Captain America: The Winter Soldier
(B or 3/4 stars)
Marvel's new cinematic adventure 'Captain America: The Winter Solider' (directed by Anthony & John Russo) not only continues this superhero saga but also sends us into a Cold War conspiracy which could deliver secret technology into enemy hands. But let me backtrack a bit. Set 2 yrs. after events in The Avengers, U.S. Army Officer Steve Rogers/Capt. America (Chris Evans) finds life in 2014 to be mighty challenging. He seems daunted at the prospect of a relationship with a modern girl. He's trying to learn more about the 21st century (various music artists, Thai food, Steve Jobs, etc.). Action starts early when S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ruthless, eye-patched Nick Fury (good 'ole Samuel L. Jackson) sends 'Cap' on a hostage mission without telling him what the heck is really going on.
Super-suave Secretary of the World Security Council, Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford), reveals top-secret plans for "Project Insight", involving 3 drone-like heli-carriers that float in the atmosphere as eyes-in-the-sky. Conspiracies abound where basic freedoms are being stripped from Americans under the guise of 'protecting the public'. Mistrust occurs btwn. Fury & Cap that is only deepened when he learns that an evil organization is planted within S.H.I.E.L.D. itself!
Later, after Nick Fury is targeted for assassination, Cap, accompanied by ex-KGB agent Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, as well as his new friend, former Army paratrooper Sam Wilson/The Falcon (Anthony Mackie), goes on the run to find the root of corruption inside S.H.I.E.L.D. They learn the source of corruption, and must also contend with a brainwashed Russian assassin known as The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Everything culminates in a massive climax with Cap, Black Widow & the Falcon (achieving heroic feats while swooping around using his giant wings) rounding up more good guys to destroy the $$trillion spy system-in-the-sky & stop all the baddies who have infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.. Drama & TONS of action (ugh) ensues.
So it seems that comic book superheroes aren't going out of fashion anytime soon. I'm not WILD about the superhero 'craze' going on in the last 6-7 yrs. or so. But I do find the 'craze' (itself) to be fascinating, and these movies are relatively entertaining. This particular movie brings attention to relevant issues such as drone warfare & Big Brother spy surveillance systems, while also incorporating a 1970s-ish paranoid "trust no one" thriller into the mix. Having said that, I think I am a victim of going into this film with higher expectations (reviews are quite solid). For all the relevant themes, this film also loads up on the usual comic book dialogue, car chases, explosions, pounding music, effects, & confusing/repetitive action sequences. There is one sequence that I DID particularly like; the one in which Cap kicks ass inside a glass-encased elevator. THAT was unique. The other action set pieces ... standard. Seen them all a millllllllion times.
Chris Evans is the heart of the film as our reluctant superhero. He's increasingly charming in the role. I enjoyed the easy chemistry he has with his co-stars. I really liked his acting choices; and am sad to read that he's thinking of stopping acting (to direct) in the near future. Scar Jo is as appealing as ever; loved her amusing line deliveries. Anthony Mackie is finally given a substantial movie role after his Hurt Locker success in 2009. And Robert Redford lends gravitas to the cunning Secretary role. Considerable human interaction is a rare element in these superhero films. This movie contains a lot of it. And so, despite my "it's okay" feeling about this movie, I acknowledge its entertainment value & strength of characterization. I just want my mind blown with these movies ... and it rarely is.
Super-suave Secretary of the World Security Council, Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford), reveals top-secret plans for "Project Insight", involving 3 drone-like heli-carriers that float in the atmosphere as eyes-in-the-sky. Conspiracies abound where basic freedoms are being stripped from Americans under the guise of 'protecting the public'. Mistrust occurs btwn. Fury & Cap that is only deepened when he learns that an evil organization is planted within S.H.I.E.L.D. itself!
Later, after Nick Fury is targeted for assassination, Cap, accompanied by ex-KGB agent Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, as well as his new friend, former Army paratrooper Sam Wilson/The Falcon (Anthony Mackie), goes on the run to find the root of corruption inside S.H.I.E.L.D. They learn the source of corruption, and must also contend with a brainwashed Russian assassin known as The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). Everything culminates in a massive climax with Cap, Black Widow & the Falcon (achieving heroic feats while swooping around using his giant wings) rounding up more good guys to destroy the $$trillion spy system-in-the-sky & stop all the baddies who have infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D.. Drama & TONS of action (ugh) ensues.
So it seems that comic book superheroes aren't going out of fashion anytime soon. I'm not WILD about the superhero 'craze' going on in the last 6-7 yrs. or so. But I do find the 'craze' (itself) to be fascinating, and these movies are relatively entertaining. This particular movie brings attention to relevant issues such as drone warfare & Big Brother spy surveillance systems, while also incorporating a 1970s-ish paranoid "trust no one" thriller into the mix. Having said that, I think I am a victim of going into this film with higher expectations (reviews are quite solid). For all the relevant themes, this film also loads up on the usual comic book dialogue, car chases, explosions, pounding music, effects, & confusing/repetitive action sequences. There is one sequence that I DID particularly like; the one in which Cap kicks ass inside a glass-encased elevator. THAT was unique. The other action set pieces ... standard. Seen them all a millllllllion times.
Chris Evans is the heart of the film as our reluctant superhero. He's increasingly charming in the role. I enjoyed the easy chemistry he has with his co-stars. I really liked his acting choices; and am sad to read that he's thinking of stopping acting (to direct) in the near future. Scar Jo is as appealing as ever; loved her amusing line deliveries. Anthony Mackie is finally given a substantial movie role after his Hurt Locker success in 2009. And Robert Redford lends gravitas to the cunning Secretary role. Considerable human interaction is a rare element in these superhero films. This movie contains a lot of it. And so, despite my "it's okay" feeling about this movie, I acknowledge its entertainment value & strength of characterization. I just want my mind blown with these movies ... and it rarely is.