EARLY REVIEW — CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

At this point, Warner Bros. should just get Marvel to produce their superhero movies. Superman Vs. Batman (or whatever it’s going to be called) is looking more and more like a desperation move, while Marvel’s latest cinematic offering, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, raises the bar and sets a new standard for the genre. It continues Marvel’s remarkable winning streak, delivering a film that manages to be highly enjoyable in its own right, while remaining faithful to its comic-book roots.

Like last year’s Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World, it opens some time after the events of 2012’s blockbuster The Avengers. Steve Rogers—Captain America (played once again by the perfectly cast Chris Evans)—is now working for the international peace-keeping organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D., partnered with agent Natasha Romanoff—the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson, who more than holds her own)—under the command of Director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson, of course). But as Fury is about to launch a new initiative called Operation: Insight, designed to stop threats before they happen, Cap finds himself having difficulty reconciling his personal values with the activities of the agency giving him his orders. Meanwhile, as Fury discovers that S.H.I.E.L.D. itself may have been compromised, enemy forces make their move, aided by a near-mythical assassin called the Winter Soldier—a brutal and merciless operative who also serves as a painful reminder of Cap’s past. 

The Winter Soldier. No, this is not a crossover with The Six Million Dollar Man.

That’s about as much as I can say without getting into spoiler territory (although Marvel did a pretty thorough job blowing one of the movie’s biggest surprises—at least for those not familiar with the comic-book lore—in its Assembling a Universe TV special that aired on ABC on March 18). 

Even if you’ve read the comics upon which the film is based, there are plenty of twists and turns that should leave you reeling. Even I, a jaded comic-book reader who actually worked at Marvel for nearly seven years, found myself gasping in surprise—and delight—by the revelations sprinkled throughout.

The Winter Soldier is a high-octane thriller with jaw-dropping action sequences and eye-popping special effects. But it also has substance. It explores the difficult question that we’ve all been asking ourselves since 9/11: How willing are we to give up our freedoms and our rights as American citizens in the name of security? What’s especially thrilling to me is that the film also has so much heart. The character dynamics are simply fantastic and touching. There’s one scene in particular, early on, that picks up on some key continuity from the first Captain America movie, and it’s both bittersweet and absolutely heartbreaking.

As an aside, I love the fact that, as with the previous Cap movie, the filmmakers make no apologies for the fact that Captain America is not some complicated, angst-ridden figure filled with inner conflict. He’s a straight arrow, completely noble, and sure of himself and what’s right. If that makes him seem boring or square to some audience members, tough. 

And I have to note that while there are long stretches in the movie where Steve Rogers is dressed in his civilian clothes, he does get to wear two versions of the Captain America uniform, and I heartily approve of both.   

The interaction between Steve and Natasha is one of the main highlights of the film—the chemistry between Evans and Johansson is rock-solid. 

Expect some major character building for the Black Widow in this film. 

Ditto the burgeoning relationship between Steve and incoming character Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, played by the excellent Anthony Mackie. I’ve liked the Falcon ever since I first encountered him in Captain America #230, published in 1978, and I’m extremely pleased that his live-action debut has been handled so well. 

Captain America and the Falcon: Teaming up on the big screen at last. 

Samuel L. Jackson has an integral role in this film, and is given more to do than usual—and of course, he’s great. (There’s one particular in-joke having to do with Fury that should give the more observant—and in-the-know—viewers quite a chuckle.)

And it’s very gratifying to see an actor of Robert Redford’s stature showing respect for the material. This may be a “comic-book movie,” but Redford is not slumming here. He turns in an effective, nuanced performance as Alexander Pierce, a major Washington, D.C. power player who also just happens to be Nick Fury’s mentor. (It’s interesting to note that had this movie been made about 40 years ago, Redford would have been perfect for the role of Steve Rogers/Captain America himself).

Pierce and Fury discuss the trouble brewing within S.H.I.E.L.D.

As is the norm for these movies set in the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe (namely, the movies produced by Marvel itself, which excludes the Spider-Man, X-Men, and Fantastic Four films), there are references to past events and established characters. Iron Man and the Hulk are each referred to more than once. But there’s also a seed planted for a possible future film, one starring a character we haven’t met before: A certain master of the mystic arts. Wow. All I can say, is bring it on!

And yes, you have to stay to the very end to get the full experience. There are two brief epilogues, one during the end credits and one after. The former is the more intriguing one, as it helps set up the upcoming film Avengers: Age of Ultron.

