this one features Cap acquainting himself with the modern world after his suspended animation and, what a shock, fighting crime. Chris Evans brings the same charming combination of determination and casual humor to the title role as he did in Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers. Samuel L. Jackson (last blogged in Robocop) and Scarlett Johansson (most recently in these pages in Chef) return as Nick Fury and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, while Robert Redford (last in All Is Lost) and Anthony Mackie (most recently in Gangster Squad) join up as the Defense Secretary and a new wingman for Cap, respectively. The obligatory Stan Lee cameo occurs in the third act, where the comic book creator plays a befuddled Smithsonian security guard.

Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFreely (covered in Captain America: The First Avenger) reprise their duties with a new pair of directors, brothers Anthony and Joe Russo (lots of TV, three other features).

My favorite item on the imdb trivia page is the "catch-up" list, describing which things Cap must learn to join the 21st century, varying by country. Scroll down until you see the longest one, with twelve bullet points.

Henry Jackman (last blogged in X-Men: First Class) provides exciting orchestral music, and you can listen to the entire score on youtube if you so desire.

Rotten Tomatoes critics and audiences are loving this, too, averaging 89% and 94.

It's been six weeks since Jack and I saw this, the day before we saw Draft Day (coincidentally also shot mostly in Cleveland, Ohio), so I may be leaving a lot out. I won't forget to tell you, however, that this goes on my list of movies that cause MPMS (motion-picture-motion-sickness). Take precautions.