#140RVW
So good. Very different from the first film, due mostly to the modern setting. Both are excellent for different reasons. Highly recommended.
What’s more:
Captain America: The First Avenger was probably my favorite of the Avengers movies. A large part of why I enjoyed it so much was that it was a period piece. Not only was this wonderfully unique and refreshing, it was extremely important in order to view this character properly – by seeing him in his element.
Cap isn’t always the easiest superhero to get behind. He was created for a very specific purpose: to reflect the changing national mood as the American public began to support the country entering the second World War that was developing in Europe. It was a patriot and sound business creation, and was so firmly tied to the time that the comic was shelved soon after the war ended. Over the years, he has continued to endure with varying degrees of success, often tied to the country’s outlook and tastes. Cap quite simply has often been out of step with time.
So the plan to set the first movie in WWII and then bring him forward to the modern day was perfect. But now he’s got to work in the modern world – something that hasn’t always been successful with the character. The Avengers film did a good job of establishing that those traits of leadership and courage are timeless and that “With everything that’s happening, the things that are about to come to light, people might just need a little old-fashioned.”
Steve Rogers adjustment to today’s world continues in Winter Soldier, as he is increasingly disillusioned by the atmosphere at SHIELD. He has insulated himself in their mission as he once was able to do with the US Army, but is becoming aware that his blind faith and commitment to following orders is no longer justified.
Winter Soldier is less a superhero movie and more an action thriller with its roots in the 1970’s conspiracy films. They even bring Robert Redford in, as that is somewhat his métier. Can Cap commit to a “trust no one” approach?
One of the best things about the film is seeing Rogers develop actual human connections, both with teammate Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow and newcomer Sam Wilson / Falcon. Black Widow is always a great character to spend time with, and she works particularly well here as her background and entire outlook on life is so different than that of Rogers.
But it is the relationship with Wilson that is the most special, because at heart Steve Rogers is first, a soldier. One of the best aspects of his character is that even though he is clearly a superhero, he never stops identifying himself as part of the team and just another soldier. His care and understanding of the soldiers surrounding him is always much more instinctual than his behavior in SHIELD, and having Wilson’s story of loss affect him is entirely in keeping with his character. Wilson is a great character, and having a strong black soldier serving his compatriots at a VA hospital gives the movie a grounding in reality that is most welcome. The wings are cool, too.
As for the titular Winter Soldier, my job writing a spoiler-free review is made easier by the fact that Marvel elected to identify him in the trailers as Steve Rogers’ boyhood friend Bucky Barnes, believed killed in the first movie. Frankly, I wish they hadn’t done so. I don’t think they gained anything by not keeping it as a surprise. Comic readers already knew but it might have been a twist for the uninitiated in the audience to get the twist at the same time Cap does.
The character is massively underwritten, and that’s a shame. Everything you get is great, there’s just not quite enough. Although it was a long movie, I gladly would have sat for another ten minutes to have Barnes get a few scenes.
There are also a bunch of characters from the comics that only fans will recognize, and maybe not even then. (If you dress named villains as uncostumed soldiers, how are we supposed to know that they are more important than “mercenary bad guy 3”?)
The acting is good. I don’t really know what more to say than that.
The film was written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who wrote the first one, as well as the last Thor movie. It’s good stuff. Not particularly funny, and honestly I wish it was less so. Several times a big action piece would conclude and I’d expectantly wait for the “funny” quip one of the heroes would deliver. Enough of that crap – it’s cheap.
Winter Soldier was directed by Anthony & Joe Russo, who will also direct the next one, and they’re kind of an odd choice in my mind. They’re primarily comedy guys, and tv comedy at that. Arrested Development, Community, Happy Endings, that sort of really funny tv series. I have no idea how they got the gig, but they do a great job.
Visually, the movie is excellent. Great use of practical effects, and a couple of phenomenal chases. I saw it in 3D last night, which I don’t always go for; it was a good conversion. I actually enjoyed it more than most of the live-action 3D films I’ve seen.
Captain America is back, and that’s a good thing. Go see it.
Poster:
Trailer:
Bechdel Test:
Pass
The Representation Test Score: C (4 pts)
(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)
| Main Cast | Chris Evans Steve Rogers/Captain America, Samuel L. Jackson Nick Fury, Scarlett Johansson Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Robert Redford Alexander Pierce |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Release Date | Fri 04 Apr 2014 UTC |
| Director | Anthony Russo, Joe Russo |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller |
| Plot | Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier. |
| Poster |  |
| Runtime | 136 |
| Tagline | In heroes we trust. |
| Writers | Christopher Markus (screenplay) &, Stephen McFeely (screenplay) … |
| Year | 2014 |
