CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER MOVIE REVIEW (PLUS A MID-CREDIT PREVIEW) [VIDEO]

 

– ★★★★★

 (This review contains spoilers)

  ‘An ambush of engaging sequences that leaves you satisfied’

Once upon a time there was Iron Man 3 where I thought wouldn’t be surpassed by any other sequels/spin-offs or interconnected film. The level of Iron Man 3 (not from a fan-boy perspective) was above the top. From the storyline to its action sequences to its comedy were above commendable (although fan-boys would not agree with me, of course).

Then, there was Captain America.

The first movie was a little bit dragging from the beginning up to the end, but the storyline was strong and was complementary to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The tone was sepia-ish due to the timeline of 1940’s too. But little did I know that the entire first movie of CapAm was vital for the sequel: The Winter Soldier.

It revolves around Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and the events after the cataclysmic Avengers in New York. In his struggle to blend with the modern time and facing another familiar enemy which would destroy the entire empire of S.H.I.E.L.D. Also a past friend who is sinister in the present, naming himself “The Winter Soldier” (Sebastian Stan), will rock Rogers’ world. Betrayal and Loyalty are his ultimate struggles on who he will give his trust, to win over the first ultimate test in the modern world he and the S.H.I.E.L.D. will ever know.

There’s a lot going in the film, but is not distracting, and the pace is just perfect for the two hours and fifteen minutes run of it. The character build-up was enough for each, especially for Falcon (Anthony Mackie), the ex-military/side kick of Captain America. With Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), his character was focused from start to finish because he’s the focal point of the movie on which the main characters should act upon. But one superstar, aside from Captain America himself, who garnered an applause and bravo credit in the film, was Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson). Her finesse, sinister moves, unprecedented one liner punchlines and sensual aura made it work for the entire movie. She is that one person in a film that would give a cool effect. Not to mention that she’s a woman, so, it all works. I think its Marvel’s way to introduce her because of the rumoured Black Widow movie… and I’m up for the line.

The only character that was little most exposure was Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp), but well, I am biased to this because I just so love her. But I guess it’s a build-up on what’s to come for her and Steve Rogers in the future.

The story of The Winter Soldier was really compelling. The ambush to the main characters was believable in the sense of real life situation dangers. The betrayal of some will pose a question on whether a main character will die. And that’s exciting and dreading at the same time, not knowing if your favourite character will make it or not.

All the action in the movie was up-beat and well done. Although, I just hoped the camera movements weren’t that much moving a lot, but still it works.

What I appreciate about Captain America: The Winter Soldier was that from start to end, because of the compelling storyline; it will engage you to focus and love every scene. It’s a must watch. I’m kind of in battle to what’s better, Iron Man 3 or Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and the later is a bit revamped on the storyline.

 

POST CREDIT SPOILER:

For the post credit scene, which you can see on this LINK here, you will have the glimpse for the second Avengers movie starring the twins; Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.

 

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a 2014 sequel Marvel Studios Film, a ninth instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, third film of the second phase leading to Avengers: Age of Ultron, Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. Starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthonie Mackie, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, and Robert Redford.

300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE MOVIE REVIEW

– ★★★1/2

(Warning: Spoilers ahead)

The bar is set high for sequel films especially onto the successful ones because everyone is expecting more from it. And in times like these; sequels or franchises are a trend. One can be seen from Marvel which gave the success on not only creating sequels but creating an entire universe as a whole.

Sequels or prequels tend to give excitement to people especially upon hearing from its public announcement, and when Warner Bros. decided to impart that information last year, I was excited.

The first film, 300, was visually entertaining, taking a whole new level of filmmaking. Although, the movie Sin City has the same kind of visual approach about filming in green screen and emphasis on the blood splatting; Zack Snyder took it up the notch. The whole film felt like a High Dynamic Range (HDR) shot that Digital Camera’s give, and the slow-motion capture says it all.

The storyline tells the 2^nd war between the Greeks and Persians, and how did that came to be by iterating the account of the 1^st Greco-Persian War by Lionidas’ wife, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey), making the movie a prequel-sequel alike.

It narrates how the God-King Xerxes wanted his vengeance from the Greeks because of Themistocles’ (Sullivan Stapleton) honest mistake upon demising his father and having the gut that Xerxes would one day be a threat, but ignoring that intuition of his.

Also, the Persian Naval commander Artemisia’s (Eva Green) story of her original Grecian roots showed how ruthless Greeks were to her and her family that made her lustful for revenge.

The Story

The movie is based on an unpublished novel by Frank Miller, who also did the original 300, that depicts the epic war story of the 1^st and 2^nd Greco-Persian war. The story of the 2^nd movie is interrelated to the original 300 and a proceeding account reaching to an end.

300: Rise of an Empire’s story is much crispier than the original. There are more battles than the first, and it was interesting, seeing rivals strategize to win.

The depth of the emotion was already set from the first movie (thanks to it), and now a threat is far more revealing and invigorating.

I love the fact that my eyes and ears were totally onto the movie, making me keen to every details there are, and having the feeling that you don’t want to miss something, most especially the mot juste which is a 300 trademark, (e.g. ‘THIS IS SPARTA!’) that creates more tension in the film, and this time it’s ‘SEIZE YOUR GLORY’.

Screenplay

The best thing about 300 movies is that the graphics are very well defined and the scenes are captivating. The slow-motion takes place and it’s a numerous positive things to it. Although I sense that I guess if you’ll add all the slow-motion scenes, it kind of adds to the time frame of the movie which makes it reasonably long. But, it’s proprietary and needed for the justification of the film though.

Besides the long slow-motion scenes are the muscles and abs which are the proprietary of all.

Just kidding.

OVERALL

300: Rise of an Empire is the sequel that is properly well executed. The sequel, 300: Rise of an Empire is again visually stunning, wickedly entertaining.

300: Rise of an Empire is an American film, sequel to 300, directed by Noam Murro, produced by Zack Snyder (Man of Steel, 300) and starred by Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, and Lena Headey. The film was released on March 7, 2014.