Nine movies into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s pretty obvious that the ambition of this film series is only outdone by their quality, humor, action and terrific characters. And now that Iron Man and Thor have gotten sequel adventures that took their respective franchises to new heights, it’s time for Captain America to take the reins and go on another exciting adventure. Captain America: The Winter Soldier blows away any and all expectations you might have by taking on the guise of a political thriller, while packing in more than enough spectacl. Simply put, it’s a blast, but one that’s got plenty of emotion and brains to take things to the next level.

Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is still adjusting to 2014 America, but he’s starting to get the hang of things. Working with SHIELD and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) to take down bad guys across the globe, he feels he’s still managing to make a difference in this crazy world. Add in his new pal Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), Steve finds life to be more or less pretty darn good. However, some new procedures by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) inadvertently open the doors for some new enemies, namely a shadowy figure named The Winter Soldier.

There’s been plenty of touching moments in the MARVEL movies (namely, Pepper’s gift to Tony in Iron Man and The Hulk saving Tony in The Avengers), but Captain America: The Winter Soldiers greatest asset may be the way it uses these characters we’ve known for so long to maximize the emotional resonance of the various perilous situations they engage in. Natasha, for instance, really proves how exceptional she is, brought to snarky life by the incomparably talented Scarlett Johansson. She and Rogers buddy-cop dynamic is unique on it’s own, but thanks to all that we’ve seen between the two characters, we also get the deeper meaning between the two; their opposite moral standards are both being put to test by the film’s bad guys and the superheroes finally find some common ground in this predicament.

The third act brings plenty of moments that unleash a tidal wave of “feels”, if you will, but it’s not just in getting us to care about these characters that this movie is clever. The plot twists and turns dramatically shift our very fundamental understanding of this vast universe in unexpectedly ingenious ways that leaves most viewers paralyzed in suspense. Everything in the film, from the script right down to the color pallette, owes a great deal to classic political thrillers films, of which  Captain America: The Winter Soldier becomes one without a doubt. The best part about paying homage to that part of Hollywood is that Robert Redford gets to join in on the proceedings, lending his powerful presence to every scene he dabbles in.

Now, I’m sure plenty of you are yawning at this point; brains and heart are good I guess, but what about those explosions? Well, that’s yet another part of the film that fires on all cylinders, as there’s some truly spellbinding action in this film, which directors Anthony and Joe Russo always makes sure is always working at it’s best possible capacity in terms of both storytelling and heart-stopping thrills. The best of the film’s action comes in the form of intense hand-to-hand combat sequences, especially ones involving The Winter Soldier and Captain America. In terms of spectacle though, it is hard to beat the breathtaking moments delivered by the Falcon AKA Sam Wilson. What could have been a simply ridiculous concept becomes the film’s best asset, as Anthony Mackie makes sure Wilson has either a hilarious one-liner or an extremely effective punch up his sleeve, traits that surprisingly help sell the friendship between him and Steve Rogers.

Ah yes, Steve Rogers, that plucky WWII soldier that Chris Evans continues to play perfectly. Rogers devotion to helping others and doing what’s right is nicely contagious, and makes sure his character continuously retains relatability. But it’s in that emotional third act where Evans truly excels, especially in the climactic fight scene that will leave both the action junkie and the cinema lover nothing short of ecstatic. Look, I could keep on praising this movie to high heavens, but I think more than enough has been said. Up there with The Avengers, The Dark Knight and Hellboy 2 in terms of great comic book based movies, Captain America: The Winter Soldier blows past all you could imagine to deliver a stunning movie more than worthy of starring a hero as beloved as The Star Spangled Man with a plan.