What makes this film stand out from every single other one in the franchise is it's commitment to telling a fleshed out spy-thriller story that just happens to star Captain America.

The action sequences really pack the thrills and highlights include great chase sequences, an excellently done infiltration sequence, and several fist fights that leave you wanting more. Some of them lean a bit too hard on shaky cam and quick editing, but the choreography and intent is absolutely there.

To be honest, I actually skipped this one in theaters due to how middle of the road the first Captain America was, but was so pleasantly surprised when I decided to give this one a shot at a rental many years later. I of course bought the Blu Ray as well, as I felt compelled to own it.

I'm also a huge fan of Civil War, but I think this one edges it out in being the best film in the MCU because of that fact that it works perfectly fine in a vacuum. Civil War is pretty much a mini Avengers that is a culmination of all the preceding films before it. This one can pretty much stand on it's own and doesn't lean as heavily as Civil War does in the spectacle of the heroes powers.