MOVIE OF THE WEEK (4/4/14): CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Redford, Cobie Smulders, Anthony Mackie, Frank Grillo, Toby Jones, Emily Vankamp and Hayley Atwell
WRITER(S): Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (screenplay), Ed Brubaker (concept and story); Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (creators; Captain America comic book)
DIRECTOR(S): Anthony and Joe Russo ... And one other guest director ...
WEB SITE: http://marvel.com/movies/movie/181/captain_america_the_winter_soldier
60 SECOND PLOT SYNOPSIS (OR AS CLOSE TO IT AS ONE CAN TRY TO MAKE): Picking up after the events featured in The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier finds Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) seemingly more adjusted to life in the 21st Century, living quietly in Washington, D.C. until he's called into action. Meeting a potential new jogging partner in former soldier Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), things seem well for Cap, he later embarks on a mission to re-claim a S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division) ship taken over by pirates with Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), a.k.a. the Black Widow.
Meanwhile, S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nicholas J. "Nick" Fury's (Samuel L. Jackson) is working on a new project with Alexander Pierce, a senior member of S.H.I.E.L.D. member of the World Security Council: Launching three massive ships that will link up with satellites to patrol and defend the earth. And once Cap – who hates how secretive Fury can be sees the ships in person, he becomes a bit disconcerted with some of the methods S.H.I.E.L.D. is taking to quote-unquote preserve freedom.
But Cap's personal disagreements with Fury are put on hold once a massive conspiracy begins to unfold that leaves Cap unsure of who he can trust, who is true enemies are and what he is fighting for. One thing is certain, however: The legend simply known as the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) is coming for them all ...
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST?: Marvel/Captain America movie fans, comic book fans, Chris Evans fans, Samuel L. Jackson fans, Scarlett Johansson fans, Anthony Mackie fans
WHO WON'T – OR SHOULDN'T – LIKE THIS FILM?: People who don't like to think about the PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) our soldiers face, anyone who didn't like Captain America: The First Avenger and those who don't like action movies
BOTTOM LINE – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? It's very good, very, very good – and sure to satisfy those needing another Marvel superhero fix ... At least until next month's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 drops.
WHAT'S GOOD (OR BAD) ABOUT IT? Save for perhaps the corny, controversial-yet-popular exercise that was Iron Man 3, Marvel Studios has proven that it knows what it's doing when it comes to transferring its most valuable properties from the comic book to the big screen.
WHO WON'T – OR SHOULDN'T – LIKE THIS FILM?: People who don't like to think about the PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) our soldiers face, anyone who didn't like Captain America: The First Avenger and those who don't like action movies
BOTTOM LINE – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? It's very good, very, very good – and sure to satisfy those needing another Marvel superhero fix ... At least until next month's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 drops.
WHAT'S GOOD (OR BAD) ABOUT IT? Save for perhaps the corny, controversial-yet-popular exercise that was Iron Man 3, Marvel Studios has proven that it knows what it's doing when it comes to transferring its most valuable properties from the comic book to the big screen.
With The Winter Soldier, Chris Evans shows why there is much more to Steve Rogers than just being a super-patriotic nice guy who's willing to take on evil whenever asked. Evans' performance adds a solid level of ethos and pathos to a guy who, well, sometimes gets taken for granted when compared to his more powerful or brazen fellow superheroes.
Make no mistake; Winter Soldier is all about showing you the ways in which his simple sensibilities make Cap an our world yet the perfect hero for it thanks to Evans' performance. Much like an all-pro quarterback who doesn't crave the spotlight yet ends up with the MVP in the championship game, Evans sets up each of his co-stars to have their collective moments while being the glue to keep things moving as the story unfolds. Be it serving as the moral compass to Nick Fury, the man who gets the Black Widow to re-consider some of her personal beliefs, the inspiration to the man who would become the Falcon or even the opposing force to evil, Evans makes Steve Rogers as every bit as relatable as he makes Captain America heroic.
While Sebastian Stan, Frank Grillo, Mackie and Redford do commendable work in terms of Evans' supporting cast, Jackson and Johansson add in the best dashes of flavor as the stern, John Shaft-like Nick Fury and seductive-and-seemingly-altruistic Black Widow. Whereas Jackson's character brings out the fury in Rogers (in addition to bringing back his Pulp Fiction coolness), Johansson's brings out the more manly aspects of the man behind the costumes and patriotic ideology. Johansson, of course, is as sexy as she is formidable in not only kicking ass alongside the men, but convincing you she could kick yours before she pops her gum again.
Of course, none of that would matter without an intriguing story and pace as written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (as inspired by comic book writer Ed Brubaker's revered original Winter Soldier comic book story) and on point directing by Anthony and Joe Russo. The film never feels stalled, the action comes not at the expense of the story but to its enhancement – all why continuing to successfully expand the growing Marvel universe for both current and future films.
But in the meantime, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is more than able to satisfy anyone looking for a good ol' fashioned superhero movie as classic as the character itself.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
While Sebastian Stan, Frank Grillo, Mackie and Redford do commendable work in terms of Evans' supporting cast, Jackson and Johansson add in the best dashes of flavor as the stern, John Shaft-like Nick Fury and seductive-and-seemingly-altruistic Black Widow. Whereas Jackson's character brings out the fury in Rogers (in addition to bringing back his Pulp Fiction coolness), Johansson's brings out the more manly aspects of the man behind the costumes and patriotic ideology. Johansson, of course, is as sexy as she is formidable in not only kicking ass alongside the men, but convincing you she could kick yours before she pops her gum again.
Of course, none of that would matter without an intriguing story and pace as written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (as inspired by comic book writer Ed Brubaker's revered original Winter Soldier comic book story) and on point directing by Anthony and Joe Russo. The film never feels stalled, the action comes not at the expense of the story but to its enhancement – all why continuing to successfully expand the growing Marvel universe for both current and future films.
But in the meantime, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is more than able to satisfy anyone looking for a good ol' fashioned superhero movie as classic as the character itself.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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