Captain America 2 The Winter Soldier
Mar. 30th, 2014 08:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessThumbs up.
What follows is, unsurprisingly, probably quite a rambling reaction post.
I went in hoping it would be good (expecting it to be, really, because the fact that reviews were positive had filtered through) and that it wouldn’t stuff Natasha up – it really, really didn’t, and left hints of backstory. So, I hope that this time Feige and Marvel will see sense and pencil in a Black Widow solo movie in phase sooner rather than later (once Johansson’s had her maternity leave).
Main thing, for most of this film, I wanted someone to hug Steve. Loved his brand of heroism and how he’s still struggling with the new world and his place in it, specifically with doing the right thing with SHIELD. Plus I appreciated how much he used his head. And how he always ends up being the Captain – because of course he gained Sam’s respect and got him to follow him.
I didn’t think we’d see an aged Peggy, but that was so touching contrasted with the glimpse of her in the fifties. She’d got on with her life – could Steve? And then having to fight Bucky. WAAAAH. I had my hand on my heart for vast swathes of the film. And of course that emotional core was what reeled us in when he could beat most people without robot arms easily. I really enjoyed the opening action scene on the boat.
Also that moment he went to the hospital in the hoodie made me think of Nick Gant.
Evans was obviously very good (and so easy on the eye, especially on the bike).
And the ladies were so fierce! Pretty much everything Natasha did was flawless, from the counter-surveillance stuff, to how she fought and the banter. I loved the Steve-Natasha, how it was obvious they’d worked together enough to build some rapport since Avengers Assemble, but not trust, because she was SHIELD and Fury’s, although here she let her guard down to give Steve a glimpse of why she’d joined them and why the realisation of its infiltration hurt her. The running matchmaking thing was amusing – and textually, I suppose we’re meant to read it as a no romance thing, underlined by the kissing critique but I thought there was actually plenty of leeway for Steve/Natasha. Just watching them fight and work together and building a basis for getting to know each other better as team members and friends is enough for me. They epitomised the whole business of him being a Soldier among Spies (and assassins) as an examination of the question of identity and role.
I am delighted that I can hope for Steve/Natasha fic building on this, and would love for her to turn up in Captain America 3 and look forward to their interaction in Age of Ultron, while also being able to decide whether she goes and finds Bruce or Clint and hooks up with them after this film, because, like she said, they may arrest her, but they’re going to need the Avengers.
Basically, the love for Natasha that really happened in the Avengers movie is as strong and unwavering and as soon as there are icons from more than the trailer, I’ll be updating.
And then there was the delight of Maria’s role in this. It wasn’t a surprise that she’d turn up but she has a juicy role. The moment where she knew that Steve was on the helijet and he was ordering her to press the red button to destroy them AND SHE DID (followed by Natasha activiating the biometrics weapon for Fury to shoot Pearce) was the one that got to me most. I assumed he’d survive physically, but still, I winced every time Steve hit something. I loved that she turned up to rescue the trio from the van and backed Steve up on the need to bring SHIELD down. As she was interviewing at Stark industries , I’m presuming she’ll turn up in the Iron Man strands (her and Pepper or her and Happy would be a force to be reckoned with) and interact with Tony.
And what is Marvel going to do with its TV show now that SHIELD has gone bust? (This is perhaps the question that it exercising me the most. Perhaps they can rename it with a less cumbersome title.)
I think the movie would have gone differently if one Agent Melinda May had been assigned ‘Nurse Sharon’’s job. VanCamp was fine, but her role was far less significant than that of women we are already invested in. The shooting range moment reminded me too much of Emily Thorne.
But they went and destroyed SHIELD, and it’s perfect that it was Steve who did so, the soldier who had his doubts, which were vindicated by the reveal of HYDRA’s infiltration. (I am amused that they’ve cut in from of Transference.) The whole examination of what lines get to be crossed and the pre-emptive use of technology was thoroughly gripping and of our day.
I liked the flashes of wit (Mackie as Sam in particular was great) and how funny Steve was allowed to me, liked most of the hand-to-hand fighting although admittedly my attention wandered in some of the big, long set piece action scenes, loved the emotional heft of the whole, possibly more than the first film? I don’t know if that’s the immediate reaction talking. I haven’t really rewatched Captain America.