What’s also of note is that this film can’t help but have a significant impact on the TV series Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which is set in the same universe. No lie: The Winter Soldier is a genuine game-changer for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and for S.H.I.E.L.D., so I’m very curious to see how the TV series—which has improved in a big way over the course of this first season—will be affected going forward.

Marvel has already announced that they’ve given the go-ahead for a third Captain America movie, to be released on May 6, 2016. It’s a vote of confidence that is very much deserved. Go see The Winter Soldier, and enjoy. 

© All text copyright Glenn Greenberg, 2014.

Early Review: THE AVENGERS

Without a doubt, as far as superhero movies go, The Avengers is a monumental achievement. It’s a huge epic, with very high stakes, a grand scale, and a truly dangerous villain at the center. Exactly what you would expect and want in a film that brings together “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes”—not to mention four separate movie franchises.

The Avengers is so huge, in fact, that I found it to be a little overwhelming, maybe a little TOO big at times, and, as a result, not always easy to follow. I know that I’ll have to see it again to be able to take it all in.

What I can report upon my initial viewing is that there’s a LOT to like about The Avengers. The special effects are amazing. I can even recommend seeing the 3D version—and I’ve never been able to say that before. (Though you’ll certainly enjoy the film just as much—and save yourself a few bucks—if you see the standard edition.) The characterizations are terrific. It ties all of the previous Marvel films together nicely, and shows that not even the sky is the limit in terms of what can be done in a superhero movie.

I actually have mixed feelings about that last part. I really liked how Jon Favreau strived to set the first two Iron Man movies in our world, with everything more or less grounded in reality. The Hulk movie starring Edward Norton took the same approach, for the most part. Things started to get a little more “out there” with Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, what with those two films establishing other dimensions, super-science that, for all intents and purposes, is full-on magic, a race of godlike beings, and an ultimate world-breaking weapon connecting back to those godlike beings. But I found it all easy to accept within the framework of this expanding cinematic universe, as these extra-normal elements were introduced with great care and skill, and in a believable manner.

With The Avengers, though, writer/director Joss Whedon pulls out all the stops. Those extraordinary elements introduced in Thor and Captain America are right at the forefront, with additional over-the-top stuff thrown in. Which means the sense of verisimilitude that Favreau had achieved in the Iron Man films is not as much of a factor anymore. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I’m just not sure how I feel about it. Then again, if you’re going to make a movie that shows off the inner workings of S.H.I.E.L.D., the international peacekeeping organization run by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), how do you not introduce the Helicarrier, its enormous floating base of operations? And if you’ve already established the existence of Thor, Loki, Asgard, and the vastly powerful cube-shaped energy source called the Tessaract, is it that much of a leap to throw in additional otherworldy beings and objects?

Like I said, I’ll have to see the movie again.

The plot is very loosely based on the comic book where it all began: The Avengers #1, by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, published by Marvel Comics in 1963. In both the comic book and the movie, the villain whose actions cause the formation of the team is none other than Loki, the infamous god of mischief and embittered brother of Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder.

Tom Hiddleston, wh0 did a fantastic job portraying Loki in last year’s Thor, is back and brings some new dimensions to the character. Without giving anything away, I can say that Loki is more vile and more vicious here than he was in Thor. His villainy is far less subtle this time. And yet Hiddleston is so good in the role that he always manages to keep you guessing about what Loki will do next, and what’s going on behind those ever-scheming eyes of his. You’re forced to wonder if he’s really as evil as he seems to be, and if there’s any trace of compassion or mercy left in him. As far as I’m concerned, Loki, as portrayed by Hiddleston, is the best, most complex villain of all of the Marvel movies—possibly of all superhero movies, period.

As for the heroes, by this point, most of the characters that make up the Avengers are very familiar to moviegoers, but this film shows them in a new light. For one thing, nearly all of them end up battling each other at one time or another. (Why would the good guys be fighting each other? Ahhh, that would be telling. I will say, though, that the scene in which Iron Man battles Thor absolutely kicks ass, far surpassing any of the fight scenes in the Iron Man movies. And to watch the Hulk and Thor go at each other with no holds barred is a comic-book fan’s dream come true.)

Robert Downey Jr. is of course back as Tony Stark/Iron Man, with his trademark manic wit and charm fully intact. What’s new here is that when Stark displays his notorious arrogance, narcissism, and downright thoughtlessness, he’s surrounded by a bunch of folks who aren’t intimidated by him, who don’t have to put up with his crap, and who have the power and abilities to stand up to him—whether he’s in or out of his armor. And I loved the few scenes that touched upon Stark’s private life, which, I’m pleased to report, feature Gwyneth Paltrow reprising her role as Pepper Potts. The interactions between Downey Jr. and Paltrow remain a joy to watch.

