I have to preface this review with saying that I am NOT – generally speaking – a Captain America fan. I’ve never read the comics. And to my shame, I haven’t read most of the Marvel comics. My comic book reading is largely lopsided on the DC side.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t DISLIKE Captain America, mind you. He’s just not my bff, in my geeky world where I fabricate intimate friendships with fictional characters.
Also, I went into this movie in a funk. We were balancing our budget, what with trying to buy a house and all, and on our way to the movie (running late) we got pulled over and got a fix it ticket. Money matters on the mind, fix it ticket, plus the fact that we left the baby with my parents for the night and I was having major baby withdrawl, like some kind of offspring junkie.. yeah, I was in poop mood going in to Captain America.
So being a bit cranky and high strung most of my internal monologue was along the lines of, “That bitch Black Widow with her bitch perfect hair. Bitch.”
So once the movie was done I was like, “Oh yeah. Objective review. Riiiiiight.”
Now, as I said, Captain America isn’t my favorite. And I did not care for the first Captain America. AT ALL. I was literally falling asleep during it. It was about 80% boring dialogue and dancing around in cheesy costumes and 20% overblown action. But that said, I actually do LIKE Captain America. In The Avengers he’s one of my favorites. I mean, come on, God fearing all American boy with abs you could shred cheese on. What’s NOT to love, right?
So I was pleasantly surprised to find that Captain America: The Winter Soldier was WAY better than the first. It discared the dull and boring Captain from the first movie, and it pulled on the humor and depth of character of Captain America that was built up in The Avengers and expanded upon it.
I thought Nick Fury got waaaay too much screen time, and that Black Widow was the token girl to hook the prole, “I need boobies to be interested” demographic, but my every time I started to hint at that, my husband went all “I’ve read the original comics” nerd on me and insisted the movie was perfectly in line with the Marvel universe. Soooo, I guess I must defer to the higher knowledge of the comic book geeks on this one.
As far as the storyline goes, I enjoyed the cliché conspiracy and unfolding mystery of The Winter Knight. One thing that sets Captain America apart from other run of the mill superheroes, is his stand for freedom and the America way of life. So the creative comparisons between 1940’s America and 2010’s America and Captain America’s beef with the many freedom violations that we’ve voluntarily surrendered in this post-9/11 world, was convincing and intriguing.
I know what you mean about the movie lacking that certain element that makes this epic, but I can’t put my finger on it. I really really liked the movie though…
Well I can’t seem to find anyone else that feels the same regarding the movie.. either they really love it or they really hate it, so it seems we’re the anomaly. lol
I absolutely LOVED the first movie. I agree that it was slower paced that most action films, but the character is a good one. I need to try to see this one before it leaves theaters.
If you loved the first one, you’ll most likely love this one… especially after Avengers..
Haven’t seen it yet; nice honest review
Thanks! Lemme know what you think when you get a chance to check it out!
I liked the movie, but I think Scarlet Johannsen got WAAAAAAY too much screen time. Might as well have called it “Captain America & Black Widow: Winter Soldiers”. I mean Falcon was in there a decent amount, but didn’t detract from the main protagonist’s screentime, but she was in there way too long for a movie that isn’t really centred around her. If they want female leads, just make good movies based on good female characters! Oh wait, you cast Halle Berry as Storm…and Mystique gets raped by Azazel in your canon…never mind!
Seriously though, Storm is one of the best Marvel female superheroes that could have her own unique film, and she was squandered by an actor who didn’t even like the role. Get a new person already!
And I think the movie probably wasn’t epic because the main villain was forgettable: just a figurehead who controls a bunch of machines. That and it wasn’t exactly a grand scope; by making it a stand-alone film, you forego epic scale in turn. Films that lead into intertwining trilogies are usually grand and epic, whereas Winter Soldier was a single, compact and tightly-paced skirmish that leads into nothing.
Still, apart from the Widow hogging the screen, i liked it more than the first film.
I didn’t know Halle Barry didn’t like the role as Storm.. really?! I gotta go Google this shiz now….
YES to the too much screen time from Miss Scarlet. And it seems to me that her personality changes each movie she’s in. But yeah, she got about equal time with the Captain.
And I am sooooo with you on strong female leads needing their own spotlight movie-wise… what’s the hold up I wonder?!
Hi there hope you are enjoying your new year 2016. I realized that this post is a little older but Google brought me here when I was searching for some comic ideas. I must say that I enjoyed the post and I love how you covered the Winter soldier, it was one of the best movies that inspired me to create some figures and a comic. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Tracy