Captain America: The Winter Soldier - SPOILER THREAD

[boss]

We watched TWS Saturday afternoon at the theater and MOS was on Saturday night on HBO. I liked MOS when I first saw it, but when seen back to back there really is no comparison. MOS is exceptionally dour. There were several places where they could have easily injected more "fun" into the dialog or story (that's what made the original Superman with Reeve so enjoyable to me). If the 3rd Cap film and the Batman vs. Superman film do end up being released head to head, I think Cap will win.

I just saw the movie tonight so this is the first time I've looked at this thread. This is such an astute observation... one gets the impression that the arrogant corporate types at WB/DC are ashamed of the comics and purposely try to run away from the pulp heritage of the characters when they try to bring them to the mainstream. It is an absolute miracle that we got Justice League Unlimited and the Batman and Superman animated series from them, probably because they see cartoons as low stakes when compared to the movies. They just do not get the characters like the people in charge at Marvel do, and it breaks my heart as a DC fan that I am more entertained by Marvel films, which capture the spirit of the comics, than by DC ones, which just seem flaccid and soulless because they lack the basic foundation the great comics stories provide.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I agree. I still like MOS for what it is, but Cap 2 and Thor 2 have really demonstrated to me what these Nolan-influenced movies are missing. Heart and FUN. You're right, they got close with MOS, but even in it's hopeful moments, it's somewhat maudlin.

I feel Cap 2 one-upped Dark Knight Rises by telling a similar story in feel and not making the audience feel like they just came out of a funeral at the end.

Again, I enjoy those films for what they are, but I have to add that caveat. I don't with these Marvel films. Well, except Iron Man 3.

Chris

[MegoSteve]

We watched TWS Saturday afternoon at the theater and MOS was on Saturday night on HBO. I liked MOS when I first saw it, but when seen back to back there really is no comparison. MOS is exceptionally dour. There were several places where they could have easily injected more "fun" into the dialog or story (that's what made the original Superman with Reeve so enjoyable to me). If the 3rd Cap film and the Batman vs. Superman film do end up being released head to head, I think Cap will win.

Dour is the perfect word to describe the tone of Man of Steel. I think WB/DC is overly afraid to have fun because they're afraid of moving into 1966 Batman TV show territory, but there's a difference between over the top camp and moments of levity.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^ A perfect example of adding humor to an intense moment was when the Falcon leaps out of the crumbling building into the helicopter and tells Fury "I said 41st floor!" and Fury's response "The numbers aren't on the outside of the building!". That didn't take away from the impact of the moment, it made it more memorable. A few little quips would have lightened the mood in MOS quite a bit.

Chris

[madmarva]

I totally agree with you guys. MOS was an overkill response to the complaints about the lack of action and campy aspects of Superman Returns. I like the movie for what it got right, but I do hope the WB finds a sweet spot with the tone.

Goyer said in writing the screenplay, he tried to deviate from the obvious. Some of the choices worked, others didn't, but the the dour tone as mentioned above really held the film back.

WB tried to mix in some humor with a serious (for super heroes) story but failed terribly with the Green Lantern film. The script was a mess, the director didn't really get the character and the editor really did a sloppy job of putting it together.

Sometimes the WB's ambition gets in the way of just telling a compelling story with the characters.

Not all of Marvel's films have been great, but they have all been decent and a good time at the movies.

[hedrap]

As I mentioned in the "I Just Watched Captain America" I wasn't really awed like most of the members here. So someone asked me in that thread to break down what I didn't like about it and here goes...

'Nuff Said.

Save the last paragraph, I agree with the rest, but I expect non-logic, especially from comic movies. When the political thriller talk first started, it was bound to be a mess because that doesn't gel with physical action. We were told for months about the espionage aspect while now, the writers are saying Feige told them to go as large as possible for the third act. Something has to give to make it work.

[rchatlin]

Enjoyed it, but confused by one thing, and hopefully the comic pros can help me out.

Why does SHIELD, a US agency, answer to an International Board of Directors?


r
o
b

[The Toyroom]

Enjoyed it, but confused by one thing, and hopefully the comic pros can help me out.

Why does SHIELD, a US agency, answer to an International Board of Directors?


r
o
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It's not a US agency but operates under a United Nations charter. However, it's a little murky because at one point SHIELD was dissolved
under the authority of the President of the US...

[Earth 2 Chris]

Another example of that weird "paint-chipped" shield. Either these toy companies were working off VERY early concept art, or someone digitally recolored the shield to it's proper colors throughout the film.

http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/an-exclusive-dst-captain-america-figure-is-battling-his-way-to-marvelstore-com/

Chris

[MegoSteve]

I didn't pay much attention to the marketing at all, but when I was walking past a theater the other day I saw a poster that had a shield with chipped paint like that. This one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAPTAIN-AMERICA-2-THE-WINTER-SOLDIER-MOVIE-POSTER-DS-ORIGINAL-Advance-27x40-/141099867658?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20da351e0a

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Yeah, I saw that a few months ago before the trailers hit. It'd be interesting to know why they changed from this, in a "Reveng of the Jedi" type of way.

Chris

[drquest]

I'm late to the party, but my son and I just got back from seeing TWS. Wow, we liked it a lot! Very deep, lots of stuff going on. I sorted of hated to see SHIELD fall completely, but hey Marvel isn't holding back any punches in their movies, gotta like that.

I liked Bucky quite a bit and would have liked to have seen more going on between him and Rogers. Looks like that's certainly planned in the future.

Fury sure did rebound quickly from his near death experience I thought. Heck the time between it happening and him jumping off the the chopper at SHIELD HQ wasn't all that long at all.

I think my favorite scene was when Rogers was in the elevator and the guys kept piling on with him. Fun!

My daughter asked about how it was and I think I'll probably take her to see it, and will enjoy seeing it again!

[madmarva]

Variety is reporting that the Cap movie should win the weekend for the fourth weekend in a row. It might not be a bad idea for Cap 3 or Superman/Batman to move to early April so it will face no competition, rather tha clashing head to head.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^At this point, I think Supes/Bats ought to back off.

Chris

[Godzilla]

Our clan finally saw it Friday night and we all loved it. It really felt like a Marvel comic from when I was a kid.

As far as comparisons with Man of Steel, we missed that in the theater but my wife really wanted to see it. We bought the DVD when it came out, put it in ,and turned it off after about 30 minutes. Neither of us has any interest in finishing it. I'm really stunned as a child of the 70s that there's a Superman movie I really just don't care for or about.