Scarlett Johansson fully embodies the role of Natasha Romanoff/the Black Widow, which she originated in Iron Man 2. She’s just damn wonderful throughout, absolutely improving upon her previous appearance and delivering some of the film’s best moments. Comic-book purists should be happy to know that Natasha’s Russian background is established, and while she speaks in an American accent through most of the film, she does get to speak in Russian at one point, and even utters a trademark phrase in her native language.

Chris Evans, back as Steve Rogers/Captain America, is very effective as the man out of time who has to catch up quickly in the face of a global crisis. I wish there had been more time devoted to his personal life, to Cap’s observations on how America changed during his time in suspended animation, and to showing him getting acclimated to the twenty-first century. Presumably, and hopefully, these things will be explored in the already announced Captain America 2. Still, Cap does get some really nice and cute moments, and it’s great to see him showing his natural leadership abilities.

Chris Hemsworth, once again playing Thor, is in fine form throughout the film, but he’s at his very best when he’s playing off of Hiddleston’s Loki. Their scenes together crackle with energy and emotion.

Jeremy Renner, introduced as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Clint Barton/Hawkeye in a cameo in Thor, doesn’t get to develop his character as fully as the rest of the cast does, but that’s because of the nature of the plot. Still, Renner is effective and likable and the hints dropped about Barton’s adventurous and tumultuous past with the Black Widow are intriguing. 

Samuel L. Jackson’s Fury looms large over the proceedings, which is only fitting, since this whole “Avengers initiative” started with him four years ago in that memorable 30-second scene tacked on to the end of Iron Man. Fury is given a lot more screen time this time around and has a lot more to do—he’s not just a bringer of information anymore. We get to see how S.H.I.E.L.D. operates and how extensive its reach really is. With this expanded role, we get to see some different sides to Fury, and not all of them are likable. Jackson has great presence as Fury and projects coolness and strength, but he’s perhaps a little too remote. He’s not a character the audience can really relate to, but that may be intentional.

While we’re on the topic of S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives, Clark Gregg returns as Agent Coulson, who was introduced as a minor character in Iron Man and reappeared in Iron Man 2 and Thor. Like Fury, Coulson has an integral role in The Avengers, and it’s a pleasure to see him get to do more and to be further developed as a character. Coulson’s relationship with Captain America is actually kind of touching, and the bond he seems to have formed with Pepper leads to some amusing moments.

Cobie Smulders, best known for her role as Robin on the long-running TV series How I Met Your Mother, makes a strong impression as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill, Nick Fury’s right hand. Hill was introduced in the comics a few years ago and has since become a prominent figure. Hopefully we’ll see more of her in future Marvel films—Smulders is very effective in the role.

Finally, there’s Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner. In my opinion, Ruffalo has the biggest challenge of all the members of the cast, because he’s stepping in to a key role that was originated by another actor. I so very much wanted to see Edward Norton in this movie, continuing his role from The Incredible Hulk and interacting with Downey Jr., Evans, Hemsworth, Johansson, Jackson, etc. It’s not just for the sake of continuity—I thought Norton was perfectly cast as Banner and captured the character fully. I have to admit that in the early scenes featuring Ruffalo, I was mentally inserting Norton and imagining him playing the role. But eventually that fell by the wayside and I started to accept Ruffalo. He doesn’t look anything like his predecessor, and in my opinion, he’s a little too beefy and rugged for Bruce Banner, but he conveys the character’s intelligence and internal struggle very well, along with the tragedy, the sheer loneliness, and the innate goodness of the troubled scientist. What’s more, he works well with the rest of the cast—reportedly, one of the reasons that Norton was dropped from the film was Marvel’s concern that he would not be a team player.

As for “the other guy,” which is how Banner refers to his green-skinned alter ego throughout the film—director Whedon and company come very close to hitting a home run. For starters, the Hulk looks FANTASTIC here—a marked improvement over his appearance in The Incredible Hulk. (Don’t even get me started on what he looked like in Ang Lee’s 2003 crapfest.) The CGI used to create him is the most effective and realistic that we’ve seen yet. In The Avengers, the Hulk looks more like a brute, with a pronounced brow and real menace in his eyes. 

In many ways, this version of the Hulk is like a smaller King Kong, specifically the 1933 edition—wild, bestial, uncontrollable, unpredictable, and absolutely dangerous, and yet you can’t help but root for him. If I have one criticism about the Hulk in this film, it’s that he’s probably a little too dangerous and menacing, particularly when he first appears and finds himself in the presence of the Black Widow. I just don’t see him being so harsh, especially with a pretty lady who’s done him no harm. Still, when the situation calls for it, the Hulk proves to be as heroic as the rest. He has but one line of dialogue in the film, and it’s a doozie.

