America, f**k yeah?
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Stars: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson
Damn it’s happening again. It seems my opinion of a new Marvel film is contrary to what others are saying. Last time it was Thor: The Dark World this time it’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. And the thing that links both of these big budget extravaganzas is that they’re both just OK movies.
Cap 2 tells the story of Captain America (Chris Evans) getting caught up in a huge international conspiracy that threatens the world. Teaming up with super-spy and fellow Avenger Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) he sets out to thwart the bad guys plans leading him towards a showdown with the titular Winter Soldier. What follows is 136 minutes of CGI action, exposition heavy dialogue, and some underheated topical political commentary.
Let’s look at what’s good about the film. Firstly the Winter Soldier himself is pretty badass with his cool metal arm and deadly arsenal. He cuts a mysterious figure culminating in a big reveal that will leave you thinking “what? This is extremely underwhelming”. Fight scenes involving him are great with him actually being an intimidating antagonist. Chris Evans is likeable enough as Captain America and has some nice banter with Johansson.
These small bright spots aren’t enough however to elevate the movie from being distinctly average. The story is by the numbers and the Edward Snowden invoking parts of the plot are tossed aside for a generic race against time conclusion. Making a film about war hero Steve Rogers first solo mission in the present day provided the opportunity for a much funnier, likeable script, but instead we have something that takes itself too seriously.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier isn’t a bad film, it’s just very uninspired. There are some excellent scenes including Cap beating the crap out of a group of baddies in a lift and the Winter Soldier himself is a solid villain but these highlights don’t stop the movie from dragging on slightly too long. Maybe I’m experiencing Marvel fatigue or perhaps I’m completely wrong but the Captain America movie is a bland, uninventive superhero film that has some interesting ideas trying to break through. In the end it left me cold. Boom! Winter Soldier pun!
6/10
Screenkicker Quality Index (SQI)
Best
Worst
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is playing in UK cinemas right now. Have you seen it? Agree with this review? Let me know below.
Screenkicker! 
‘but instead we have something that takes itself too seriously’
You are wrong. The fact this film was slightly more serious was what elevated above such recent dross like Iron man 1,2,3 and Avengers assemble.
Whilst not great, the best marvel for a while. The darker the better in my opinion
LikeLike
That metal arm does sound cool, but I am so tired of superhero movies… they’re all just starting to blend together in my mind. We need to invent a cool new genre that can replace it. How about we make a movie about some badass radioactive gargoyles?
LikeLike
Did you ever watch Gargoyles? That show was the tit’s milk.
LikeLike
I remember that. It was dark as fuck for a kids cartoon
LikeLike
That sounds amazing! It could be a bout the eternal war fought between gargoyles and fountain statues. Maybe not the ‘little boy peeing’ ones but I’m sure there are some cool fountain statues
LikeLike
I hope to see this next weekend when it’s released here! I’ll check out your review after. 🙂
LikeLike
Cool, hope you like it
LikeLike
Mikey I think you and I are on the same page here with Cap’n. He’s not very interesting to me. Just an average, pretty bland ‘nice guy’ with some intuition and an apparently unbreakable shield. If you’re going to be the guy with an unbreakable weapon/defensive thing, be Thor, because hammers are much damn cooler. I didn’t see The First Avenger, so i don’t see any reason why I’ll be at this one either. Next please.
Good review though. 🙂
LikeLike
Tom! You HAVE to see The first Avenger! It is awesome!
LikeLike
It’s not awesome! All of the action takes place in a single montage!
LikeLike
It WAS awesome!
Are we going to fight this to the bitter end?!
LikeLike
I think we’ll be locked in battle for eternity. Bring it on!
LikeLike
Alright, and so it begins!
LikeLike
Man, I hate superhero movies. I like and accept Batman, all the others can perish and die already!
