Marvel Studios ups
its game like never before with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which
puts the red, white, and blue-sporting, square-jaw Greatest Generation super
soldier hero (Chris Evans) back solo after the Earth-in-peril hoopla of 2012’s
“The Avengers.”
Last round, in “First Avenger,” Cap fought Nazi mad scientist
Red Skull. It was pure World War II adventure, Burt Lancaster or Indiana Jones
style, with pop art know how, I dug it. Mostly. (Damn the PC moves.)
In this better sequel, Cap’s up against post-9/11 American paranoia, where we gladly trade up privacy rights for better security. Think body scan at the airport. Think Patriot Act, Bush, Obama, drones, and the NSA. Marvel and directors Joe and Anthony Russo -– guys who have only done comedy as far as I know -– give it all a solid F.U.
In this better sequel, Cap’s up against post-9/11 American paranoia, where we gladly trade up privacy rights for better security. Think body scan at the airport. Think Patriot Act, Bush, Obama, drones, and the NSA. Marvel and directors Joe and Anthony Russo -– guys who have only done comedy as far as I know -– give it all a solid F.U.
I was giddy watching it. I almost applauded. Should have
applauded. Nerd drop: It all reminded me of Nick Fury vs. SHIELD. Look it up.
Speaking of, Cap and the Avengers’ employer, one-eyed super spy SHIELD boss/ grump
Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is all about “security first,” and he argues,
“This is how we do it,” showing off to Cap three massive autonomous
airship/attack drones from hell that will patrol the world 24/7, squashing
sabers before they rattle, bad thoughts before they form.
A mad Cap bounces back, I paraphrase, “Not in my day.”
A mad Cap bounces back, I paraphrase, “Not in my day.”
Despite the bravado, Fury knows better, too. Then
his life goes bad, and in comes a bigger SHIELD honcho, played by none other
than Robert Redford, who 40 years ago basically was Captain America. Think “All
the President’s Men,” et al.
Yes, his role is all too obvious, but the irony is
deliciously morbid. Who do we trust now? Captain America, in short, is battling
America. The man who played Bob Woodward and corrupt power-made presidents is
now …. Just watch it, folks, comic book nerds and American history nerds alike.
Intense, smart, grisly violent for a PG-13, action packed, “Winter Soldier” is
classic ’70s conspiracy flick filtered through super heroics. “Parallax View” with tights and sci-fi.
As for the title?
Look to the first film and one death we didn’t see, and work from there. I
won’t dish spoilers, but that plot and the return of Toby Jones’ quack
scientist in … non-human form again shows Marvel’s reach for just all-out
kicks, rooting back to impossible crazy 1950s drive-in films and the comics I
grew up on.
This wowed me. Comic book film herd Americana fun with a bang. Yes, it sets up sequels and plays comic book rules (no one really dies, do they?), but, man, more of this, please. A
This wowed me. Comic book film herd Americana fun with a bang. Yes, it sets up sequels and plays comic book rules (no one really dies, do they?), but, man, more of this, please. A
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