Without getting into the specifics of the plot, I’ll say that The Avengers, at its core, is really about the necessity for teamwork, for putting aside differences to work for the greater good. (Maybe Congress should be forced to see it?) I don’t think you can ever have too many stories about that.

My initial feeling is that the film drags a bit in the middle. You’re waiting for the main stuff to happen and to get a real sense of what Loki’s up to and where it’s all headed, but instead there’s a lot of discussion between the Avengers about Loki, the threat he poses to Earth and humanity, and how to foil whatever it is he’s planning. Once things do get rolling though, there’s no letting up. And in the midst of it all, there are some downright hilarious bits, many of them involving the Hulk.

There are flaws, to be sure. For example, there’s a plot resolution involving Hawkeye that I found unsatisfying. As is the explanation for Thor’s sudden ability to return to Earth, given the destruction of the Bifrost at the end of Thor. And I’m not entirely sure why (this is a very mild spoiler) Loki allows himself to be captured at one point—how does that help him advance his plans?

The Avengers isn’t perfect—no film is. Nor can I really declare it my favorite superhero movie. But I can say without hesitation that it’s certainly the ultimate superhero team movie, and it will remain so unless Warner Bros. finally gets its act together and pulls off a truly fantastic Justice League film. (I’m not holding my breath for that though.) There’s an undeniable thrill just seeing these classic Marvel characters together in a big-budget movie. Watching Captain America fight against—and alongside—Iron Man and Thor sent chills down my spine. I never thought I’d see the Hulk rampaging through the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier on the big screen. The cherry on top of all of this is that the movie is as good as it is. And I have a feeling I’ll like it even more upon second viewing.

By the way, don’t leave when the end credits begin to roll. As with all of the other Marvel movies, there’s a bonus scene at the end. This one adds some context and sets up a possible future adventure. (My guess? Thor 2.) People unacquainted with Marvel comic-book lore probably won’t grasp the significance of the scene. But comic-book fans will undoubtedly go nuts with delight.

© All text copyright Glenn Greenberg, 2012.

EARLY REVIEW—CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

 

While it doesn’t quite reach the highwater mark set by 2008’s Iron Man, Marvel’s latest cinematic offering, Captain America: The First Avenger, has just the right amount of action, characterization, romance, and top-notch special effects to ensure two full hours of solid and satisfying entertainment. 

Based on the classic comic-book character created by writer Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby during the early days of World War II, Captain America: The First Avenger tells the story of Steve Rogers, a kind, decent, good-hearted young man who just wants to serve his country and do whatever he can to help stop the Axis threat. But cursed with a weak, frail, scrawny body, he’s rejected by the military repeatedly… until he’s given the chance to take part in a special top-secret experimental procedure designed to turn him into America’s first super soldier.

For the most part, the film sticks closely to the comic-book lore. And despite having to cover Cap’s origin, his emergence as an important military figure during World War II at home and abroad, his missions with the small band of soldiers known as The Howling Commandos (never referred to as such in the film, but that’s who they are), his burgeoning relationship with a beautiful female British military agent, and his earliest encounters with the Red Skull, the power-hungry Nazi madman who will become his number-one arch-foe, the film never really drags or feels bogged down. The storytelling is straightforward and well paced.

Doing a comic-book-based film set in this time period is nothing new for director Joe Johnston, as he also directed 1991’s The Rocketeer. While not a major hit, The Rocketeer was a lot of fun, thoroughly enjoyable, and I consider it criminally underrated. With Captain America: The First Avenger, Johnston once again shows his fine eye for period detail, transporting his audience to the past and making it look and feel authentic. He directs with flair, never getting too melodramatic or too jokey. Johnston resists poking fun at or demeaning Cap’s image as a square-jawed, purely good, totally moral, even slightly naïve super hero. The easiest, most natural thing in the world, especially during this particularly cynical age we live in, would be to go the campy route, to portray Cap as corny and silly and to treat him with condescension or barely concealed contempt (a la the Adam West Batman TV series). But that’s not the case here. Cap is never shown as anything but brave (even before he gets his super-strength), heroic, and completely likable. He’s treated with the utmost respect and is hands-down the coolest character in the film, as well he should be.

