Captain America is full of action in new sequel
By Richard Crouse and Mark Breslin
Metro
April 3, 2014 Updated: April 3, 2014 | 8:15 pm
Synopsis
When we meet up with the recently defrosted superhero Captain America (Chris Evans), he is catching up with the modern world. He soon finds himself tangling with the chrome-armed Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), a villain from Cap’s long distant past and battle against a threat from deep inside S.H.I.E.L.D., his own spy network. The Captain must determine who can be trusted. Will it be S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the flirty but deadly Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) or World Security Council bigwig Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford)? The decisions he makes could save his life and the lives of 20 million civilians.
• Richard: 4/5
• Mark: 4/5
Richard: Mark, movie by movie, Marvel is creating an interconnected universe. Like a giant jigsaw puzzle, the comic book company has pieced together something quite unprecedented: a series of films that aren’t sequels to one another, but when combined form a loud, brash whole. Captain America was a latecomer to the party, and while the first film was a solid introduction, it didn’t have the sparkle of, say, the first Iron Man movie. The character seemed a bit beige; a do-gooder with no rough edges. The Winter Soldier addresses those concerns, fleshing out the character and providing some very good action sequences. What did you think?
Mark: I’m not sure the word “think” applies much to the movie. But I did enjoy it, much more than the first installment. The plot seemed rooted in some reality, in a kind of paranoid thriller way, like Enemy of the State and Three Days of the Condor, and Robert Redford’s presence makes the connection even more explicit. But I still don’t feel I knew Captain America any better in this one. He’s still a cipher to me — a sphinx with a very powerful garbage can lid.
RC: This time out I thought Evans got deeper into the character. Physically he’s one big rippling muscle, but it’s his personality and attitude that make him interesting. He’s still a do-gooder, but one who questions his missions. “You’re holding a gun to everyone on Earth and calling it protection,” he says after learning of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s violent plan to bring peace to the world. It’s an edgy message from a Greatest-Generation type to a world where drones have become common and Edward Snowden rides the line between patriot and traitor. The message permeates the plot, which is ripe with twists and turns and some genuinely thrilling moments.
MB: Dunno about the message, but there were two long memorable car chases, and that’s enough for me! Loved the cast — Redford, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie, all great fun, but Scarlett Johansson was the cherry on the top of this sundae. She plays a lot of scenes without much makeup, which made me believe she was actually on an op. In the fight scenes, I’m sure Evans and Johansson used stunt doubles, but it looked they were doing their own work. Nice directing.
RC: I enjoyed the performances. Johansson, in particular, is mad, bad and dangerous to know as Romanoff, and kicks so high it’s only a matter of time until she gets her own Avengers movie.
MB: I’m looking forward to the next installment: Captain America and Tennille, where he saves the world and sings poppy ’70s love ballads.