Nice set-up for Age of Ultron in the mid credits scene (nice credit artwork) and so-so set up for Cap 3 with the Winter Soldier maybe accepting that he might be Bucky (but the comedown when he remembers everything must be angst-tastic. Meanwhile, I thought there were hints of what I know of the comics arc. Certainly it was clear that we don’t know everything of Natasha’s past. Her being born in 1984 may be official, but it may not be the truth. And the Winter Soldier has been around for a long time, plus the use of Soviet bullets suggests that he didn’t just go from HYDRA’s labs to working for HYDRA-in-SHIELD.) There was also potential set-up for Peggy’s backstory series, which I would love to happen, if only for someone to write the The Bletchley Circle crossover.
Speaking of crossovers, Jim Robinson turned up and I like to think that as a member of the world security council with the confusing relationship to the US, he’d have been briefed on what Mike from Neighbours did in IM3. Some day, those two are going to share a movie in a big Hollywood movie and all the Neighbours fans are going to have a field day.
I gasped with glee when Abed turned up. I got the impression that I was the only one in the cinema who did. But that was brilliant.
What follows is, unsurprisingly, probably quite a rambling reaction post.
I went in hoping it would be good (expecting it to be, really, because the fact that reviews were positive had filtered through) and that it wouldn’t stuff Natasha up – it really, really didn’t, and left hints of backstory. So, I hope that this time Feige and Marvel will see sense and pencil in a Black Widow solo movie in phase sooner rather than later (once Johansson’s had her maternity leave).
Main thing, for most of this film, I wanted someone to hug Steve. Loved his brand of heroism and how he’s still struggling with the new world and his place in it, specifically with doing the right thing with SHIELD. Plus I appreciated how much he used his head. And how he always ends up being the Captain – because of course he gained Sam’s respect and got him to follow him.
I didn’t think we’d see an aged Peggy, but that was so touching contrasted with the glimpse of her in the fifties. She’d got on with her life – could Steve? And then having to fight Bucky. WAAAAH. I had my hand on my heart for vast swathes of the film. And of course that emotional core was what reeled us in when he could beat most people without robot arms easily. I really enjoyed the opening action scene on the boat.
Also that moment he went to the hospital in the hoodie made me think of Nick Gant.
Evans was obviously very good (and so easy on the eye, especially on the bike).
And the ladies were so fierce! Pretty much everything Natasha did was flawless, from the counter-surveillance stuff, to how she fought and the banter. I loved the Steve-Natasha, how it was obvious they’d worked together enough to build some rapport since Avengers Assemble, but not trust, because she was SHIELD and Fury’s, although here she let her guard down to give Steve a glimpse of why she’d joined them and why the realisation of its infiltration hurt her. The running matchmaking thing was amusing – and textually, I suppose we’re meant to read it as a no romance thing, underlined by the kissing critique but I thought there was actually plenty of leeway for Steve/Natasha. Just watching them fight and work together and building a basis for getting to know each other better as team members and friends is enough for me. They epitomised the whole business of him being a Soldier among Spies (and assassins) as an examination of the question of identity and role.
I am delighted that I can hope for Steve/Natasha fic building on this, and would love for her to turn up in Captain America 3 and look forward to their interaction in Age of Ultron, while also being able to decide whether she goes and finds Bruce or Clint and hooks up with them after this film, because, like she said, they may arrest her, but they’re going to need the Avengers.
Basically, the love for Natasha that really happened in the Avengers movie is as strong and unwavering and as soon as there are icons from more than the trailer, I’ll be updating.
And then there was the delight of Maria’s role in this. It wasn’t a surprise that she’d turn up but she has a juicy role. The moment where she knew that Steve was on the helijet and he was ordering her to press the red button to destroy them AND SHE DID (followed by Natasha activiating the biometrics weapon for Fury to shoot Pearce) was the one that got to me most. I assumed he’d survive physically, but still, I winced every time Steve hit something. I loved that she turned up to rescue the trio from the van and backed Steve up on the need to bring SHIELD down. As she was interviewing at Stark industries , I’m presuming she’ll turn up in the Iron Man strands (her and Pepper or her and Happy would be a force to be reckoned with) and interact with Tony.
And what is Marvel going to do with its TV show now that SHIELD has gone bust? (This is perhaps the question that it exercising me the most. Perhaps they can rename it with a less cumbersome title.)
I think the movie would have gone differently if one Agent Melinda May had been assigned ‘Nurse Sharon’’s job. VanCamp was fine, but her role was far less significant than that of women we are already invested in. The shooting range moment reminded me too much of Emily Thorne.
