Although he originated as an American comic book hero during World War II, Captain America blends seamlessly into Marvel Studios’ modern world while maintaining the roots of the story in the most recent installment of the Avengers saga.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” shines as one of the best Marvel films to date, and one of the most memorable superhero movies of the past decade. With a captivating core of actors and brilliantly coordinated action sequences, “The Winter Soldier” delivers a satisfying improvement on the 2011 release of “Captain America: The First Avenger.”

Building on the previous installment in the franchise, the story follows Steve Rogers, a once weak human who, through scientific experimentation, acquires superhuman strength. Sporting a patriotic uniform and wielding an indestructible shield, Rogers assumes the role of Captain America, and works for SHIELD, a government agency in charge of the Avenger Initiative. The hero, along with recurring characters Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), discovers deep secrets and treachery within SHIELD and battles a mysterious assassin known as the Winter Soldier.

The plot of the movie is a fresh deviation from the stale structure of most superhero films. Instead of a simple conflict between hero and villain, the plot is far more nuanced, exposing treachery and constantly leaving the audience wondering who can be trusted. With a variety of twists and turns, the structure is far from predictable.

From the opening minutes of the movie, Captain America delivers powerful action sequences which only build in intensity as the film progresses. Avoiding a common flaw in superhero movies, the combat in the film feels very visceral and realistic. The audience can feel the force behind Captain America’s punches and acrobatic arsenal of combat moves. Powerful explosions reverberate through the theater, and stunning special effects add to the impact of the action.

Despite the many positives the movie offered, it is not perfect. At times dialogue is forced and unrealistic, an area Marvel Studios should seek to improve. Also, the movie continually pursues a political message about freedom of information and the justice system, which, although relevant to contemporary political issues, at times is too preachy. However, these small quibbles do little to detract from an otherwise impressive film.

In addition to the action and drama of traditional superhero films, knowledgeable fans will delight at the many references and hints to comic books’ characters who may appear in future installments of the series. Careful observers might also be able to catch a cameo by Marvel creator Stan Lee and a clever reference to Samuel L. Jackson’s performance in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” Viewers should make sure to stay to watch two post-credit scenes, which help prepare for the next installment in the Avengers saga and set the stage for Captain America 3.

Fans of Marvel Studios films will have to wait until August 1 for “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Captain America will return to the screen with “The Avengers: The Age of Ultron,” scheduled to be released May 1, 2015.