![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Captain America - The Winter Soldier
Apr. 1st, 2014 07:49 pmThis was much better than I expected.
Having not been particularly thrilled by The First Avenger (Sorry, Cap, but you are also The Most Boring Avenger) and been disappointed by Thor 2, I didn't go in with great hopes. It is, however, a very good sequel. It builds on the first film far more than you'd think, considering it's set nearly 70 years later. It also develops themes from Avengers Assemble in interesting ways.
Steve Rogers is still the square-jawed, squeaky clean, all-American hero (Boring!) but at least he's fairly likeable. Those traits work better this time around, providing a solid contrast to a plot laden with intrigue and double-crosses.
The rest of the main cast are a lot more interesting and a lot of fun, including a first-time appearance for Falcon. Black Widow returns in her biggest role yet. Forget "River Tam Beats Up Everyone" from my userpic; I could happily watch Black Widow beat up everyone all day, but she has a lot more to do than just fighting. Nick Fury gets more action this time around and a lot more plot involvement, and I'm a sucker for a good Pulp Fiction in-joke. The titular Winter Soldier doesn't feature much, being a mysterious figure with a mask and a metal arm for most of the film.
I don't want to over-state the intrigue and the mystery. The main thing you'll remember from seeing this film is that an awful lot of stuff gets broken - people, cars, planes, buildings...
It's fun.
As appears to be the new Marvel standard, there are two credit cookies. I approve of this trend. :o)
P.S. - There was a Guardians of the Galaxy trailer on beforehand. They seem to have gone the only way they could with it, which is to recognise the utter ridiculousness and just run with it. It might even work.
P.P.S. - Anyone up for going to see Muppets Most Wanted some time this weekend?
Having not been particularly thrilled by The First Avenger (Sorry, Cap, but you are also The Most Boring Avenger) and been disappointed by Thor 2, I didn't go in with great hopes. It is, however, a very good sequel. It builds on the first film far more than you'd think, considering it's set nearly 70 years later. It also develops themes from Avengers Assemble in interesting ways.
Steve Rogers is still the square-jawed, squeaky clean, all-American hero (Boring!) but at least he's fairly likeable. Those traits work better this time around, providing a solid contrast to a plot laden with intrigue and double-crosses.
The rest of the main cast are a lot more interesting and a lot of fun, including a first-time appearance for Falcon. Black Widow returns in her biggest role yet. Forget "River Tam Beats Up Everyone" from my userpic; I could happily watch Black Widow beat up everyone all day, but she has a lot more to do than just fighting. Nick Fury gets more action this time around and a lot more plot involvement, and I'm a sucker for a good Pulp Fiction in-joke. The titular Winter Soldier doesn't feature much, being a mysterious figure with a mask and a metal arm for most of the film.
I don't want to over-state the intrigue and the mystery. The main thing you'll remember from seeing this film is that an awful lot of stuff gets broken - people, cars, planes, buildings...
It's fun.
As appears to be the new Marvel standard, there are two credit cookies. I approve of this trend. :o)
P.S. - There was a Guardians of the Galaxy trailer on beforehand. They seem to have gone the only way they could with it, which is to recognise the utter ridiculousness and just run with it. It might even work.
P.P.S. - Anyone up for going to see Muppets Most Wanted some time this weekend?
