Without fail, creators of
superhero sequels feel the need to escalate the action quotient, and we usually end up with messes like X Men: The Final Stand, which had scores of super-powered moments, none of which were worthwhile.
Captain America: Winter Soldier artfully dodges nearly every typical
superhero movie problem (as well as general
sequel problems) with a stunning grasp of mood, total commitment to a «square» character, a smart choice of villain, and thrilling action scenes that
feel authentically dangerous (a complete rarity in blockbusters) rather than like stop - and - gawk «setpieces» with no actual stakes.