Well I am going to make this one short and sweet since this film has been out for a minute. Not that it will matter in the grand scheme of things, because I am assuming by now anyone who wants to see Captain America: The Winter Soldier will already have done so. But heck,
… so I will talk about it, especially for that one person out there who cares what my thoughts concerning are.
For me, this second entry into the Captain America oeuvre was probably the most cinematic of any comic book adaptation. I know that is a large statement but let me list why I feel this way:
- Great character development: I really felt connected to the stories that people that told them. I especially liked the touch of Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) being “reunited” with the love he lost to time. Even though there was one scene, this plot point reverberated throughout most of the film.
- Properly executed dramatic tension: Of course I felt like I knew where the story was going and that certain “developments” were not as they appeared, but still, as everything unfolded I felt vested in the outcome.
- Cast: Everyone did an admirable job in the performance area, with a special shout out to Robert Redford, was effective as someone playing against type. The one disappointment: not enough Anthony Mackie.
- Speaking of Redford…: I do not think it is an accident that Redford chose this project to affiliate himself with, given the major theme involved (questions of surveillance and national security). Captain America: The Winter Soldier is in some way a throwback to that Watergate-era level of heightened paranoia.
- The sense of time/place/nostalgia: It was really cool to see Rogers readjust to life in a modern America. His notepad charting all the seminal political, social, and cultural events that took place during the mid-late 20th century was a nice contemporary history lesson.
- The now over-discussed movie references: I caught some of them while screening and had to look up a couple of others post.
- Jenny Agutter kicking butt and taking names: Sure there is a twist to this scene, but it was cool to see a recipient of an OBE (look it up) in fine, fighting form.
- Nice setup …: … for what I am assuming is the concluding chapter of Captain America (as embodied in the form of Steve Rogers, perhaps?), the setup is quite nice. The ending (not the post credits one) clearly shows that this is but an intermission to a play that has not yet concluded. It will be interesting to see how this story is possibly woven into the next installment of Avengers.
Well that is me done. How about you? Did you like Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Share your comments below.
One of my favorite films of the year.
le0pard13 recently posted..TMT: Misery’s Return
Bold statement! I like.
Nice review. Definitely agree with a lot of your thoughts, though I haven’t been able to get past the fact that I merely enjoyed the film. It’s not stayed with me, it was just another film I saw in the cinema. Which is fine. I guess!
Just feels like the Marvel line of Avengers films are more preoccupied with subsequent setups than the film the setup is happening in. Didn’t feel like the film was about the Winter Soldier, he was just a passing player who’s set up to feature later on. Again somewhere…
Perhaps I’m being too harsh and should just take comic book films for what they are. After all, it’s what I keep telling people to do with straight up action films!
Jaina recently posted..Oh hello, House of Cards
I hear you Jaina. In reviewing my list, I came to that epiphany as well – I really did not have anything to say about the Winter Soldier. Was not 100% if it was a good or bad thing. Took it for what it was worth at the end. It was more of an introduction than anything else.
Very interesting points Jaina about the “setup” nature of the film. I can see that perspective. But for me, as someone, who not only has been artistically and emotionally (I am geeked (pun intended) up for any fantasy/sci-fi sagas being a child of the ’80s/Star Wars fan) reeled into this Avengers saga, I also just like the adaptation of quasi-believable superheroes on screen (e.g. Batman, Captain America and Iron Man)
In terms of Iba’s breakdown, here are my replies in CAPS.
Great character development: I really felt connected to the stories that people that told them. I especially liked the touch of Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) being “reunited” with the love he lost to time. Even though there was one scene, this plot point reverberated throughout most of the film. I AGREE; IT HAS ARGUABLY THE MOST “HUMAN” TOUCHES OF ANY MARVEL FILM TO-DATE, WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE FIRST IRON MAN.
Properly executed dramatic tension: Of course I felt like I knew where the story was going and that certain “developments” were not as they appeared, but still, as everything unfolded I felt vested in the outcome. AGREED; NO MAJOR SURPRISES BUT THAT MINIMALIST APPROACH WAS WELCOME TO ME CONSIDERING WHAT I SAW AS OVER-THOUGHT TWISTS/MISFIRES IN THE DARK KNIGHT RISES AND IRON MAN 3.
Cast: Everyone did an admirable job in the performance area, with a special shout out to Robert Redford, was effective as someone playing against type. The one disappointment: not enough Anthony Mackie.
Speaking of Redford…: I do not think it is an accident that Redford chose this project to affiliate himself with, given the major theme involved (questions of surveillance and national security). Captain America: The Winter Soldier is in some way a throwback to that Watergate-era level of heightened paranoia. I TOTALLY WANTED TO SEE MORE OF THE FALCON-CAP DYNAMIC ON SCREEN GIVEN THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN THE COMICS AS WELL AS THEIR GREAT CHEMISTRY IN THEIR SHARED SCENES. THAT STATED, SCARLETT MORE THAN HELD HER OWN IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS W/CAP. REDFORD IS A LEGEND AND A NATURAL (MOVIE PUN INTENDED) BUT I HE APPEARED LIKE HE WAS ON VACA A LITTLE, NO? 🙂
The sense of time/place/nostalgia: It was really cool to see Rogers readjust to life in a modern America. His notepad charting all the seminal political, social, and cultural events that took place during the mid-late 20th century was a nice contemporary history lesson. AGREED! AND I LOVED THE QUASI-BUCKET LIST NOTEPAD. I ALSO LOVED THE MARVIN GAYE/TROUBLE MAN MUSICAL INJECTION. ALL CLASSIC STUFF. IN HINDSIGHT, I WISH THE FIRST CAP WAS MORE OF A WAR FILM IN TONE AND ATMOSPHERE (IT FELT MORE LIKE A PERIOD HOMAGE THAN A PERIOD PIECE).
The now over-discussed movie references: I caught some of them while screening and had to look up a couple of others post. NO DOUBT-SEE MY PREVIOUS NOTEPAD REFERENCE.
Jenny Agutter kicking butt and taking names: Sure there is a twist to this scene, but it was cool to see a recipient of an OBE (look it up) in fine, fighting form. SHE WAS INDEED A SCENE STEALER.
Nice setup …: … for what I am assuming is the concluding chapter of Captain America (as embodied in the form of Steve Rogers, perhaps?), the setup is quite nice. The ending (not the post credits one) clearly shows that this is but an intermission to a play that has not yet concluded. It will be interesting to see how this story is possibly woven into the next installment of Avengers. YES, BUT HE BIG QUESTION, DO YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY TIE-IN? 🙂 I WILL SAY THE TITLE SONG, HOOK ON A FEELING, IS CATCHY AS HELL! HA
Ja recently posted..A Superfight In Name Only: Mayweather Vs. Maidana