LikeLike
But you are named after one! ….oh no you aren’t he is a fashion designer, sorry,
LikeLike
I am indeed. My parents are huge fans of his work, and despite his only being an unknown 19 year old when I was born, they went ahead and named me Tom Ford anyway!
LikeLike
Really? Your parents must be fashionable. Chris was named after the rapper Ludicrous
LikeLike
Really? Chris’s parents must be big ‘hip-hoppers’ then.
Bridges2far was named after the film ‘A Bridge Too Far’. His parents weren’t fashionable or into hip-hop, but their favourite movie was…A Bridge Too Far.
LikeLike
Hopefully checking this one out this week and reasonably looking forward to it. He’s not my favourite of the Avengers crew but this looks a step up from the last one to me.
LikeLike
I may have been harsh but the film just didn’t click with me. Hope you enjoy it
LikeLike
Yeah it’s definitely not as dull as the first one!
LikeLike
I didn’t give this a thorough read since I am going to see this this weekend.
LikeLike
I didn’t think you ever went to the cinema?
LikeLike
Occasionally… there’s never much I want to go see in the theater…
LikeLike
All the bad stuff Eric watches goes straight to video. Although I doubt it’s called straight to video anymore. Hmmmm….. ??
LikeLike
Nope… it’s called “Fussy Eric Doesn’t Want To Sit By Anyone In The Movie Theater”
LikeLike
Don’t sit next to me, asshole! Or by me. Or whatever that long blog title is. ; ) Did you make your dates sit far away from you when you went to movies???
LikeLike
Well…. There’s some additional information available now…
“Unless You Plan On Getting Handsy”
LikeLike
It’s probably kept under the counter
LikeLike
What’s your beef with Captain Planet?
LikeLike
Just Google ‘Captain Planet Northern Ireland’. It’s the weirdest/funniest cartoon episode ever produved
LikeLike
Ah that Winter Soldier just absolutely rocked!! He was badass and LOVED the outfit. I liked this movie!
You have Scarlett wishes and I have others hahaha!
Great write up!
LikeLike
Thanks Zoe. I think I need to watch it again but sober next time!
LikeLike
Yes maybe that changes perspective… I hope to see if there is any change!
LikeLike
Fair review buddy. I enjoyed it more than you, but you’re right when you sat it went on too long.
LikeLike
Man, the first Thor movie sucked. Didn’t go see the second one. If this is on par with Thor, I know I’ll just hate it. The Avengers was ok in spots… but I’m really tired of all these superhero movies getting mashed up with that brand of uncritical American patriotism. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. What are we teaching the kids?! etc.
LikeLike
Won’t someone please think of the children! 🙂
LikeLike
Nice review but are you telling me that silly looking Noah movie is better than this?? No WAY! Hey – does the Noah movie address the fuck-up with the unicorns?
LikeLike
Not specifically unicorns but some other weird creatures are featured
LikeLike
And yes Noah is silly but I enjoyed it
LikeLike
Sorry you didn’t love this one, buddy! I’m seeing it tomorrow, and I have a feeling I’m going to like it much, much more than you.
#chrisevansass #nuffsaid
LikeLike
I still haven’t seen this. I hope, when I do, I have a more positive experience than you did. (Though I recognize you don’t exactly hate the movie.)
LikeLike
It didn’t move me but I seem to be in the minority!
LikeLike
Well. We did agree on The Dark World, as I recall. Which makes me a little nervous for this one. I want to be awesome. 🙂
LikeLike
I think you’ll enjoy it. I was just a bit burnt out and it’s a pretty long film
LikeLike
A lot of very positive reviewers have got my hopes up for this but you’ve just held that expectation back a bit. Probably a good thing but I like the character and enjoyed the first film. Hopefully I’ll enjoy this.
LikeLike
I’m sure you’ll love it. However it didn’t click with me. I was pretty tired so that might have affected my opinion!
LikeLike
You’re not the first to have left the theater less than impressed. Captain America, as a character, seems to divide opinion a bit.
LikeLike