Chris Evans, who as Johnny Storm/the Human Torch was the best thing about the two Fantastic Four movies from several years ago (both of which sucked big time), does a masterful job bringing Steve Rogers to life. He gets considerable help in the first half of the film from some amazing and thoroughly convincing CGI artistry, which is used to make him the short, scrawny, 90-pound weakling version of the character. But the decency, the earnestness, and the determination with which Evans imbues “puny Steve” carries over even after the character is “super-soldierized” and Evans gets to show off his impressive physique. You’re rooting for him right from the start, and when he’s finally fully embraced by the U.S. Army soldiers with whom he’s serving, and who initially regard him with skepticism and even scorn, you can’t help but smile. And I dare anyone to not get just the slightest bit choked up during the film’s dramatic climax.

The rest of the cast is equally good. Hayley Atwell brings a combination of beauty, brains, and (ahem) balls to the role of British agent Peggy Carter, who is definitely no damsel in distress. This lady can take care of herself, and isn’t intimidated by anyone. Atwell has great chemistry with Evans.

Tommy Lee Jones brings plenty of authority and strength to the role of U.S. Army Colonel Chester Phillips—and has some of the best, funniest lines. Dominic Cooper portrays Howard Stark, father of Tony (who’s played, of course, by Robert Downey Jr. in the Iron Man films), and you can definitely see an effort to both connect and contrast the two characters in terms of looks, attitude, and behavior. As a matter of fact, Cooper shows that he could play Tony Stark quite effectively. Sebastian Stan plays Steve Rogers’s best friend, James “Bucky” Buchanan, who emerges as one of the most likable characters in the film.

Speaking of Bucky, some of the biggest deviations from the comic-book lore involve him—specifically, his backstory and the details of his relationship with Cap. Purists may balk at the changes—they didn’t really bother me.

Toby Jones, perhaps best known for his spot-on portrayal of Truman Capote in 2006’s Infamous, is very effective in the role of Dr. Arnim Zola, a Nazi scientist aiding the Red Skull. (There’s a great visual in-joke involving Zola when he first appears that sharp-eyed comic-book fans should get a real kick out of.) As Dr. Abraham Erskine, the genius scientist who comes up with the super-soldier serum, Stanley Tucci displays gentle wisdom, humor, and warmth. And while Neal McDonough doesn’t have a lot of screen time as “Dum Dum” Dugan of the Howling Commandos (an important character in the Marvel Comics canon and a longtime Captain America ally), he looks like he’s having a great time and totally nails the part—bowler hat and all.  

As for Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull… well, the performance is great. Very energetic, very committed, very entertaining. But there was something missing. In fact, for me, the Skull is probably the most disappointing element of the film, and the problem is in the writing. The character is just not developed enough, in my opinion. He’s a bit too one-dimensional—there’s not much depth to him, and therefore, he’s not quite as interesting as he should be. Don’t get me wrong, he’s an okay villain, and I’d certainly like to see him again, but he’s not nearly as complex as, say, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki in the recent Marvel film Thor. I will say that the CGI artists did a great job depicting the Skull’s “true” appearance, which wouldn’t have worked nearly as well if it was Weaving simply wearing a red rubber skull mask. And I thought it was interesting  that the filmmakers portrayed the Red Skull as not totally loyal to Hitler, as he was in the comics. Instead, the Skull is established as having his own little fiefdom within the Nazi regime, an organization called HYDRA, through which he secretly intends to expand his power, supplant the Fuehrer, and conquer the world for himself.

There are lots of subtle—and some not-so-subtle—references and allusions to all of the other Marvel-produced films. Within Captain America: The First Avenger, you’ll see direct links to Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor. In fact, if you’ve seen Thor—and you stayed to watch that movie’s somewhat ambiguous post-end-credits scene—you’ll see the payoff for it in a big way here. And the end of Captain America serves as a direct lead-in to next year’s The Avengers, in which Evans will return as Cap.

I saw Captain America: The First Avenger in 3D, and I’m afraid I’m going to have to repeat the same thing I wrote in my reviews of Thor and Green Lantern: I found it totally unnecessary. It doesn’t enhance the viewing experience one iota. Once again, I advise you to save yourself a few bucks and see the standard version, if that’s an option. You won’t be missing anything if you see it without the 3D.

The one thing I definitely was missing during the screening I attended was air conditioning. On an evening when it was 92 degrees outside. So shame on the Regal E-Walk, on 42^nd Street between 7^th and 8^th Avenue in New York City, for making the audience watch the movie in a theater that felt increasingly like a frigging sweat lodge. Fortunately, the movie was enjoyable enough to just about make up for it. But I’d hesitate to see another film there during the summer. New Yorkers, you have been warned!