But they went and destroyed SHIELD, and it’s perfect that it was Steve who did so, the soldier who had his doubts, which were vindicated by the reveal of HYDRA’s infiltration. (I am amused that they’ve cut in from of Transference.) The whole examination of what lines get to be crossed and the pre-emptive use of technology was thoroughly gripping and of our day.
I liked the flashes of wit (Mackie as Sam in particular was great) and how funny Steve was allowed to me, liked most of the hand-to-hand fighting although admittedly my attention wandered in some of the big, long set piece action scenes, loved the emotional heft of the whole, possibly more than the first film? I don’t know if that’s the immediate reaction talking. I haven’t really rewatched Captain America.
Nice set-up for Age of Ultron in the mid credits scene (nice credit artwork) and so-so set up for Cap 3 with the Winter Soldier maybe accepting that he might be Bucky (but the comedown when he remembers everything must be angst-tastic. Meanwhile, I thought there were hints of what I know of the comics arc. Certainly it was clear that we don’t know everything of Natasha’s past. Her being born in 1984 may be official, but it may not be the truth. And the Winter Soldier has been around for a long time, plus the use of Soviet bullets suggests that he didn’t just go from HYDRA’s labs to working for HYDRA-in-SHIELD.) There was also potential set-up for Peggy’s backstory series, which I would love to happen, if only for someone to write the The Bletchley Circle crossover.
Speaking of crossovers, Jim Robinson turned up and I like to think that as a member of the world security council with the confusing relationship to the US, he’d have been briefed on what Mike from Neighbours did in IM3. Some day, those two are going to share a movie in a big Hollywood movie and all the Neighbours fans are going to have a field day.
I gasped with glee when Abed turned up. I got the impression that I was the only one in the cinema who did. But that was brilliant.
no subject
Date: 2014-03-30 10:22 am (UTC)And the ladies were so fierce!
YES. I was worried that either there wouldn't be much Natasha (and everything about her would be in the trailers), or that she was just fodder for the Winter Soldier storyline, or that she would just be Sexy Assassin #1 who gets very little dialogue or development. None of those things happened - and I love that about the film. She got backstory, she got to be snarky and playful, she got to be emotional with *that* Fury scene. Short of a Black Widow solo, this was the best possible outcome for her character. And yes, I am sitting here (im)patiently waiting for Natasha/Steve fic, or Clint turning up and complaining that Nat has ruined his career prospects or for all of them turning up at Stark Tower because they don't know what else to do with themselves.
Maria was fantastic, I just wish there was a little more of her. I love that Fury calls her when he thinks that he can trust no one. And her scene in the van, and that she's in control of the final assault. Sharon...I liked what we had of her, but felt like there should have been more. There was a lot of set-up with the undercover role and not enough payback for me.
Regarding the men, I thought Fury was amazing. I think that Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan were both very understated, and it worked so well. I really liked Sam/Falcon, he just seemed to slot in and be a likable character.
I am really curious to see where they go with Agents of Shield. And Avengers 2. And everything else. What a game-changer in terms of the universe.
Jim Robinson turned up
Hah, the first thing I did when he came onto screen was whisper "Jim from Neighbours!" to the husband. I love that he is *everywhere*, I have actually lost track of his roles now. I'd forgotten the connection with Guy Pearce!
no subject
Date: 2014-04-01 07:05 am (UTC)Well, I'm glad you understood what I was getting at :) Now if only I could have a little more time to read other people's responses to the film.
I don't think that I'd allowed myself to wonder specifically about the size of Natasha's role, I just didn't want a step back from Avengers.
Thankfully no.
I agree that Short of a Black Widow solo, this was the best possible outcome for her character.
Both Natasha and Maria's roles in the film and how succsessful it was made me happy and makes me look forward to more.
Sharon was something like the eighth most improtant character and there were a couple of other returning characters who had smaller parts but made more of an impact on our attention because we had history of them. She definitely suffered in terms of investment because of that.
I didn't talk so much about the men, did I? I really enjoyed Fury in his version of KITT and this was the meatiest role his character has played yet. I agree on the performances and I hope this leads to better things out of the Marvelverse for Stan and Mackie.
This feature in Den of Geek speculates, based on comics lore and details form the movie about what might happen next/
Jim Robinson[...]is *everywhere*, I have actually lost track of his roles now. Isn't he though? I think the first time I remember him turning up on American TV was on ER, when he was doing sime kind of white African accent. He seems the go-to authority figure with some clout, but as he's generally in a supporting role, he'll always be Jimbo to me and most of Britain.
no subject
Date: 2014-04-01 06:20 pm (UTC)