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Review: Captain America - The Winter Soldier

Written by tha - bang from the blog Movies and Things with Thabang on 02 Apr 2014
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The first Captain America was okay, the second aims to be bigger, louder and better. It succeds in some parts but fails in some areas but remains way a better movie than Thor 2. Let's dig in.


 cap and fal


Let's start with what works. The directors (Anthony and Joe Russo) keep the action very brisk and visceral. There’s a lot of hand to hand combat that’s well done, even some cool kung fu moves are thrown in with the shield. There’s more gun play and bodies in this one than I’ve seen in the entire Marvel catalogue.


So there's a defininate mood shift from the first movie, that had elements of Indiana Jones - we are now in John Mclane of Die Hard vs Jack Ryan territory.


Then there’s the theme. In the age of Edward Snowden and Wikileaks, Marvel decides to centre their plot on issues to do with national security; how far can states go in trying to protect their citizens before becoming instruments of the citizens' downfall. I believe this is the sixth movie with a national security as a plot device from Marvel... tsk tsk tsk.


cap vs supes


If it sounds too serious for a Marvel movie don’t fuss - everything is treated with a strict PG style. Unfortunately the movie does not have bite or true conviction to follow through on its ideals. Everything is kept at a pc level and that undercuts its own dramatic tension. It’s all kiddie safe.


The movie is quite bland, or genericand its hard  to identify with Captain America, cause you know he ain't going to die (hey they still need to make another Avengers movie), so he's never in real danger.


He's not as witty as Tony Stark, nor dark as the dark Batman, even Superman of Man of Steel was far more complex a character than the square chin hero Steve Roger, aka Captain America. One does not really feel for this man.


 comic book


Yes, Chris Evans puts his heart into playing Captain America, Scarlett Johansson is better without the Russian accent from the first movie, and Anthony Mackie as the BEE addition Falcon has the heart for it.


Yet anyone whose watched the cartoon series or picked up a comic book knows who the mysterious “winter soldier” is, it’s not much of a mystery even though the film tries to play it as such. There’s a lot that the film thinks is intrigue but comes across as very standard fare predicatable action movie clichés.


falcon 


So yes there’s action and some witty banter, but once you step out of the cinema nothing from the movie stays with you, except for the mid credit preview of  Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver known as son and daughters of Magneto from Xmen appear (some intriguing ideas coming up for Avengers 2) .


Yet for all its social commentary the film is a true pop corn film, very filling on entertainment but light on substance. So if you want a safe action movie that does not take you to any place uncomfortable or challenging then Captain America: The Winter Soldier is that for you.


 Rating: **1/2


*junk **almost bearable ***now we cooking ****almost perfect *****classic ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 




8 Comments

wonderlad
02 Apr 2014 12:33

Thanks for the review Thabang - will probably see it this weekend - though am much more excited for XMen DOFP. As you probably know though, links between the Avengers and Xmen movies will not be made (for now) - no mention will be made of Magneto in any Avengers movies. I am curious though if Quicksilber and Wanda will be referred to as 'mutants".

tha - bang
02 Apr 2014 12:41

Hey Wonderland,i too am excited for Days Of Future Past, the trailers look good and since its going to be followed by Apocalypse ; im really stoked.Maybe we might even see some set ups in Xmen DOFP for Apocalypse. Unfortuneatly due different studios owning Avengers and Xmen there wont be no cross over for now and Fox apperently owns the rights to mutant ,so they are probably going to be called specials or something but time will tell.

Cap' is not bad just thought it kinder blend nd predictable but let me know what you think of it, once you see it, sweet.

Onkez
03 Apr 2014 06:00

How much screen time does Anthony Mackie get? Definitely not here for the main actor.

tha - bang
03 Apr 2014 07:54

Onkez his a supporting character but his got plenty of screen time in the first quarter of the the film and the last two quarters.

Onkez
03 Apr 2014 17:09

Eish, still not entirely convinced, Thabang. Worse still is that his name is "Steve Rogers". It doesnt get more pedestrian than that! What do you think about him passing the torch (couldnt resist) to Michael B Jordan for Fantastic 4?

tha - bang
03 Apr 2014 17:13

Hehehe anthony mackie plays falcon oi forgot his name. Steve rogers is captain america and I think his going to pass the torch soon cvause chris evans won't commit to a 4th captain america movie

wonderlad
07 Apr 2014 13:09

Hi Thabang - saw the movie over the weekend - agree with you on most points - the action was great; some of the characters (Black widow) were fleshed out a bit more - but yes there was something hollow to it and for me it's that Capt. America as a concept is not that compelling (I am never interested in reading his comic books either). I think the man-out-of-time idea is great but not enough is made of it. Coupled with the fact that the ID of the Winter Soldier was pretty obvious (well most comicbook readers would know that anyway), I didn't think this brought much new to the Avengers series - but was entertaining matinee fair. That said, the introduction of Pietro and Wanda in the credits was the highlight for me as they are characters I really find interesting.

tha - bang
07 Apr 2014 13:19

Hey Wonderland , yeah Cap is not so compelling as a character, but like Avengers the movie is making a lot of money at the US box office.So i guess there are a lot of fan boys out there.will wait patiently for the amazing spiderman 2 and X men DOFP


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Thabang Phetla loves movies,
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